Reutimann downplays weekend number shift, focuses on learning track
By SceneDaily Staff
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
- TEXT SIZE: Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Reset Text Size
- No Comments. Leave a Comment
- Digg This
- Add to Del.icio.us
- RSS Feeds
Latest Headlines
- Chase glance: Lowe's Motor Speedway
- Kevin Harvick Inc., Craftsman Truck Series driver Jack Sprague part company
- AJ Allmendinger to drive Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 00 Toyota at Charlotte
- Brad Keselowski, Bryan Clauson and Scott Speed on preliminary Cup entry list
- ABC’s overnight Talladega Sprint Cup TV ratings slip 4.8 percent
CONCORD, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing’s David Reutimann will return to the team’s No. 00 Toyota this weekend, but he says that doesn’t really signify anything but a change in logos.
The driver opened the season in the No. 00 and then moved to the No. 44 after five races when teammate Dale Jarrett retired from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points racing. Jarrett had already agreed, however, to return to the No. 44 for one final race – this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. So Reutimann will shift back to the No. 00, and Michael McDowell, who has been driving the car since the sixth race of the season, will be sidelined for the weekend’s non-points event.
Reutimann will have his current crew chief, Ryan Pemberton, and crew for the Sprint Showdown, the qualifying event for the all-star race. He will need to finish in the top two to earn a berth in the main event or earn the fan vote into the race.
“We’ll break out the old uniforms and put a little different paint job on the cars we’ve been racing – same team, everything will stay the same,” he said Tuesday during NASCAR Nationwide Series testing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Just like when we made the switch … if people can keep up with that.”
He says that one can learn a lot in the 20-lap race since everyone is on the same tires and racing under the same conditions. It will give teams much more information than the recent Cup test session at the track did – and provide them with a chance to test things under race conditions.
Obviously, the goal is to advance into the main event and get as many laps on the track as possible. If that’s not possible, though, Reutimann says the race will still be helpful.
“Our goal is to get there and get as much exposure and as many laps as I can in the new car … keep the car intact and be able to come back and debrief,” he said.
- Mentioned Drivers:
- David Reutimann
No Comments
Be the first to comment on "Reutimann downplays weekend number shift, focuses on learning track". Login or sign up for a free account below to post your comment