CUP: Hard End For Ragan, Reutimann

Sprint Cup

CUP: Hard End For Ragan, Reutimann

David Ragan and David Reutimann were caught in a horrifying last-lap crash...

Tom Jensen | Posted August 15, 2011 Watkins Glen, NY

David Reutimann flips during Monday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. (Photo: SPEED)

Monday’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup race ended in frightening fashion for David Ragan and David Reutimann as they were caught in a spectacular collision as they raced to the checkered flag.

Heading into Turn 2 on the last lap, Ragan’s No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford was bumped by Boris Said, turning Ragan’s car hard left into the retaining wall. His car bounced off the wall, went back across the track, where it collected Reutimann’s No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, sending both cars head-on into the wall on the right side of the track.

Then, both cars went back across the track, Reutimann’s Toyota flipping upside down, sliding sideways and hitting the wall head-on on the left side of the track.

Ragan also went back across the track again, running into the wall a third time. Afterwards, both drivers climbed out of the cars, staggering from the hard impact but free of serious injury.

“I didn’t want to wreck him, but I had to stay on the track and he (Ragan) didn’t give me any room,” Said noted.

Afterwards, Greg Biffle, Ragan’s teammate, went after Said in the garage, throwing a couple of punches in Said’s window before crews broke up the fight.

Said was furious.

“I’m more upset with Greg Biffle. He’s the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I’ve ever seen in my life. He wouldn’t even fight me like a man after,” Said claimed. “ ... So if someone texts me his address, I’ll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a frigging whooping.”

Biffle responded with several Twitter posts.

"First of all, I want to make sure everyone sees the wreck between David & David [and Said]," Biffle said on Twitter. "Now that's coming from a guy that says I am unprofessional. Let me tell you something, Boris,"the roadcourse ringer" caused that wreck. He did the same thing to me earlier in the race off the carousel. … Then Mr. Class pulls in behind my truck after the race today?! Shouldn't you go check on David & David? How unprofessional & disrespectful!"

PHOTOS: CUP - Watkins Glen Last Lap Wreck 0811

Ragan was a bit more conciliatory about the incident.

“It's just a product of close quarters racing at the end,” said Ragan. “Our UPS team had done a good job. We were going to salvage a top-20 finish I think after running out of fuel earlier in the race. I felt like I had a good run; I felt like I had Boris clear and I think he got a little better run that we did and he just hooked us. He certainly could have given a little more of a break and we all could have gotten through there and not torn up anything. But he was aggressive and we were all aggressive. He hooked me and I hit hard.”

Ragan did allow as how he would like to see more SAFER barriers at the track.

“I'm sore. That was a hard hit,” Ragan said. “I looked down at my feet and my pedals and my leg rests were all pushed over. It's a shame that a race track we go to in 2011 doesn't have a better wall design all the way around the race track, so hopefully they'll look at that. I've been to some dirt tracks that have better walls than that. It was a hard hit, but our cars are safe. Thanks to everyone back at home that builds us safe race cars.”

For his part, Reutimann said he was mostly OK as well.

“This is one of the bigger hits I would say, but it’s part of the gig,” Reutimann said. “You sign up to do this stuff every once and a while and you’re going to hit something. As fast as we’re going, you hit stuff pretty hard. I’m good and will be ready for Michigan next week. I’m thinking where I hit would probably be a good place for SAFER barriers. So, maybe we should look at that next time we come back. Overall, I’m okay and ready to get out of here.”

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

JENSEN: The Crew Chief’s Advantage
The Sprint All-Star Race was an interesting affair ...
CUP: New Hall Of Fame Class To Be Announced
The late Curtis Turner is among the nominees to the NASCAR Hall of…
CUP: All-Star Power Rankings
Jimmie Johnson remains atop the FOXSports.com/SPEED.com Power Rankings...…