Michael Waltrip Racing looking for sponsors for David Reutimann as well as Waltrip
FONTANA, Calif. – Michael Waltrip wants to race next year but the priority at Michael Waltrip Racing is to fill the sponsorship for Sprint Cup driver David Reutimann next year, MWR vice president and general manager Ty Norris said Sunday.
Depending on how deals fall in the next few weeks, Reutimann could have as many as 12 races open. Aaron’s is going to be the sponsor for half the season for Reutimann.
“We may be as few as six or as many as [needing] 12,” Norris said prior to the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. “It depends on how contracts fall the next couple of weeks. … We are going to make some announcements in the next two or three weeks on a number of other [sponsors].”
Waltrip, who is going to be replaced by Martin Truex Jr. next year as the driver of the NAPA-sponsored car, is going to run the Daytona 500 for NAPA.
“Past that, we’re in the starting blocks,” Norris said. “We want to run him in as many races as possible. It’s going to be [a] new expense, so we need to have new sponsorships to do it.”
Not out of the question is a full Nationwide season for Waltrip.
“Michael just wants to race,” Norris said. “He doesn’t feel like he’s done. He’s in the best shape he’s ever been in. He’s mentally there. He’s really working hard in the gym to get ready, and I just think he’s not ready to hang it up.”
