David wrapped up in wreck in Nationwide Dega race by Kellyanne Lynch
26 April 2008
A lapped car came off pit road for a restart and took out half the field, including Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann. David came back to finish thirteen laps down in 20th in the Aaron's 312, today's Nationwide Series race at Talladega. His #99 Aaron's Dream Machine was running 4th when Kevin Lepage cut in beside him and bumped Mike Wallace into him.
Tony Stewart led the field to the green flag. David started 27th. Brad Keselowski took the top spot during the run.
The yellow flag waved for the first time on lap 10. Dario Franchitti's right rear tire blew, and he hit the wall. Larry Gunselman ran into him hard. Franchitti had to be helped from the car and was limping. The leaders pit under caution. Robert Richardson III stayed out to lead a lap. When he pit, Dwayne Leik led. Leik stayed out for two laps before making a stop.
Keselowski led the restart on lap 16 with David running 6th. The #99 was up to 5th one lap into the run. Lap 18 saw Jason Leffler take the lead. David picked up 4th.
The second caution came out on lap 20. Scott Wimmer was running five-wide when he lost a tire and hit the wall with no contact with anyone else. Justin Ashburn received the free pass. David was back to 5th at the point of caution. Under yellow, ESPN talked with crew chief Jerry Baxter, who said he was running minimum tire pressures.
Racing resumed on lap 24 with Leffler leading and David in 5th. One lap into the run, the Aaron's Dream Machine was 4th. The outside line gained power, and Tony Stewart was pushed into the lead on lap 26. David was 8th, riding the inside groove. He was 14th on the next circuit. By lap 29, David rode 18th, and he lost another spot one lap later. Lap 31 saw him in 16th, but he was 19th the next time around the track. Meanwhile, Bowyer came back on track. Because he entered the track improperly, he had to serve a pass through penalty.
David was back to 24th on lap 34. He was 22nd one lap later and 21st one lap after that. Lap 37 saw him in 17th, and he was 19th the next time around the track. The Aaron's Dream Machine was 21st on lap 39.
Brad Coleman took the lead on lap 40. When Stewart reclaimed the lead one lap later, David moved up to 18th. The #99 was back to 21st on lap 41.
The third caution came on lap 43 for Eric McClure's spin. David was 20th. Scott Wimmer got the free pass, and Ashburn had just gone to the garage. Leaders pit under caution. Stewart was the first driver back on track, but Morgan Shepherd stayed out to lead a lap. Donnie Neuenberger led when Shepherd pit.
Stewart led the lap 46 restart with David running 25th. The #99 was 23rd one lap into the run. Mike Bliss pit on lap 49 to change right side tires. David was 20th on the same lap.
Dale Earnhartt Jr took the lead on lap 50. David was up to 11th but was 19th one lap later. He hopped back up to 12th on lap 52 and was 10th the circuit after that. David was 12th on lap 54. He popped up to 9th the next time around the track but was 11th one lap later. David ran 12th on lap 57. On lap 59, the #99 was 9th. He was up to 7th by lap 61. He was having an issue with overheating. His crew said they'd be in trouble if the water temperature hit 250. It was at 225. David was 6th when the yellow flag waved.
The fourth caution was on lap 62 after David Ragan spun off Turn 2. Reed Sorenson had bump-drafted him in the corner. Leaders made stops under caution. David gained four spots on pit road and came off 2nd.
Stewart led the restart on lap 66. David was 2nd. Earnhardt Jr passed the #99 on the back straightaway.
With 47 to go, Kevin Lepage drew the fifth caution. He was shooting off pit road one lap down and rammed into Mike Wallace, who hit David. Carl Edwards was bumped up into the air. Many cars got swept up into the wall.
"Lapped car just wrecked the whole field, Jerry," David's spotter and cousin Shawn Reutimann said.
A number of drivers were collected such as Kenny Wallace, Kelly Bires, Brad Keselowski, Stephen Leicht, Cale Gale, Kyle Krisiloff, Kyle Busch, Patrick Carpentier, Marcose Ambrose, Jason Keller, and Reed Sorenson. NASCAR brought out the red flag at 4:44pm. David was on pit road, and the crew tried to figure out what they would do to the car. The red flag lifted at 5:08pm, and the field returned to yellow. Drivers made stops.
Stewart led when the green flag waved with 43 laps to go. David was two laps down in 22nd. He had to return to pit road for re-entering the track improperly. He was four laps down in 24th with 40 laps to go. He was six laps down on lap 80 as he went to the garage. He held steadily at nine laps down by lap 84. Cale Gale and Kyle Busch were both black-flagged for not maintaining minimum speed. David lost a tenth lap on lap 88.
The yellow flag waved for the sixth time on lap 88. DJ Kennington spun. Coleman and Brett Rowe were collected in Turn 2. Some drivers made stops, but the leaders stayed out.
Racing resumed on lap 93 with Stewart in the lead. David was ten laps down in 23rd, having passed Gale who was off the track. On lap 95, Coleman scraped the wall, but racing continued as he went to pit road. The next time around the track, David went an eleventh lap down.
The seventh caution was on lap 98. Who knows why.
Stewart led the lap 102 restart. David was eleven laps down in 21st. He was 20th on lap 107. On lap 111, David lost a twelfth lap. He was sixty miles an hour slower than the rest of the field.
The eighth caution was on lap 112. It was likely for David Ragan and for Robert Richardson Jr.
The green flag returned on lap 115. Stewart led, and David was twelve laps down in 20th. He had just been lapped a thirteenth time when Tony Stewart picked up the win.