David Reutimann Fast Facts for Bristol

Twitter Question of the Week: @ragan6braunfan asks what you like best about racing at Bristol?

"I love Bristol. What makes it a fun track to race at is the action it produces. It reminds me of an old Saturday night modified dirt race that I grew up competing in."

Opinion on the "new Bristol" racing surface:

"It's hard to say - I'm really indecisive. I still think it provides some of the best racing a short track can produce. It's just now you don't bounce around as much because the track's so smooth. However fans shouldn't get worried, the more we race on the new surface the more beating and banging you'll see. Plus, don't forget to add in the double-file restarts factor."

In 11 trips to Bristol, you have seven finishes in the top-12, including two 3rd-place finishes. Why do you think you've had success there?

"It's a Tennessee track, so I consider it a great track for me. For some reason, if it's a track in that state then I tend to race well there and Bristol is not an exception. It just suites me because you have to grind your way to the front and I think you learn that if you grow up racing on short dirt tracks."

Impact of running in the Nationwide Series at Bristol:

"Additional laps at any track help you. For example, you can determine tire wear or were to set other drivers up to pass. At Bristol with a new surface, it can help in establishing the best areas to run on the track."

Goals for this weekend at Michigan:

"Keep chipping away with top-ten finishes and stay in contention for the Chase."

2009 NSCS Points Standings: Reutimann is currently in 16th, 118 points behind 12th place.

Chassis Information: The No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Bristol is chassis No. 625. This chassis competed at Las Vegas and finished 4th. It also ran at Michigan in June.

Race Information: Watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in action at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 22. Race coverage for the Sharpie 500 begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

David Reutimann - Carfax 400 Preview

Impact of a second straight Monday race because of a rain-delay:

"It just sets everyone back - whether it's scheduling for that week or teams getting prepared for next weekend’s race. For most, it's just a headache and we all prefer to get it in on Sunday if possible. But we understand that a rain-out could happen any given weekend."

Deciding on a racing groove as the team moves from a track with limited passing opportunities to a wide-open track at Michigan:

"I think every driver has a groove that they prefer to race but it's really dictated by the way our Toyota Camry is handling. For example, if the Aaron's Dream Machine is tight down low and is pushing up on the bottom then maybe running the high line will help that."

Lessons from the earlier trip to Michigan:

"I'm pretty familiar with how to drive at Michigan but every race helps you learn, especially with the communication between Rodney and myself. For the most part, it helps the team work on the car and make it handle better. That's how you win races - with the handling of the Aaron's Dream Machine. So each race track that Rodney and I come back to our communication should grow stronger."

Goals for this weekend at Michigan:

"We're on the bubble, so a top-ten finish or better in the Aaron's Dream Machine is essential to stay alive for the Chase."

2009 NSCS Points Standings: David Reutimann is currently in 16th, 155 points behind 12th place.

Chassis Information: The No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Michigan is chassis No. 641, a brand new Aaron's Dream Machine.

Race Information: Watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in action at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 16. Race coverage for the CARFAX 400 begins at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

REUTIMANN FINISHES 25TH AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 10, 2009) – David Reutimann arrived in Watkins Glen 121 points out of 12th place in the points standings and in need of a solid finish to keep from falling too far behind with only a handful of races before the cutoff for the Chase. While Monday’s “Heluva Good! at The Glen” might not have gone as well as he hoped, Reutimann’s 25th-place finish was enough to keep him within striking distance of the top 12 in points.

To prepare for the second road course on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup schedule David Reutimann spent a lot of time training with road-course specialists and teammates Patrick Carpentier and Marcos Ambrose. “The more practice you get the better prepared you become,” said Reutimann. “Basically, each additional lap I make at a road course the more I learn about how I should drive these tracks.”

Starting 25th, Reutimann struggled with a loose Aaron’s Dream Machine, but crew chief Rodney Childers and the Aaron’s crew went to work on Reutimann’s first pit stop on lap 17. The No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine got four new tires and an air pressure adjustment to help the handling.

When the second caution came out on lap 23 Childers opted to keep his driver on the track. Knowing that passing is difficult at Watkins Glen, this pit strategy would work in their favor, pushing Reutimann up to 16th.

On lap 63, NASCAR threw a red flag, stopping the race action to clean up the debris from a horrific accident involving Sam Hornish, Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton. When the race restarted Reutimann was in 17th.

During the late stages of the race Reutimann fell back into the 29th position after getting a bump from the No. 08 of Boris Said, but was able to battle back to finish 25th.

“It’s a little disappointing,” said Reutimann. “I was hoping to gain some ground on the Chase contenders and it looked like that might happen, but we did the best with the car we had at the end. We’ll regroup and I know Rodney and the guys will give me a great Aaron’s Dream Machine for Michigan next week.”

After Monday’s 25th-place finish, Reutimann maintained his 16th position in the driver’s points. With four races left before the Chase, he’s only 155 points behind 12th place Matt Kenseth.

Tony Stewart held off Reutimann’s teammate Marcos Ambrose to pick up the win. Rounding out the top five were Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle.

Next week the Sprint Cup series returns to Michigan International Speedway for the Carfax 400 on Sunday, August 16. ESPN will provide television coverage beginning at 1 p.m.

David Reutimann Races a Fan

Who: David Reutimann, driver of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota and No. 99 Lowes Foods Toyota Camry Michael Waltrip Racing entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series

What: David Reutimann to race a NASCAR fan in a grocery store shopping spree at a Lowes Foods store. Grocery bags will be placed throughout the store and whoever finds the most in a specified amount of time will win the competition.

This is an opportunity for media to cover/shoot the shopping cart race between Reutimann and a fan and to also conduct one-on-one interviews with him following the shopping competition.

When: Tuesday,August 11, 2009, 12 p.m. ET

Where: Lowes Foods #225, 11124 Renaissance Drive, Davidson, NC 28036

David Reutimann Watkins Glen - Fast Facts

Feelings on road courses and whether they should be part of the Sprint Cup season or the Chase:

"I'm not saying I dislike road courses - it's just a type of race track that I haven't learned to excel at yet. I grew up racing dirt cars on short tracks, so turning left and right has been something new that I'm trying to master. With that said, I believe having every type of track makes a driver complete, but for my sake I hope they leave them out of the Chase."

Differences between Watkins Glen and the other road course on the circuit, Sonoma:

"First of all, almost all of the turns are different than those at Sonoma. Sonoma has slow turns - where as the Glen has faster corners. These variations in the corners mean you have to shift and pedal the throttle totally different than you do at Sonoma."

What you learned from the earlier road course race at Sonoma that may help you at Watkins Glen:

"It's like in other sports - the more practice you get the better prepared you become. Basically, each additional lap I make at a road course the more I learn about how your must drive these type of tacks."

Goals for this weekend at Watkins Glen:

"What happen last weekend was unfortunate and hurt our chances of making the chase. Still, the Aaron's team is focused on making up as many points as possible before the cut off point. If I can keep the Aaron's Dream Machine on the track and stay out of trouble then I'm confident we can come away with a solid finish."

2009 NSCS Points Standings: David Reutimann is currently in 16th, 121 points behind 12th place.

Chassis Information: The No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Watkins Glen is chassis No. 617. This is the same Aaron's Dream Machine that ran at Sonoma and finished 12th at Bristol.

Race Information: Watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in action at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 9. Race coverage for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen begins at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.