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Newman Scolds Reutimann After Qualifying Wreck

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2009

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DAYTONA BEACH - Zephyrhills' David Reutimann drew the ire of Ryan Newman after he knocked the defending Daytona 500 champion into the wall in Thursday's second Daytona 150-mile qualifying Duel.

On Lap 48, Reutimann appeared to bump-draft Newman's No. 39 Chevy before he had gotten the car pointed straight on the backstretch. Newman hit the wall hard and will have to go to a backup car for Sunday's race.

"Reutimann is a good name for him, because he rooted the man right out of the way," Newman cracked.

Reutimann, who ran in the top five before finishing 15th, admitted he made a mistake.

"I wasn't trying to wreck him," he said. "I messed up. He ought to be mad. I'd be mad, too. His team - he and Tony Stewart and everybody that owns that deal - I apologize. I thought I was helping him."

Newman had to drop to the rear of the field because of an engine change at the start, but he had worked his way into contention before the wreck.

"Why hit a guy like that?" Newman said. "I never touched anybody with my front bumper the whole race. It's not necessary. He was driving over his head, that's the bottom line."

DREAM REALIZED: Tampa's Aric Almirola will start ahead of five former Daytona 500 winners when he makes his first start in NASCAR's biggest race Sunday.

With his fifth-place finish in the first Duel, he secured the 11th starting spot. Among those who will line up behind him are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Bill Elliott and Newman.

"This is special for me and my family," Almirola said. "I was 8 years old when I first came to Daytona, and it always has been a dream of mine to race here. I'm excited to race in my first Daytona 500 knowing I've spent many years in those grandstands watching and now I'm going to be on the track."

Almirola joined the leaders after crew chief Doug Randolph called for two fresh tires instead of four on a Lap 50 pit stop.

"We decided to just go with two tires at the end because the car was handling so good," Almirola said. "Anytime you can come out of a qualifying race and have your car in one piece, it's a good day."

Rick Harmon, Tony Fabrizio

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