Reutimann, Kvapil finalists for MWR No. 00
By Mark Ashenfelter
Saturday, September 02, 2006
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DAVID GRIFFIN / NASCAR SCENE /
FONTANA, Calif. - David Reutimann and Travis Kvapil are the finalists to drive Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 00 Toyota in 2007, but a decision may be several weeks away.
Waltrip wouldn't name the second finalist, but a source familiar with the process said that Kvapil, who currently drives for PPI Motorsports, is the other driver under consideration by sponsors Burger King and Domino's Pizza.
Waltrip hoped the choice would be made by now, but things haven't gone as quickly as planned when it comes to coordinating meetings with the team's co-sponsors.
"It's more of a deal now where we just need to all reconvene," Waltrip said Friday. "We presented all the options to 'em and I told Ty [Norris, the team's vice president and general manager] we would be proud to have either one of [our choices] and we'll see what happens."
Kvapil wouldn't name the two teams he's talking with besides PPI Motorsports, which is still working to nail down its sponsorship for next season.
"I told Cal [Wells, PPI's owner] six weeks ago that we were going to try to figure out which way we were going at the end of August," Kvapil said. "I think a couple of other teams I've been talking to are going to make decisions here shortly, too. It's kind of a wait and see as to how it all shakes out.
"I like some of the things Cal's trying to do for the future of his team. I think he realizes the days of a single-car team are probably limited, so he's trying to either expand himself or form an alliance or do something to help his team in the future produce on the track."
Reutimann met with executives from Domino's Pizza on Aug. 29, but a meeting with Burger King executives in Florida didn't materialize as a tropical storm was bearing down on the state. Reutimann returned to North Carolina unsure of where things stand, though he felt the meeting went well.
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And he's taking a realistic approach to the process.
"Nobody made any promises," Reutimann said. "It's just something that we were going to go try. I didn't really expect to have any decisions when we left there."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- David Reutimann
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