David Reutimann complimentary of Joey Logano's NHMS fuel strategy
Michael Waltrip Racing driver David Reutimann finished fourth in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. // Jim Fluharty, NASCAR Scene
LOUDON, N.H. – Far be it from Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann to comment in anything but a complimentary manner on someone's fuel strategy.
Reutimann applauded the decision Sunday for Joe Gibbs Racing's Joey Logano to stay out and gamble on fuel strategy as rain threatened the ending of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Lenox Industrial Tools 301. Logano pushed his fuel toward the limit and earned his first career Cup victory when the race was halted after 273 laps.
Reutimann, who won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway last month, quickly pointed out that he wouldn't be one to question the victory.
"I'm not going to complain," he said. "I'm not going to complain about a guy winning a rain-shortened event."
Reutimann and crew chief Rodney Childers were taking some gambles of their own, embarking on a plan that resulted in a fourth-place finish despite damage to the car. Reutimann was caught up in a multicar accident on lap 175, one that resulted in its own red-flag period.
He managed to stay on the lead lap, and then benefitted by his own fuel strategy to net the top-10 finish.
"We were just about out on fuel so we weren't going to go too many more laps under yellow until things went [bad] … We had a top-10 car all day and we just got jammed up and the thing got bent up and it wasn't ever the same after that," Reutimann said. "In the end, I thank the Lord that Rodney made the right call at the end – again."
Reutimann remained 14th in the standings, but is just 12 points outside of the top 12 and a berth in the Chase For The Sprint Cup when that field is set after nine more races.
