AUTO RACING: Unadilla’s Ragan hopes to play the role of spoiler

Despite missing the cut for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Unadilla’s David Ragan said he’s not done yet this year.

Ragan spoke with reporters during a break in a Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway this week, saying he plans to make some headlines in the final races.

“I want to be a spoiler and make a lot of noise during the Chase,” Ragan said. “We’ve got some good tracks coming up. We’ve got a lot of desire and heart on our team to go out and get the job done and make things exciting the last [nine] weeks.

“We’re in a position where we don’t have a lot to lose but a lot to gain. … We’re going to finish in the top 13 or 14 in points, but we want to go out and learn a few things and end the season on a good note.”

Goodyear tire tests usually provide local media with an opportunity to interview Cup drivers, but this week’s test at Atlanta Motor Speedway by Kyle Busch, Travis Kvapil and Scott Riggs was closed to reporters.

Goodyear spokesman Mike Siberini said in an e-mail that the one-day schedule at Atlanta didn’t allow time for interviews.

Williams goes back to past for victory

In 1984, Ricky Williams won his first Late Model championship at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock. Last week he clinched another, beating sons and grandsons of the drivers he raced earlier in his career.

The driver he battled for the title, Luther Jenkins, is the grandson of one of Williams’ former competitors, Luther Carter.

“It feels good to be competing against the younger guys,” Williams, 53, said.

The veteran from Fayetteville has been racing and winning on the local dirt tracks for 33 consecutive years, but his most recent track title was special because he suffered through an uncharacteristically lackluster season last year. He turned things around by going back to a ‘93 model racer, which he felt would be more in keeping with his driving style than current cars, which are set up in a manner that results in the front end rearing up on acceleration.

“I can drive the car,” Williams said.

The Dixie title, the eighth overall Late Model title of Williams’ career, is another significant accomplishment for his car owner Ronnie Dobbins, who also owns the car that Shane Clanton drove to victory in the recent World 100, dirt racing’s most prestigious race.

On the local scene

Dario Franchitti, the Indy Car champion who had a brief fling in NASCAR this year, is the latest big-name open-wheel driver to enter the Oct. 4 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Franchitti will co-drive an Acura with David Brabham and Scott Sharp. Other notable entries include Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan. … Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts the ACDelco Street Drag Nationals tonight and Saturday. The main events are on Saturday, when the top eight drivers in 10 divisions race for the championship. … The Georgia Asphalt Series will run the Bear Country 100 at Senoia Raceway on Saturday night. Drivers expected to compete in the circuit’s third visit to Senoia this season include the two most recent Senoia winners, T.J. Reaid of Acworth and Ryan Sieg of Decatur.