David 15th In BGN Dover Race by Kellyanne Lynch
2 June 2007
After started at the back of the field, dodging two wrecks, and picking up damage in another, David Reutimann finished 15th in today's Busch Series race at Dover International Speedway. His Michael Waltrip Racing entry - the #99 Aaron's Camry - also hung onto the lead lap.
Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin led the field to the green flag just after 3:00pm ET. David rolled off 35th. Within the first couple laps, the #99 Aaron's Dream Machine picked up six spots by group of cars along the inside. David gained four more spots within the next four laps. Kevin Conway dropped him back to 26th just before the yellow flag waved.
The first caution came on lap 11 for Brent Sherman. Matt Kenseth had gotten loose under Sherman and pushed him up the track and into the wall. Robert Richardson Jr received the free pass back onto the lead lap. David made a stop during the caution.
The race went back to green on lap 16. Hamlin led, and David was 34th. Kevin Harvick took the lead just after the restart. Three laps into the run, the #99 had gained four spots. Lap 20 saw David pass Morgan Shepherd for 29th. Within the next five laps, the Aaron's Dream Machine was up three positions.
Shane Huffman hit the wall hard, drawing the second caution. Kyle Krisiloff received the free pass. Drivers pit under caution, and David was 22nd after his stop.
Racing resumed on lap 45 with Hamlin leading. Shortly after the restart, Greg Biffle took the lead; however, Hamlin took it right back. Meanwhile, David picked up 21st by lap 50 and was up to 20th four laps later.
Carl Edwards took the lead while the #99 was making its gains, on lap 51. David continued advancing through the field; he was 18th by lap 66 and 17th on lap 80.
Lap 85 saw the third caution. Robert Richardson got a flat right front tire and hit the wall. Carl Edwards led the pack onto pit road two laps later.
Racing resumed three laps later with Edwards leading and David in 19th. JJ Yeley slowed on the track and went to pit road. Greg Biffle also had to make a stop; he had a left rear flat. Meanwhile, David was picking up positions. He was up to 17th by lap 93 and had gained two more three circuits later. Getting around Stephen Leicht on lap 101 allowed the Aaron's Dream Machine to move into the 14th spot. David picked up another position when Jeff Burton had to pit.
The yellow flag waved for the fourth time on lap 117 for debris against the outside retaining wall. Drivers made stops under caution. Although David Ragan got off pit road first, he was sent to the tail end of the longest line on the restart for a speeding violation.
Edwards led the lap 123 restart with David in 18th. The fifth caution came out during that first lap back to racing. Steve Wallace's lapped car had run up into Mike Wallace, who hit the wall and got a flat tire. As he attempted to slow and to get off the track, Ragan piled into Leicht, while David went into the grass to avoid them. He was now 17th.
NASCAR red-flagged the race to clean up debris from the multi-car accident. A few minutes later, NASCAR brought out the yellow flag.
Lap 130 saw the restart. Edwards led, and David was 18th. Passing Ward Burton gained the #99 one spot one lap into the run. David got around Reed Sorenson and Jason Keller within the next two laps. He passed Juan Pablo Montoya and Marcos Ambrose by lap 136, and four laps later, picked up a spot from Jason Leffler.
Debris on the track brought out the sixth yellow on lap 159. The field retook the green five laps later with Matt Kenseth leading. The yellow returned moments later, and David was involved.
The seventh caution was on lap 165. Kevin Conway, who was three laps down, moved up into Regan Smith in Turn 4. David slowed and was rear-ended by Reed Sorenson. NASCAR red-flagged the race for the second time today on lap 167. Several minutes later, the yellow returned.
Racing resumed on lap 171 with Kenseth leading and David in 17th. Greg Biffle was slow on the restart, and Kevin Harvick got into his rear end. Kasey Kahne pushed him the rest of the way around.
NASCAR drew the eighth caution for Biffle's spin. The green flag returned with 25 laps to go. Kenseth led, and David was 18th and still on the lead lap. The Aaron's Dream Machine passed Brad Keselowski and Ward Burton one lap into the run and moved into 16th.
Montoya ran into the back of Keller and spun the #11, bringing out the ninth caution. The contact happened right in front of David, who squeezed by the spinning #11 along the outside.
"All clear. Keep digging, baby! Good job!" said the #99 spotter.
With 17 laps left in the race, the field retook the green flag. Kenseth led, and David was up to 14th. Four laps later, Edwards moved into the lead. Meanwhile, Ward Burton passed the #99 and moved him back to 15th. Biffle got around the Aaron's Dream Machine one lap later.
NASCAR brought out the tenth caution for Brad Keselowski with ten laps to go. David was now back to 18th and was the last driver on the lead lap.
Edwards led the field to the restart with five laps left in the race. Because Montoya and Dave Blaney had pit, David was 16th. Blaney got back around the Aaron's Dream Machine by lap 197.
The race ended under caution for a multi-car accident that involved Greg Biffle, Ward Burton, and Dave Blaney. Carl Edwards went on to win while David finished 15th.
Be sure to watch Mikey and Dale in tomorrow's Nextel Cup race! Coverage of the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa begins at 1:00pm ET on FOX.