Lost for many in the wild, crash-filled end of the Daytona 500 a week ago was the fifth-place finish by rookie David Ragan in only his third NASCAR Nextel Cup start. Ragan, who replaced Mark Martin in the Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 Ford, had finishes of 42nd and 25th in his two previous cup races last season.

Ragan, 21, of Georgia, said it didn't really hit him what he had accomplished in the 2007 opener until he looked at a newspaper and saw a picture of him racing four-wide with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Rudd and eventual Daytona winner Kevin Harvick.

"I thought this is one of those questions that someone might ask in kindergarten: Here's four names. Which one doesn't belong? I said, 'I'm glad someone took a picture of that.' That's pretty cool."

Ragan got his chance at a full-time Nextel Cup ride after Martin left Roush and the No. 6 car after a 19-year tenure to cut back to a part-time schedule with Ginn Racing.

"I've had a little bit of success here and there or I wouldn't be here today," Ragan said.

Busch race

Matt Kenseth took control in the closing laps last night at California Speedway, driving off with his fourth NASCAR Busch Series victory in 12 tries on the 2-mile oval. Casey Mears gave a big effort to try to catch Kenseth at the end, but the Roush Fenway Racing driver wouldn't let Mears get close enough for a serious challenge, driving across the finish line about five lengths ahead.

Kenseth, giving Jack Roush his first win since he sold half his team to Fenway Sports Group earlier this month, took the lead with a pass of Burton, now driving for Richard Childress Racing, on lap 129 of the 150-lap event.

No hard feelings

Tony Stewart's first guest on his weekly radio show this week was Kurt Busch, whose bump from behind sent both NASCAR stars pounding into the wall while running 1-2 in the Daytona 500. They seemed to be the ones to beat early in the race, and the disappointment of wrecking could have sent tempers soaring. Stewart and Busch have been known to contract a case of road rage now and then.

Not this time.

"It didn't finish up quite like we wanted, by any means. But we're still real happy with the week, obviously," said Stewart, who won the Budweiser Shootout and his 150-mile qualifying race at Daytona.

Busch, trying for his first Daytona 500 win like Stewart, was blase about the crash.

"It's one of those racing things where you can sit there and armchair quarterback it a hundred different times, but it's just so tough, Tony, isn't it? Just having the shot at winning the Daytona 500 go out the window that quick," Busch said. "It takes months to prepare, but somebody can take it away in the blink of an eye."

"Exactly," Stewart replied.

Balanced track

The past three races at California Speedway have been won by a Dodge (Kasey Kahne in September), a Ford (Matt Kenseth in February) and a Chevrolet (Kyle Busch in September 2005). Kahne's win was Dodge's first on the 2-mile oval. Ford has won seven times and Chevrolet five times at the Fontana track.