David Reutimann's #99 Aaron's Dream Machine ran in the 30's throughout the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Michael Waltrip Racing entry finished 36th and two laps down in this Busch Series event.
David began tonight's race from 29th. Denny Hamlin led the field to the stripe at 9:19pm ET. Second place starter Ron Hornaday ducked under for the top spot. Hamlin held it, and led lap one.
One lap into the race, David lost a spot to John Andretti.
Lap 7 saw the first caution, after John Andretti's #10 loosened Mike Wallace's #1 into a spin. The incident bounced David up to 29th.
Racing resumed on lap 12. The yellow flag immediately returned one lap into the run when Johnny Sauter turned David Gilliland. Mike Skinner also dropped through the ranks, allowing David to pick up 26th.
The green flag returned on lap 16. Six laps later, Jeff Burton's pass dropped David a spot.
The third caution came on lap 23; Ron Hornaday spun Clint Bowyer through Turn 2. Bowyer's drop gained back 26th for David. The #99 pit under yellow.
Racing continued on lap 28. Hamlin led, and David was 33rd. The #99 lost a spot to Paul Menard's #11 on lap 32.
A multi-car accident drew the yellow flag for the fourth time on lap 34. Drivers involved included PJ Jones, Randy MacDonald, Ashton Lewis Jr, Shane Hall, Johnny Sauter.
Lap 39 saw the restart. Hamlin led, and David was 33rd. Doughnuts were observed on the right side of his #99, and the side panel appeared a bit crumpled.
Mark McFarland passed on lap 43, dropping the #99 to 34th. Three laps later, David lost another spot to Ashton Lewis Jr, and he lost another to David Gilliland on lap 52. The Aaron's Dream Machine was now 36th.
The fifth caution came on lap 55 for oil on the race track from PJ Jones' #43. Most drivers pit; Hamlin was one of eleven drivers who stayed on-track. Following stops, David ranked 33rd.
Racing resumed on lap 59, and Hamlin continued to lead. David passed Morgan Shepherd one lap into the run for 32nd. Randy MacDonald and Mike Wallace passed on lap 64, dropping the #99 to 34th. John Andretti got around him one lap later, and Steve Park passed two laps after that. David fell to 37th when Justin Diercks passed him on lap 69.
The Aaron's Dream Machine regained 36th to Randy MacDonald on lap 73; however, Kyle Busch passed three laps later.
The yellow flag waved for the sixth time on lap 77. David Gilliland got into Burney Lamar's left rear and spun Lamar's #77. Some of the drivers who hadn't pit under the last caution chose to make stops. NASCAR assessed Carl Edwards a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road.
Lap 82 saw the restart. Hamlin led, and David ran 31st. Harvick's #21 looked under Hamlin's #20 for the top spot. The two ran side-by-side, and Harvick was marked with the top spot on lap 85. Soon, the #21 was ahead by three seconds.
Meanwhile, David lost a spot to Carl Edwards' #60. He picked up 31st to Erin Crocker on lap 90; however, Crocker's #98 passed back David the next time around the track. David regained the spot one circuit later, and he rose to 30th on lap 94 with a pass on Justin Diercks.
The #99 lost spots within the next several laps. Burney Lamar passed on lap 99, and one lap later, Mike Skinner got around David in the #12. Kyle Busch passed on lap 104, and Steve Wallace did on lap 105. Lap 107 saw Erin Crocker pass. The Aaron's Dream Machine was now 35th, and it fell off the lead lap on lap 108. NBC's Allen Bestwick noted that David was smoking.
David gained 34th to Gilliland on lap 112. At this point, Harvick was four seconds ahead of Reed Sorenson in second.
Passing Tim Sauter gained the #99 one spot on lap 125; he was now 33rd.
The seventh yellow came on lap 131 when Tim Sauter's #36 spun. He had slowed significantly before the independent accident. Jason Leffler received the free pass back onto the lead lap. Some leaders chose to pit under yellow.
Racing resumed on lap 135, with David in 35th and one lap down. Harvick led, but five cars restarted at the tail end of the lead lap.
The yellow flag returned for the eighth time four laps into the run. Aric Almirola's #19 got into Jason Keller's #66 in 10th, and many others made contact with one another.
Lap 143 saw the restart. Harvick rapidly gained two seconds on second place, and David quickly gained 34th. Tim Sauter passed the #99 on lap 154, but Auggie Vidovich lost a spot to the #99 on lap 160. Fourteen laps later, David fell a second lap down. Harvick was two and a half seconds ahead of second place Sorenson.
The nineth caution came on lap 181 for debris in Turn 4. Kenny Wallace received the free pass, and some drivers pit.
The race resumed on lap 188. David was 36th, two laps down, as Harvick continued to lead the field. The #21 went on to win.
Watch Michael Waltrip Racing's #00 tomorrow at Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Coverage starts at 2:00pm ET on NBC.
