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Reutimann Ready For Double Duty

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Special to the Tribune

Published: February 3, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH - David Reutimann knows just how hectic a racing schedule can be while competing for two NASCAR series. But that's fine with him.

Reutimann is one of four drivers scheduled to run full-time in NASCAR's Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series this season.

It will be the second consecutive year the Zephyrhills native has tackled both circuits while driving for Michael Waltrip Racing. Reutimann finished as the runner-up in the Busch Series (now known as the Nationwide) standings last year. He had one victory and had five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

He was busy this week preparing for a run at this year's Nationwide Series title, participating in NASCAR's Preseason Thunder testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"We did it last year," Reutimann said of his double-duty effort. "When we were getting things worked out to do it this year, I let everybody at Michael Waltrip Racing know that I wanted to do it again. You don't always have the opportunity to be with great race teams and have the opportunity to win championships, no matter what series you're in. In the Nationwide Series we have that caliber of team with Aaron's, Michael Waltrip Racing and crew chief Jerry Baxter. I was insistent on doing it again. It certainly wasn't something I was forced into doing."

Reutimann said, however, that running both schedules can become demanding.

"It can get pretty hectic, but you kind of get use to it," he said.

While 26 of the 35 Nationwide events on this year's schedule are companion races to the Sprint Cup Series, the stand-alones can be more demanding.

"With the races that are not in conjunction, where you have to get out of practice early with one car and jump on a plane and fly to another race track, it can get a little hectic," Reutimann said. "I think the thing that is even more hectic sometimes is jumping out of a car and going from one side of the garage to the other. You're just consistently running back and forth."

Traveling from one track to another actually offers him a break, Reutimann said.

"I enjoy the travel part of it. It's easy for me. The people that put it all together, it's tough on them."

Reutimann says his busy schedule pales in comparison to the pace his father, Buzzie Reutimann, maintained at one point in his racing career.

"He raced a lot. He would run four or five nights a week, tow his own race car and work on the car. He was a one-man show pretty much, just with a couple of volunteer guys. My schedule may seem a little hectic, but I don't think my schedule would compare to it."

Reutimann raced for Darrell Waltrip in the Craftsman Truck Series from 2004-06, finishing third in the standings in his final season in that series. He was named to drive full-time for Michael Waltrip Racing in October 2006.

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