May 24, 2008
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600
David Reutimann (born March 2, 1970, in Zephyrhills,
FL) is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #44 UPS Toyota
Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series and the #99 Aaron's Toyota Camry
in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He is the son of
Buzzie Reutimann, who made one NASCAR start in 1963.
Reutimann, a third-generation racer, began his
racing career in dirt-track modifieds and late
models before moving up to the Slim Jim All Pro
Series in 1997. He was named Rookie of the Year,
finishing in the top-ten eight times and had a
fifth-place points finish. The next season, he
dropped to seventh in points, but received the
Sportsmanship award at season's end. After several
years, Reutimann got his first three wins in 2002
and finished second in the overall championship
standings.
That same year, Reutimann made his Busch Series
debut at Richmond International Raceway. Driving the
#87 Geico Chevrolet Monte Carlo for NEMCO
Motorsports, Reutimann started thirty-fourth but
finished sixteenth. He led twelve laps at his next
race at Memphis Motorsports Park, and finished in
the top-fifteen in each of his next two races. The
following season, he ran seven Busch races for
NEMCO, finishing fifth at Nashville Speedway USA and
The Milwaukee Mile, as well as qualifying Greg
Biffle's car on the pole at Memphis. He also
attempted the New England 300 and the Brickyard 400
in the Winston Cup Series in the #04 for
Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but failed to qualify
both times.
In 2004, Reutimann signed on with Darrell Waltrip
Motorsports to race the NTN Bearings truck in the
Craftsman Truck Series. Winning the pole in his
second race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Reutimann had
four top-fives and finished 14th in points,
garnering Rookie of the Year honors. Reutimann won
his first career race in 2005 at Nashville
Superspeedway, and ended the season thirteenth in
points. He also made his Cup debut at Lowe's Motor
Speedway, driving the #00 State Fair Corn Dogs
Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Michael Waltrip. He
finished 22nd. He went winless in 2006, but had two
poles and finished third in the championship
standings. He also made fifteen Busch starts and had
four top-tens.
Reutimann moved up to the Nextel Cup Series in 2007
with Waltrip Racing, carrying sponsorship from
Burger King and Domino's Pizza and a Raybestos
Rookie of the Year Candidate. Late in the season, he
won the 2007 Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports
Park for his first career Busch Series win, and
Toyota's second win in Busch Series competition. He
finished second overall in the Busch Series' last
season before becoming the Nationwide Series.
Reutimann's #00 racecar in early 2008In 2008,
Reutimann plans to run the first five races of the
season in the #00 car, before taking over former
champion Dale Jarrett's #44 UPS ride and handing the
#00 ride over to rookie Michael McDowell. (Jarrett
is planning to retire mid-season.) Reutimann also
plans to run the full Nationwide Series schedule in
the #99 car.
Reutimann lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, with
his wife Lisa and daughter Emilia (born 2001). They
are members of Berea Baptist Church in Mooresville.
Before he was a full-time race car driver, Reutimann
worked briefly for United Parcel Service, who in
2008 became his primary sponsor.
