David 5th in Milwaukee by Kellyanne Lynch
21 June 2008
David Reutimann finished 5th in the Milwaukee 250, tonight's Nationwide Series race. The chassis in his #99 Aaron's Dream Machine was the one he'd used to win at Memphis.
When asked about his run, David said, "It was okay. We just fought being loose at times and tight at others. All in all, the car drove pretty good. We had about a fifth- place car and that's where we ended up."
David arrived at the track just in time to qualify the #99 Aaron's Toyota this afternoon. Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner was on hand to run time trials for the #99 team if David were unable to make it. Skinner had also prepared the car, ranking 3rd in Happy Hour. Just after the helicopter carrying David landed at the track, crew chief Jerry Baxter took the car out of line. The #99 was put on the five minute clock, giving David time not only to get to his car but to talk with Skinner about the car before his qualifying run. His time was 5th quickest, and he was the only Sprint Cup series driver who made it to the track in time to qualify his own car.
The call to start engines came at 8:38pm ET. Brad Keselowki led the field to the green flag ten minutes later; David started 5th. The #99 Aaron's Dream Machine fell one position during the first lap to Kelly Bires' #47 but picked up two spots the next time around the track. Getting around Landon Cassell put David in 3rd by lap 5.
The first caution came on lap 19. Mike Wallace had cut down on Clint Bowyer's nose when going three wide. He spun and collected Brad Coleman, who was on his outside. Brad Teague received the free pass.
Lap 24 saw the restart. Keselowski held off Mike Bliss to keep the lead. David passed Bliss on lap 39 for 2nd.
The yellow flag waved for the second time on lap 55. Carl Edwards had spun out David Stremme, who saved his car from the wall. Steve Wallace received the free pass. The leaders pit, and David lost three spots. Joey Logano hit David twice while leaving pit road. Burney Lamar picked up the lead but pit before the restart.
Keselowski led the restart on lap 60. Two laps later, Bliss took the top spot. David was 5th. Twelve laps into the run, Scott Wimmer's #29 got around the #99.
At the front of the field, Keselowski reclaimed the lead on lap 85.
The third caution came on lap 87 for Travis Kittleson's spin. David had just been passed by Carl Edwards. He and the rest of the leaders went to pit road. James Buescher was the first driver back on track. David fell to 28th after getting a speeding penalty on pit road. The #99 returned to pit road for more gas.
Buescher led the restart on lap 90 with the #99 in 28th. He lost the lead to Keselowski moments later.
Two laps into the run, David had picked up four spots. He was up two more stops after two more circuits. Passing Kittleson on lap 95 put him in 21st, and getting around Mark Green one lap later gained him 20th. David was 19th on lap 97 by going past Chase Miller. He picked up 18th on lap 100 and 17th on lap 103. He was 15th on lap 106 after passing Marcos Ambrose and David Stremme. On lap 107, he gained a spot from Buescher. Lap 143 saw David pick up 13th from Cale Gale.
Chase Miller's lapped #9 ran into and spun Colin Braun, drawing the fourth caution on lap 149. Drivers made stops, and Keselowski barely beat Logano off pit road.
David was 12th when racing resumed on lap 154. Keselowski led. The yellow flag returned one lap later for the fifth time for Stremme. Mike Wallace had slowed dramatically in front of Stremme, and Ambrose got into him. David was marked in 11th.
Keselowski led the lap 159 restart with David running 11th. Four laps later, David got around Jason Keller and moved into the top ten. He passed Cassell for 9th just before the yellow flag waved.
Gale got into Braun and spun him out, bringing out the sixth caution on lap 165.
Racing resumed on lap 168 with Keselowski leading and David in 9th. Two laps into the run, the Aaron's Dream Machine was 8th after David got around Jason Leffler. On lap 172, Logano ran into the side of Keselowki and caused the leader severe tire rub. Logano's #20 was now in the lead.
David passed Mike Bliss for 7th on lap 175. Ten laps later, he got around Wimmer for position; however, he lost the spot to Bliss on lap 178.
The seventh caution was on lap 205 for debris. Drivers made stops under caution, and David lost two spots on pit road. Logano slammed into Bowyer twice coming off pit road, and Bowyer nudged him back.
Steve Wallace led the restart on lap 209. Edwards immediately went for the lead. The pair went three-wide with Bowyer, and Edwards took the lead. Bowyer dropped inside him and took the top spot.
Meanwhile, David restarted 9th but picked up 8th two laps into the run. Lap 212 saw David in 7th. Five laps later, he picked up 6th from Steve Wallace.
The eighth caution was with 29 laps to go when Kittleson spun.
Racing resumed with 26 laps to go with Bowyer leading and David in 6th. One lap into the run, Edwards claimed the top spot.
With 22 laps to go, Miller cut down in front of Steve Wallace and spun himself out. The caution was out for the ninth time.
Edwards led the restart on lap 231 with David running 6th. Five laps into the run, he picked up 5th. Edwards went on to win while David picked up a top 5.
Tune into TNT tomorrow at 3:00pm ET for the Sprint Cup race at Infineon.
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DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finished: 5th
Having not practiced the car, how did it handle during tonight's race?
"It was okay. We just fought being loose at times and tight at others. All in all, the car drove pretty good. We had about a fifth- place car and that's where we ended up."
Can you talk about the run through the field after your pit road violation?
"We had a good car. The closer you get to the front, the harder they are to pass. The 20 (Logano) managed to block us in about every time we came in. That lost us spots every time. It was my fault for speeding off pit road, but I was just so aggravated for getting blocked in. I blew that."
How hard is it to pass on this track?
"It takes a long time. Track position is pretty important here. Track position is important everywhere, but this place is a pretty tough place to pass on. All in all, it was a good effort. I'm happy."