David Reutimann

David Reutimann is an American former stock car racing driver. He recorded more than 440 starts in all three NASCAR national series between 2002 and 2014, winning four times. His best result was second place in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series and third place in the 2006 Truck Series. In 2004, he was Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series.

David Reutimann

Third-generation driver in a family

Emil David Reutimann was born on March 2, 1970, in Zephyrhills, Florida, as a third-generation driver in a family. His father Buzzie Reutimann was also racing driver, with one start in the 1963 NASCAR Grand National Series.  David began his racing career in dirt-track modifieds and late models in 1994. In 1997, he moved to the Slim Jim All Pro Series in 1997. He was awarded Rookie of the Year, finishing fifth in the points. His best season in the Pro Series was 2002 when he scored three wins and finished second in the overall standings.

NASCAR debut in 2002

On May 3, 2002, David debuted in the NASCAR Busch Series, driving the #87 Chevrolet for Nemco Motorsports in the Hardee's 250 at Richmond International Raceway. He finished 16th in his NASCAR debut. Reutimann was even better in the next two attempts, finishing 12th at Memphis and 15th at North Carolina Speedway.

In 2003, Reutimann continued to drive in the Southwest regional series. In the Busch Series, he combined #88 and #87 Nemco Motorsports' Chevrolets.In April 2003, at Nashville Superspeedway, Reutimann reached his first Top 5 result, finishing fifth. He repeated fifth place in June at Milwaukee Mile.

#17 Toyota Tundra was Reutimann's car for three seasons

First full NASCAR season in 2004

In 2004, Reutimann entered the full NASCAR Truck Series season with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, to drive the #17 Toyota. He won the pole in the second round, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing third in the race. With five Top 5 finishes, Reutimann was 14th in the points and earned the Rookie of the Year award.

Maiden NASCAR win at Nashville

In 2005, the #17 Toyota scored four Top 5 finishes before Reutimann's maiden NASCAR victory, on August 13 at Nashville Superspeedway. Reutimann finished 13th in the final classification of the Craftsman Truck Series. In October, David debuted in the Nextel Cup Series, driving the #00 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Michael Waltrip Racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He finished 22nd.

In 2006 Truck Series, Reutimann had no wins, but two pole positions and nineteen Top 10 finishes brought him the third place in the final standings. His best result was third place at Gateway Motorsports Park. During 2006, he also had fifteen starts with four different cars in the Busch Series, finishing four times among ten best drivers.

The #00 Toyota was Reutimann's Cup Series car for five seasons

First Cup Series season in 2007

The time for the graduation to the full-time Nextel Cup job came in 2007. Reutimann joined Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the #00 Toyota in the Nextel Cup, but also the #99 Toyota for the full season in the Busch Series.  On February 25, Reutimann suffered a minor concussion, a cracked rib and few bruises in a crash at Auto Club Speedway, after Greg Biffle tapped his bumper and sent him into the wall. Despite the injuries, he returned to the track the next weekend in Mexico City for the Busch Series race.

David was Nationwide Series runner-up in 2007

Reutimann's best Cup Series result was 13th place at Richmond International Raceway and he finished 39th in the points. On the other side, he had a career-best season in the Busch Series, finishing twelve times in Top 10, including one victory. Reutimann scored his first and only Busch Series win in October, in the Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. At the end of the season, David was second in the points, behind Carl Edwards.

First Cup Series pole position

In 2008, Reutimann repeated a double program with Michael Waltrip Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. In the Sprint Cup Series, he progressed to the 22nd position at the end of the season, after three Top 10 results. He ran the first five races in the #00 car, before taking over the #44 car from retiring Dale Jarrett and handing the # 00 car to rookie Michael McDowell. In the season's finale at the Homestead-Miami, Reutimann claimed his first career pole position.

In the Nationwide Series, Reutimann dropped to the seventh place, scoring fifteen Top 10 finishes, but without victories. He was closest to win at Memphis, finishing second behind Carl Edwards.

2009 Coca-Cola 600 winner

Victory in the red-flagged 2009 Coca-Cola 600

For 2009 season, Reutimann moved back to the # 00 Toyota. It was his career-best Sprint Cup season, as he finished 16th in the points and scored his maiden Cup victory, in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25. After the race was delayed due to rain, a rain shower interrupted the race on lap 227, when Reutimann was in the lead. The race was red-flagged and after one hour of waiting, the officials declared that the rain would last for the remainder of the night and called the race, thus giving Reutimann his first victory.

In the 2009 Nationwide Series, he competed for a limited schedule, splitting time in the Michael Waltrip Racing # 99 Camry and Braun Racing's #10 and #32 Toyotas. His best result was fifth place at Richmond, in the #32 car.

Victory celebration at Chicagoland Speedway

One more Sprint Cup victory at Chicagoland

In 2010 season, Reutimann had s strongest start in the Cup Series, finishing fifth at Daytona 500. He repeated the fifth place at Dover and Charlotte before he scored his second Sprint Cup victory in the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 10. Reutimann led for 52 of 267 laps and won ahead of Carl Edwards. Later in the season, David finished second at Bristol Motor Speedway, to end the season 18th in the points.

Disappointing last season with MWR

After two good Cup Series season with MWR, the disappointing 2011 followed. The highlight of the season was second place in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, but besides that he had only two Top 10 finishes. Reutimann finished the season 28th in the points. The agreement with Michael Waltrip Racing wasn't confirmed and Reutimann left the team.

Lots of different cars in 2012 season

For 2012 season, he  signed up to drive for part-time with BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. As part of an alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing, Reutimann shared the # 10 Chevrolet, which was fielded by TBR, with rookie Danica Patrick.

He was also driving BK Racing #93 Toyota in two races, Phoenix Racing #51 Chevy in one race and Xxxtreme Motorsport #44 Ford in one race. In total, Reutimann collected 25 races during 2012 in four different cars, finishing best in the 11th place at Daytona's  Coke Zero 400. He also participated in three races of the Truck Series in the #92 RBR Racing Chevrolet.

#83 Toyota was Reutimann's car in 2013

Last full season in the BK Racing's Toyota

For 2013, BK Racing hired Reutimann to drive the #83 Toyota Camry, replacing Landon Cassill. Reutimann started the season with 16th place finish at Daytona 500. It turned to be his best result in a whole season. The struggling team didn't reach Top 20 any more and Reutimann finished 33rd in the points. He and the team parted ways, so Reutimann entered the season 2014 without a ride.

In 2014, it was a time for retirement

In March, Reutimann joined Front Row Motorsports to drive the #35 Ford. He failed to qualify at Bristol Motor Speedway but entered the next race at Auto Club Speedway. He had two more DNQs and two more starts. Reutimann's last race was Toyota Owners 400 in April at Richmond International Raceway, where he finished 29th.

Building race cars

It was the end of his NASCAR career, but not the end of Reutimann's involvement in the motorsport. He returned to the family business of building race cars. His project is the Beak Built Chassis, a better quality dirt Modified race car.

David Reutimann and his Beak Built Chassis

Photos: mwrdavidreutimann.blogspot.hr, us-racing.com, kentuckyspeedway.com,