David Reutimann
Encyclopedia
Emil David Reutimann is the driver the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine/Tums
/Best Western
Toyota Camry
for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series. He is the son of Buzzie Reutimann
, who made one NASCAR start in 1963.
in 1997. He was named Rookie of the Year, finishing in the top-ten eight times and had a fifth-place points finish. The next season, he dropped to seventh in points, but received the Sportsmanship award at season's end. After several years, Reutimann got his first three wins in 2002 and finished second in the overall championship standings.
That same year, Reutimann made his Busch Series debut at Richmond International Raceway
. Driving the #87 Geico
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
for NEMCO Motorsports
, Reutimann started thirty-fourth but finished sixteenth. He led twelve laps at his next race at Memphis Motorsports Park
, and finished in the top-fifteen in each of his next two races. The following season, he ran seven Busch races for NEMCO, finishing fifth at Nashville Speedway USA and The Milwaukee Mile, as well as qualifying Greg Biffle
's car on the pole at Memphis. He also attempted the New England 300 and the Brickyard 400 in the Winston Cup Series in the #04 for Morgan-McClure Motorsports
, but failed to qualify both times.
In 2004, Reutimann signed on with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
to race the NTN Bearings truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. Winning the pole in his second race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
, Reutimann had four top-fives and finished 14th in points, garnering Rookie of the Year honors. Reutimann won his first career race in 2005
at Nashville Superspeedway
, and ended the season thirteenth in points. He also made his Cup debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway
, driving the #00 State Fair Corn Dogs Chevrolet Monte Carlo
for Michael Waltrip
. He finished 22nd. He went winless in 2006, but had two poles and finished third in the championship standings. He also made fifteen Busch starts and had four top-tens.
Reutimann moved up to the Nextel Cup Series in 2007 with Waltrip Racing, carrying sponsorship from Burger King and Domino's Pizza and a Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate. Late in the season, he won the 2007 Sam's Town 250
at Memphis Motorsports Park
for his first career Busch Series win, and Toyota's second win in Busch Series competition. He finished second overall in the Busch Series' last season before becoming the Nationwide Series
In 2008, Reutimann ran the first five races of the season
in the #00 car, before taking replacing the retiring Dale Jarrett
in the #44 UPS
ride and handing the #00 ride over to rookie Michael McDowell.Reutimann scored his first career top 10 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
during the Coca-Cola 600
with a 10th place finish. He also recorded top 10's at the Auto Club Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway
, and the Richmond International Raceway
. At the Richmond race in September, Reutimann led a race high 104 laps, but fell to 9th place. In the season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway
, Reutimann claimed his first career pole position. He became the 23rd driver to win poles in all three of NASCAR's top series.
For 2009, Reutimann moved back to the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine. Reutimann competed in a limited Nationwide Series schedule, splitting time with MWR and Braun Racing. On May 25, Reutimann scored his first Sprint Cup win in the Coca-Cola 600
at Lowes Motor Speedway. With this victory, David became the 20th different driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's top series (Winston/Sprint Cup series, Busch/Nationwide series, and Craftsman/Camping World Truck Series). This race was the 50th Coca-Cola 600
at Lowes Motor Speedway. He also became the first driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to win a race without leading a lap under green. In addition, he was the first driver to ever win with the #00 in the NASCAR Cup Series This also entered Reutimann automatically into the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
. Reutimann would go on to finish the season 16th in the point standings, a personal best.
Reutimann won his second career race at the 2010 LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
in the #00 TUMS Toyota, after chasing down Jeff Gordon
and passing him for the lead. Reutimann would pull away and lead the rest of the race, after a late charge by Carl Edwards
died off.
, and got some damage, but that wouldn't be the highlight of his day. On the final lap, Boris Said
turned David Ragan
entering the esses. Ragan came back onto the track and hit Reutimann, who hit the ARMCO barrier, and he rolled over spectacularly after the hard hit. He was mostly unscathed.
Reutimann also had a run in with Kyle Busch
at Kansas Motor Speedway, as Kyle Busch entered turn two on lap 53 at Kansas, the front of his #18 Toyota made contact with the rear of the #00 Toyota of David Reutimann. The touch sent Reutimann spinning into the SAFER Barrier on the outside of turn two. Busch continued on and was still in the top-10 on lap 156 when he had another encounter with Reutimann. As the duo exited turn two with Busch on the high side and Reutimann's car on the low side, Reutimann's car moved up and slammed into the left side of Busch's machine, causing severe damage to the rear of the M&M's Toyota. Reutimann's car spun and was much more damaged and spent time in the garage, finishing 35th, 11 laps down. Some quotes from drivers David Reutimann and Kyle Busch, and team owner Michael Waltrip:
Michael Waltrip quote:"There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect. Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann's chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented. I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR's drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so."
Reutimann quote: "I don't care if you're in the Chase or not, you need to think about who you're running over when you're running over them. I don't care who you are. If you're in the Chase, you have as much responsibility to drive with respect as I do to everybody else. If you guys want me to feel bad about what happened today, I feel bad, yeah, that our car got wrecked and it ruined our day. That's what I feel bad about. He just rolled over me. I'm on the bottom of the race track and he had the whole top of the race track to go to, and he run over me. I got wrecked."
Busch quote: "It's just really unfortunate," Busch said. "These guys work their butts off to put ourselves in the Chase and to have the opportunity to try to go after a championship and to have it end up like it did today is disappointing. The guy (Reutimann) was loose. He said it on the radio. He slid up off the bottom and I got into him unintentionally and just spun him out. My fault 100%, but then the retaliation to a guy that's in the Chase that's racing for something& he'll be here next year. He could've wrecked me in any of the first 26 races next year. That would've been fine. It's just hard to swallow something like a day like today where we had a solid top-five car going."
Before he was a full-time race car driver, Reutimann worked briefly for United Parcel Service
, which in 2008 became his primary sponsor for the rest of that season.
Reutimann owns a Shelby Mustang GT500 that was given to him by Rob Kauffman,co-owner of MWR,when he won at the Coca Cola 600.
Tums
TUMS is an antacid made of sucrose and calcium carbonate manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in St.Louis, Missouri, USA. It is a non-prescription drug and available at many retail stores, including drug stores, grocery stores and mass merchandisers. It provides relief from acid indigestion, heartburn,...
/Best Western
Best Western
Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series. He is the son of Buzzie Reutimann
Buzzie Reutimann
Emil Lloyd "Buzzie" Reutimann is a former NASCAR driver from Zephyrhills, Florida. He is the father of current driver David Reutimann. Reutimann was inducted into the Dirt Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame in 2006.Reutimann began working on...
, who made one NASCAR start in 1963.
Early career
Reutimann, a third-generation racer, began his racing career in dirt-track modifieds and late models before moving up to the Slim Jim All Pro SeriesNASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series. The drivers who have graduated from this series include Shawna Robinson, Rick Crawford,...
in 1997. He was named Rookie of the Year, finishing in the top-ten eight times and had a fifth-place points finish. The next season, he dropped to seventh in points, but received the Sportsmanship award at season's end. After several years, Reutimann got his first three wins in 2002 and finished second in the overall championship standings.
That same year, Reutimann made his Busch Series debut at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
. Driving the #87 Geico
GEICO
The Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance...
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
for NEMCO Motorsports
NEMCO Motorsports
NEMCO Motorsports is a NASCAR team that is owned by driver Joe Nemechek and his family. After a two-year hiatus, NEMCO Motorsports fielded full time entries in both the Cup and Nationwide Series in 2009 with driver Joe Nemechek. It carried the number 87 in both Cup and Nationwide. The team ran...
, Reutimann started thirty-fourth but finished sixteenth. He led twelve laps at his next race at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
, and finished in the top-fifteen in each of his next two races. The following season, he ran seven Busch races for NEMCO, finishing fifth at Nashville Speedway USA and The Milwaukee Mile, as well as qualifying Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
's car on the pole at Memphis. He also attempted the New England 300 and the Brickyard 400 in the Winston Cup Series in the #04 for Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports is an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time until 2007 and now occasionally attempts races. It has been in operation for 27 years, starting in 1982. The team is most notable for running the #4 from 1983 to 2009.-Starting...
, but failed to qualify both times.
In 2004, Reutimann signed on with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports was a NASCAR team owned by three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip. It was formed in 1991 when Waltrip resigned from Hendrick Motorsports to start his own team, and was originally named DarWal, Inc....
to race the NTN Bearings truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. Winning the pole in his second race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
, Reutimann had four top-fives and finished 14th in points, garnering Rookie of the Year honors. Reutimann won his first career race in 2005
2005 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season began February 18 and ended November 18. Ted Musgrave of Ultra Motorsports was crowned the season's champion.A rule change affected the qualification process in 2005...
at Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
, and ended the season thirteenth in points. He also made his Cup debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
, driving the #00 State Fair Corn Dogs Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
for Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
. He finished 22nd. He went winless in 2006, but had two poles and finished third in the championship standings. He also made fifteen Busch starts and had four top-tens.
Cup Series
Sam's Town 250
The Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 presented by the Southern Dodge Dealers was a NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car race that took place at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tennessee. The 2007 race had twenty-five caution periods, ten more than any other Nationwide Series race that has been...
at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
for his first career Busch Series win, and Toyota's second win in Busch Series competition. He finished second overall in the Busch Series' last season before becoming the Nationwide Series
In 2008, Reutimann ran the first five races of the season
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
in the #00 car, before taking replacing the retiring Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
in the #44 UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
ride and handing the #00 ride over to rookie Michael McDowell.Reutimann scored his first career top 10 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
during the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
with a 10th place finish. He also recorded top 10's at the Auto Club Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, and the Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
. At the Richmond race in September, Reutimann led a race high 104 laps, but fell to 9th place. In the season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
, Reutimann claimed his first career pole position. He became the 23rd driver to win poles in all three of NASCAR's top series.
For 2009, Reutimann moved back to the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine. Reutimann competed in a limited Nationwide Series schedule, splitting time with MWR and Braun Racing. On May 25, Reutimann scored his first Sprint Cup win in the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
at Lowes Motor Speedway. With this victory, David became the 20th different driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's top series (Winston/Sprint Cup series, Busch/Nationwide series, and Craftsman/Camping World Truck Series). This race was the 50th Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
at Lowes Motor Speedway. He also became the first driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to win a race without leading a lap under green. In addition, he was the first driver to ever win with the #00 in the NASCAR Cup Series This also entered Reutimann automatically into the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXVI
The NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race XXVI was the 26th running of NASCAR's special non-points race involving winners of the 2009 and 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races through the 2010 Autism Speaks 400 as well as Sprint All-Star Race XVI-XXV winners, when the event was known as...
. Reutimann would go on to finish the season 16th in the point standings, a personal best.
Reutimann won his second career race at the 2010 LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
in the #00 TUMS Toyota, after chasing down Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
and passing him for the lead. Reutimann would pull away and lead the rest of the race, after a late charge by Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
died off.
2011
Reutimann spun early at Watkins GlenWatkins Glen
Watkins Glen can refer to:* Watkins Glen, New York, a village in New York state* Watkins Glen International, a race course near the village* Watkins Glen State Park, a state park in Watkins Glen, New York...
, and got some damage, but that wouldn't be the highlight of his day. On the final lap, Boris Said
Boris Said
Boris Said is an American race car driver from Carlsbad, California but considers his hometown to be Stamford, Connecticut. His father, Bob Said, was a Formula One race driver and US Olympic bobsled driver in 1968 and 1972. He drove the #26 Ford Fusion for Latitude 43 Motorsports in the NASCAR...
turned David Ragan
David Ragan
David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season...
entering the esses. Ragan came back onto the track and hit Reutimann, who hit the ARMCO barrier, and he rolled over spectacularly after the hard hit. He was mostly unscathed.
Rivalry with Kyle Busch
In the Irwin Tools Night Race in August, Busch passed Reutimann during the final 100 laps and won the race. Reutimann finished second. In Victory Lane, Busch said he was simply a better driver than Reutimann.Reutimann also had a run in with Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
at Kansas Motor Speedway, as Kyle Busch entered turn two on lap 53 at Kansas, the front of his #18 Toyota made contact with the rear of the #00 Toyota of David Reutimann. The touch sent Reutimann spinning into the SAFER Barrier on the outside of turn two. Busch continued on and was still in the top-10 on lap 156 when he had another encounter with Reutimann. As the duo exited turn two with Busch on the high side and Reutimann's car on the low side, Reutimann's car moved up and slammed into the left side of Busch's machine, causing severe damage to the rear of the M&M's Toyota. Reutimann's car spun and was much more damaged and spent time in the garage, finishing 35th, 11 laps down. Some quotes from drivers David Reutimann and Kyle Busch, and team owner Michael Waltrip:
Michael Waltrip quote:"There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect. Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann's chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented. I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR's drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so."
Reutimann quote: "I don't care if you're in the Chase or not, you need to think about who you're running over when you're running over them. I don't care who you are. If you're in the Chase, you have as much responsibility to drive with respect as I do to everybody else. If you guys want me to feel bad about what happened today, I feel bad, yeah, that our car got wrecked and it ruined our day. That's what I feel bad about. He just rolled over me. I'm on the bottom of the race track and he had the whole top of the race track to go to, and he run over me. I got wrecked."
Busch quote: "It's just really unfortunate," Busch said. "These guys work their butts off to put ourselves in the Chase and to have the opportunity to try to go after a championship and to have it end up like it did today is disappointing. The guy (Reutimann) was loose. He said it on the radio. He slid up off the bottom and I got into him unintentionally and just spun him out. My fault 100%, but then the retaliation to a guy that's in the Chase that's racing for something& he'll be here next year. He could've wrecked me in any of the first 26 races next year. That would've been fine. It's just hard to swallow something like a day like today where we had a solid top-five car going."
Personal life
Reutimann lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, with his wife Lisa and daughter Emilia (born 2001). They are members of Berea Baptist Church in Mooresville.Before he was a full-time race car driver, Reutimann worked briefly for United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
, which in 2008 became his primary sponsor for the rest of that season.
Reutimann owns a Shelby Mustang GT500 that was given to him by Rob Kauffman,co-owner of MWR,when he won at the Coca Cola 600.