I wanted to check in real quick before heading out to Phoenix. We’re making a special visit to a UPS facility on Thursday to recognize the UPS Desert Mountain team as a leader in service. We’re going to spend a good amount of time there visiting with UPS employees and signing autographs and taking pictures. They are also going to take me on a tour of the place and then I’m going to help award a trophy to the center, so we’ll be sure to put some pictures up on the site from our visit.

We got back from Texas on Monday, and we’ve been really busy this week testing and then getting ready for Phoenix. We had a pretty decent car in Texas and everyone really liked our Boys and Girls Clubs paint design. A bunch of fans and people in the garage were telling our team how good our car looked. We qualified 17th and then finished 17th, so we didn’t lose any positions, but we just couldn’t get our car as good in the race as it was in practice.

It’s hard to believe the season is almost over and we only have two more races! While our season is full with so many races, it always seems to fly by. We’re just looking forward to having two solid runs these next two weeks in our UPS Ford to end the season on a strong note.

- David

Claude (L) and Jim (R) during pre-race

UPS employees Jim Marzolf and Claude Rigsby were selected to deliver the green flag at Texas Motor Speedway. As part of UPS’s official partnership with the Texas track, UPS has exclusive rights to deliver the green flag on race day.

Jim is a 23-year UPS employee  and delivery driver out of the Grapevine, Texas UPS center.

“I am a big racing fan so being out to deliver the green flag in Texas was great. Everything was just really exciting and the whole day was great. To get out on track before the race and get the VIP treatment all day was really special. We had like five guys at the track from my center, and they were just really psyched that we were able to deliver the green flag. The day was great and everyone treated us like royalty.”

Claude is a 29-year UPS employee that is heavily involved in the UPS Road Code program, and getting ready to retire at the beginning of next year. With the Road Code program and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America featured on the No. 6 for the weekend, it was only fitting Claude be a part of Sunday’s green flag delivery.

“I’m very thankful for being asked to do the green flag delivery in Texas. And with it being the Boys and Girls Clubs Road Code car design, it was extra special. I’ve really enjoyed my time working with the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Dallas and teaching them about safe driving. It was really an really honor to have been out at the track to help deliver the flag. Being out there with the sounds and smells was great and we were trying to make it as enthusiastic as possible. I had a really good time and really enjoyed it.”

Sunday's green flag delivery

David had a successful practice session on Friday afternoon, spending most of his time inside of the top 15, and ending the session in seventh position.

“Our Cup car drives really well and we picked up some speed in qualifying,” said David after making his qualifying run. “We just needed a few more one-hundredths to be up there in the top two or three. Our UPS Ford was very fast right off the truck and I think it’s got some pretty good speed. It was as good of a first practice as we’ve had all year, so that’s just a product of some things we’ve been working on to unload better and be more comfortable. It helps bringing the same tire back, so we’ve got some notes from the spring to work on. Anytime we can come back with the same car and the same style of tire, it just helps out.”

The last time the UPS team raced in Texas, they were running inside of the top five and were on their way to a top-five finish before debris got caught on the grill of the No. 6 and overheated the engine.

Sunday will mark David’s sixth start at the 1.5-mile Texas track, and coverage for the race begins at 3:15 Eastern Time on ABC.

The No. 6 UPS/Boys and Girls Clubs of America Ford Fusion

We got out here early on Thursday since the Nationwide Series had tech at the track. We all fly together, so all of the Cup guys had the day off on in Texas to have some fun. Some of us did have to work as David had two sponsor appearances on Thursday, but it looks like some of the No. 6 team hit the golf course. I’m not sure what the rest were up to, but the weather was beautiful for the first day of the race weekend.

Last week we were in Talladega, Alabama. That was such a stressful weekend because things happen so fast there and you never know who is going to get caught up in a wreck.  We survived right up until the end when David got bumped and took a trip through the grass. We still finished okay and actually moved up a spot in the point standings. 

We also got to have a little fun in Talladega. I’m not sure if you’ve heard stories about the infield there, but it’s crazy. The wildest fans go to Talladega and camp out for the whole week! A lot of the crew guys make an annual trip to ‘cruise the infield’ to see what’s going on inside of the largest tracks on the schedule. The Zac Brown Band played a free concert to anyone with an infield pass on Saturday night before the race. Of course it had rained all day Saturday, but it stopped by late afternoon. Event though the weather cleared, it was definitely a muddy mess. The concert was really good and David even stopped by for the start of it. He left early since he had to get up and race the next day. 

Now back to Texas. We’ve got a really cool car this weekend and everyone is excited to see it on track. We’ve gotten to visit some Boys and Girls Clubs of America locations this year on behalf of UPS, and those visits are always a lot of fun. Our paint scheme this weekend is cool with a lot of the BGCA kids’ handprints on the car. I even tried to match up my hands with theirs on the car, and I actually fit a few. I’m not sure if they’ve got some growing into their hands to do or if my hands are just small!

Well, that’s about it from here for now. Hopefully we get a good run this weekend to make up for last time. David had such a good run going in the spring, but debris got caught on the grill and overheated our car…bad luck. Here’s hoping it’s all behind us!

- Nancy

DALLAS, Nov. 5, 2009 – NASCAR driver David Ragan and the UPS (NYSE:UPS) team will have an extra 4.5 million fans cheering them this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway when Ragan gets behind the wheel of his No. 6 Ford Fusion, which will sport a new paint scheme that reflects UPS and Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) UPS Road Code safe driving program.

The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS, introduced a national program this year in collaboration with BGCA to teach the company’s industry-leading safe driving techniques to teens. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, but UPS and its world-renowned drivers are making an effort to change that with the help of BGCA and Ragan.

“UPS drivers are among the safest on the road. The Road Code program gives us the opportunity to use our nationally recognized safe driving training to directly impact a need in our communities and prevent teenage deaths,” said Ken Sternad, president of The UPS Foundation. “This special paint scheme captures our commitment to driving safety, starting with teens at local Boys & Girls Clubs, and sharing it with UPS NASCAR fans.”

The new car design for the Texas race incorporates BGCA’s logo, along with handprints from members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas who are participating in the UPS Road Code program. The paint scheme was unveiled in a special trackside event featuring Ragan and these Club teens.

“Our entire race team is excited about the special Boys & Girls Clubs of America design we’re running this weekend,” said Ragan. “This is definitely a change from the normal look of our UPS car, and it’s always fun to give the fans something new to get excited about. This car is certainly going to stand out on track and hopefully help bring some awareness to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the UPS Road Code program.”

Ragan became a spokesperson for the UPS Road Code program this season, supporting the program through a series of video and audio public service announcements that are available online and have been broadcast on radio stations nationwide. He’s also been visiting some Boys & Girls Clubs near racing cities, speaking to the UPS Road Code teens about the importance of safe driving.

“Safety is a priority for me on and off the track, and being on the road is something that needs to be taken seriously,” continued David. “It’s easy to get distracted when you’re in the car, but you need to be really focused when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle.”

 “We are extremely grateful to The UPS Foundation for bringing UPS Road Code to our teens, providing access to important safety training utilizing state-of-the-art simulators,” said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “The paint scheme for David’s car is outstanding. It truly captures the essence of our Clubs, our kids, and our dedication to their safety.”

Teens, parents, and others interested in learning more about safe driving and UPS Road Code should visit www.ups.com/roadcode. And for regular updates on UPS Road Code, safe driving tips and other UPS news, sign up for the UPS Twitter channel at twitter.com/ups_news.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has helped kids “BE GREAT,” providing hope and opportunity for those who need it most.  Today, more than 4,300 clubs serve some 4.5 million young people through club membership and community outreach.  Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military bases worldwide, providing young people 6 to 18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff.  Clubs positively impact lives and help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens.  Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration;

community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach.  In a recent Harris Survey of club alumni, 57 percent said the club saved their lives.  National headquarters are located in Atlanta, Ga.

About The UPS Foundation

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation’s major areas of focus include community safety, nonprofit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability, and diversity.  The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact.  In 2008, The UPS Foundation directed more than $100 million in philanthropy to charitable organizations worldwide.  Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS’s community involvement.

The No. 6 UPS/Boys and Girls Clubs Ford Fusion

This week is a very exciting week for UPS Racing and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). David Ragan and the UPS team will compete in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a special BGCA design on the No. 6 Ford Fusion.

Earlier this season, the UPS Foundation and the BGCA launched a program together called Road Code. The program, which is run through BGCA locations throughout the country, teaches teens the importance of safe driving. With the help of UPS’s own drivers, and a few appearances by David Ragan himself, teens across the nation are learning what they can do to become safer drivers.

And while we can’t give away all of the details of the design just yet, check back to the site on Thursday when we’ll have photos of David unveiling the new look of  the No. 6 Ford with the help of some Dallas teens involved in the UPS Road Code program.

David will blog on-location from Texas Motor Speedway to keep you up to speed with all of the details of the car’s design, and about his plans to drive it into Victory Lane!

-UPS Racing

Nancy is the Account Manager for the No. 6 UPS Racing team at Roush Fenway Racing.

It’s been a busy few weeks around here and I think everyone is ready for an off weekend. Of course it’s not much of an off weekend for David since he’ll be racing in Nashville, but the rest of us get to enjoy some time at home. We’ve had some bad luck the last few weeks. It rained in Martinsville (it always seems to rain there) so we never got to qualify or get much practice. All that paired with a flat tire led to a less than desirable finish. Texas was just heart breaking for David. We finally had a good run going and then debris on the grille ended our day. Everyone can take the off weekend and clear their heads and be ready for Phoenix.

Last week David was here late Tuesday night filming some PSAs for UPS. We did some scenes down in the museum by the UPS kiosk, out by the fountain and then moved down to the shop. They were for the UPS Road Code program and will be shown in various Boys and Girls Clubs throughout America. They looked pretty cool while they were filmed, so hopefully everyone will get a chance to check them out.

The team was up in New Hampshire for a Goodyear tire test this week. On Tuesday they hung out and watched it rain all day and finally got on the track in the afternoon, but Wednesday the weather was much better for them.

Goat Update: It’s been really windy here and the other day the gate wasn’t latched and the wind blew it open. Three of the goats got out and sent everyone on a chase for a few hours, but all are back home and safe!

Have a great Easter!

Joe Watson is a UPS driver based out of the Longview, Texas center. He is a 24-year employee of UPS and Joe was at the race this past weekend to deliver the green flag for Sunday’s Samsung 500. Joe was chosen for this honor because of his outstanding service and safety record.

The Longview center where Joe works was chosen as the first center recognized for service, safety or growth on David Ragan’s No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion to kick off the ‘Maximum Center’ program that will run through the remainder of the 2009 season.

Being at the track this weekend really meant a lot to me because this weekend was the start of the UPS Maximum Center program and it’s recognizing the Longview Center here in Texas where I work. We’re all just so proud to have our center’s number on David’s car. The drivers in our center do such a great job out there and we really do a lot of positive things with the drivers to help promote safety. We’re just really excited and proud to have the Longview Center on David’s UPS car.

Safety is a big part of us being No. 1 for the last three years and safety is the biggest reason that I was chosen to participate in the race. I’m a co-chair at work with my boss and we run a safety committee in our center. We have a program that is all about positive reinforcement and awareness and prevention. It’s reacting before an accident or injury ever occurs and we’ve been able to do a really good job down there in the center.

We’ve had a lot of good help from the other drivers, too. Almost all of the employees are involved in some way to promote safety. And that makes it easy to be No. 1 in safety when everyone is working together.

A lot of the same things that we, as UPS drivers are taught to do out on the streets can really also apply to what David does out on the track. As far as being aware of your surroundings and making sure that you’re driving safely; I’m sure David has been told the same things. When you make safety the No. 1 priority, everything else falls into place.

I became a pretty big race fan when UPS first got involved with Dale Jarrett. I had never really watched NASCAR until UPS sponsored Dale and I remember turning on the Daytona 500 to watch him race and I was hooked from then on. And now David Ragan seems like a real good representative for UPS and a good guy to get behind for us employees.

To tell you a little bit about I really like about working for UPS is getting out on route and interacting with the customers. I really like having them know that when they have something coming to them, they know that it’s in good hands.

Sunday was a great day for me and a an even greater day for everyone that works in the Longview Center.

Longview Center Maximum Center Photos

After a strong showing in his UPS Ford for most of the day at Texas Motor Speedway, David Ragan had his day end early after a piece of trash got caught on the front of his grille while running in fifth place.

David tried multiple times to draft behind other cars get the debris to blow off, but those attempts were unsuccessful. Since he couldn’t get it to come off out on the track, he was forced into the pits on lap 291.

The team cleaned off the grille and worked to get water back into the car, as it was more than obvious that the car was overheating by the continuous stream of water spurting out of the top of the UPS Fusion.

David tried to get back into the field, but after completing lap 293, he radioed into the team that they were probably going to blow up. Those words sent the UPS team back into the garage and retired David from the race.

“Our UPS team did a great job on pit road today,” said David after his exit from the race. “It’s just, you know, something that was out of our control is what put us out. We got some trash on the grille and tried to get it off on the track before our last resort, which was pitting. We pitted and lost a lot of water and then ultimately blew up. Just by chance, something like a hotdog wrapper cost us a top-five finish.

“But we had good speed and a good car. It’s something to build on, but absolutely not the finish that we needed. Just a disappointing finish to a really good day.”

Before the overheating issue, David spent the entire race running inside of the top 10. He also led one lap during green-flag pit stops, which earned him five bonus points. The pit crew was also on top of things in the pits, picking up multiple spots during all trips to pit lane prior to the overheating issue.

David and the UPS team have next weekend off from the Cup Series, but being the die-hard driver that he is, David has entered into the stand-alone Nationwide Series race in Nashville.

It was a great day for David and the UPS team here at Texas Motor Speedway. After a couple of weeks of trouble and some disappointing finishes, the team bounced back and posted a 4^th-place qualifying effort.

“Texas has been a good track for us. We’ve struggled the last few weeks in Bristol and Martinsville. I’m ready to put some of those rough weeks behind us,” said David. “We tend to run well at the mile-and-a-half tracks so we’ve got to put our best foot forward and try and get some points back. We need to get back into the top 10 or 15 because that’s where we belong.”

TMS holds special meaning to David, as it was the site of his first start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and also where he raced Legends cars growing up.

“We used to come out and race the Legends cars back when I was a young kid and I got my first Truck Series start here. It’s been a good track for us. We’ve really been searching for really, a good top-20 finish. And we’ve really not been able to put that together. So it’s really good for our UPS team to kind of show what kind of racecars we have and how fast we can be.”

The fourth-place starting position for Sunday’s race is the best spot David has ever had here at the 1.5-mile track in the Lone Star state. His previous best qualifying effort was when he started seventh during the April race here in 2008 and his best finish came in the 2008 fall race when he finished 11^th. 

David Goley is a mechanic on David Ragan’s No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion team. Before he left for Texas this week, David took some time to talk with UPS Racing about being part of the No. 6 team at Roush Fenway Racing.

How did you get into the sport? I used to race go-karts up North where I grew up and moved down here to get a job in racing. I was working on a truck team, but it closed down in December of 2006 and a friend here at Roush helped me get started over here and I’ve been here every since.

What’s your favorite part about being on a NASCAR team? My favorite part has definitely got to be the traveling. You get to see different parts of the country and twice a year I can get back home to New Hampshire to visit family while I’m there working. Being from New Hampshire I was a really big Red Sox fan growing up, and now being affiliated with them with Fenway is a really cool thing.

Measuring Tire Wear

What’s your normal “run of show” during the week? Back at the shop I work on interiors, anything electrical in the car and overall car assembly.

What are your normal responsibilities once arriving to the track each weekend? At the track I’m a mechanic. I help get the car through the tech lines and set it up for practice and the race. I’m also the guy in charge of the interior stuff at the track, like making sure everything is set for David. Everything from making sure his helmet is there and wired up, radio in the car, earpieces, water bottles…etc.

What are you responsible for during the actual race? During each pit stop I blow the dust off the left-front tire for the changer and catch the left-front tire. After the stop I help out with measuring tire wear.

Is there anything significant about the upcoming weekend? Texas is ok, but it’s not one of my favorites. Loudon, Bristol and Daytona are some of my favorite tracks. Road courses and Pocono are my least favorite places to race.

If you weren’t working in racing, what do you think you would be doing? I’d be an auto mechanic.

Ready To Catch Tires During Stop

What’s your favorite thing to do on an off-weekend? Work on the house.

Movie: Shooter

TV Show: Family Guy, A-Team

Pizza toppings? Pepperoni

Place to eat? Fridays

Music: (band, song, genre, whatever they want to share) Lincoln Park, Country and Rock