David Reutimann sick at Bristol, Aric Almirola to drive his car in practice
BRISTOL, Tenn. – David Reutimann is sick with an upset stomach, and Aric Almirola will drive the No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing car at least during the first practice session Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver, who is 18th in the Sprint Cup standings, was not feeling well Friday morning. Almirola had said he expected to qualify the car Wednesday afternoon as well but Reutimann was well enough to get in the car with about 30 minutes left in the first 2-hour practice Friday.
"I guess he got food poisoning and has been in the hospital all night," Almirola said prior to practice. "I want to be in a race car, and if somebody calls and they says they have an opportunity for me, I want to race. I have no clue [about the race]. They asked me this morning if I could do it and I didn't have anything here [as far as uniform and helmet] and they started rounding stuff up. I'm borrowing a little bit of everything from everybody."
Almirola is used to being in a stand-by role. He was the back-up driver for Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon while their wives were expecting children recently.
Almirola will drive Reutimann’s car during practice from noon-2 p.m. EDT today. Reutimann possibly could drive in the final practice from 2:45-3:30 p.m.
Qualifying is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. at the half-mile concrete oval.
