By Kellyanne Lynch, mikeypower.com
18 November 2006
Michael Waltrip Racing's #99 Aaron's Dodge finished 12th with driver David Reutimann in the Ford 300, today's Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
David started 11th, with Kevin Harvick on the pole. Harvick led every lap in the first run and the #99 moved up to 9th when the yellow flag waved.
The first yellow came on lap __ when Sam Hornish Jr's #39 spun into the wall.
Racing resumed on lap 8. One lap into the run, Steve Wallace passed and dropped David to 10th. Lap 13 saw Brian Vickers pass. That lap, Dale Earnhardt Jr looked under the #99, but David held him off. He looked to Wallace's outside next and got back around him on lap 16. Within the next two circuits, however, Earnhardt Jr's #8 passed.
On lap 24, Matt Kenseth dropped under Harvick and took the lead. Todd Kluever got around David eight laps later, and Paul Menard passed two laps after that. The #99 was now 13th. David picked up 12th from Bobby Labonte on lap 36. His car was very loose, and owner Michael Waltrip suggested adjustments to the crew over the team radio.
The second caution was on lap 45. A leak in the #41 car ignited the car. Driver Reed Sorenson parked in the grass and jumped out immediately. Drivers pit, but Juan Pablo Montoya stayed on the track to pick up the lead in his #42. When he pit, Casey Atwood took the lead in the #27; however, he also pit before the restart.
Racing resumed on lap 53 with Harvick in the lead and David in 14th. He had just passed Brian Vickers when the yellow flag waved.
A multi-car accident drew the third caution on lap 54. Stacy Compton had slowed dramatically. Jason Leffler hit Bobby Labonte's #77 and pushed him into Stephen Wallace's #64, which spun and collected a cone in the grill. Ron Hornaday was also collected.
Lap 58 saw the restart. Harvick led, and Greg Biffle faded and pit. David was 11th.
On lap 61, the yellow flag waved for the fourth time when Auggie Vidovich's #4 spun off Turn 4.
Racing resumed on lap 65. Harvick led, and David was 11th.
Two laps later came the fifth caution. Kyle Busch got loose under David, spun, and slid up the track and hit Shane Huffman.
Harvick led the lap 75 restart with David in 11th. On lap 91, Kenseth and Edwards both passed; the #17 was now in the lead. Edwards took the top spot one lap after that, but Kenseth took it back. Back in the pack, Reagan Smith passed David on lap 106. The #99 dropped dramatically through the ranks on the next lap and fell two laps down. David was 31st.
Green flag stops began on lap 116 with Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Two laps later, Kenseth pit, and Paul Menard took the lead. Menard pit the next time by, allowing JJ Yeley to take the top spot. With Yeley's stop on lap 121, Smith took the lead. Smith pit, and Vickers led the field next on lap 125. David was now 18th and one lap down. He was 17th the next time around the track.
On lap 133, Jon Wood's #47 passed high and took the lead from Vickers' #57. David picked up 16th two laps later but was still lapped. Wood and Vickers pit at the end of the track. Wimmer got the lead, and David returned to the lead lap.
Kenseth took the lead on lap 138, and David moved to 15th. Although the #99 picked up a spot one lap later to Casey Atwood, David lost the lead lap again. On lap 143, he gained 13th.
Lap 168 saw the sixth yellow flag for debris. Kasey Kahne received the free pass. Drivers made stops. Carl Edwards was the first driver back on track, and David came out 14th.
Edwards led the lap 172 restart with David in 15th.
Three laps later, the seventh caution came out. Reagan Smith spun, and NASCAR gave the free pass to Johnny Sauter.
Racing resumed on lap 179 with Edwards leading and David 12th. Ten laps from the end, Kenseth took the lead. The #17 went on to win, and David came in 12th.
