With four weeks to go before the Daytona 500, the CRA Super Series rolled into 2012 on Sunday. Two drivers that make their living at the sport's highest level made their way to Cordele.
Racing fans flocked to Watermelon Capital Speedway to see Unadilla native David Ragan and 23-time series winner Kyle Busch. The duo signed autographs and took pictures prior to the Super Series Late Models Race.
Busch won four Sprint Cup Series races in 2011, and broke Mark Martin's record with 51 career Nationwide wins. Ragan got his first Cup series win at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona, but didn't make the Chase field. In 2012 Ragan will race the No. 34 Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports.
Both Ragan and Busch have roots in local short track racing. Now it's a way to get them tuned up for the new season.
"I think you get anxious about Christmas time, so it's been a while before the season starts," Busch said. "We actually had a Daytona test that went good. Just being able to get back in a race car again, kind of feel the fundamentals and get yourself refreshed a little bit."
"I've been around the shop some, been trying to get to know my new team and new crew chief, but we've constantly been around the race track some this offseason," Ragan said. "Next weekend we're going testing the following week there's another late model race we may go and run so we try and stay busy getting ready for the season."
Busch won Sunday's Speedfest 200, with Ragan placing third.
The march towards the 2012 Series begins with the Budweiser Shootout on February 18th at Daytona. Eight days later the season officially kicks off with the Great American Race.