Consider yourself lucky! Two History of NASCAR Driver entries in one day! This will be a shorter one, however, as I will be covering the most recent pole winner, David Reutimann.
David Reutimann#00 Aaron's Toyota Camry
Michael Waltrip Racing
Starts (as of 4/4/09): 69
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 5
Poles: 2
David Reutimann was born in sunny Florida, in Zephyrhills on March 2, 1970. Reutimann is a third generation racer who started with modifieds and late models. He started his professional career in the Slim Jim All Pro Series, winning three races there, and moved up to the Busch Series in 2002 with Joe Nemechek's NEMCO Motorsports. He tried a hand in the Winston Cup series in 2004 with Morgan-McClure Motorsports but failed to qualify for both races. He later found his niche in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004 with Darrell Waltrip and found success there while also running a few Busch races. In 2007 he was pegged by Michael Waltrip to drive one of his Cup Series cars full-time.
2005
David Reutimann was tapped by Michael Waltrip to drive his #00 State Fair Corn Dogs car for one race in 2005, at the fall Charlotte race. Reutimann finished decently, in 22nd place and on the lead lap.
2007
With Michael Waltrip starting a three-car operation as the flagship team for new NASCAR manufacturer Toyota, Michael Waltrip had himself and Dale Jarrett so he plucked longtime associate David Reutimann from the Truck Series to drive the #00 Burger King/Domino's Toyota. As a whole, Michael Waltrip Racing had a tough 2007 as the team failed to qualify for races a total of 44 times. Reutimann had the most starts that season, with 26 out of the 36 races. He failed to record a single top 10 and struggled with an average finish of 30.5. It was not a year to remember.
2008
For 2008, Dale Jarrett decided on retirement and was planning to run only the first five races of the season in his #44 UPS Toyota. Reutimann started the season in the #00 Aaron's Toyota and had to make every race on time... which he did and firmly planted the #00 in the top 35. He handed the reigns of the #00 to MWR developmental driver Michael McDowell and went on to pilot the #44 UPS Toyota vacated by Jarrett. Unfortunately Jarrett left the #44 almost out of the top 35 and two DNFs the first two races Reutimann was in the #44 forced him outside the top 35. But this time around, Reutimann, as well as boss Michael Waltrip, was able to make all 36 races. He also started to show that he was becoming a competitive driver near the end of the season where he nearly won the fall race at Richmond after leading the most laps and winning the pole for the last race of the season. He also recorded his first career top 10 and ended with four for the season. After his horrible rookie year, his sophomore season saw him improve considerably as he finished 22nd in the points standings.
2009
With the #44 reverting back to Petty Motorsports ownership and UPS moving on to Roush Racing, Reutimann was moved back to the #00 Aaron's Toyota. Lack of sponsorship was a concern before the season started with Aaron's only sponsoring the car for half the races. Michael Waltrip, however, convinced Aaron's to sponsor the car for the entire season. More was expected of him for 2009 and he was able to relax by not having to qualify on time for the first five races of the season. At Las Vegas he recorded his first career top five and has only finished worse than 20th once so far this season. With an in-joke nickname The Franchise (now plastered on his car), he proved his franchise worth by taking the pole away from Jeff Gordon for this weekend's race at Texas. Currently he stands as a Chase contender, sitting 11th in points and not budging with consistent finishes.
2005
David Reutimann was tapped by Michael Waltrip to drive his #00 State Fair Corn Dogs car for one race in 2005, at the fall Charlotte race. Reutimann finished decently, in 22nd place and on the lead lap.
2007
With Michael Waltrip starting a three-car operation as the flagship team for new NASCAR manufacturer Toyota, Michael Waltrip had himself and Dale Jarrett so he plucked longtime associate David Reutimann from the Truck Series to drive the #00 Burger King/Domino's Toyota. As a whole, Michael Waltrip Racing had a tough 2007 as the team failed to qualify for races a total of 44 times. Reutimann had the most starts that season, with 26 out of the 36 races. He failed to record a single top 10 and struggled with an average finish of 30.5. It was not a year to remember.
2008
For 2008, Dale Jarrett decided on retirement and was planning to run only the first five races of the season in his #44 UPS Toyota. Reutimann started the season in the #00 Aaron's Toyota and had to make every race on time... which he did and firmly planted the #00 in the top 35. He handed the reigns of the #00 to MWR developmental driver Michael McDowell and went on to pilot the #44 UPS Toyota vacated by Jarrett. Unfortunately Jarrett left the #44 almost out of the top 35 and two DNFs the first two races Reutimann was in the #44 forced him outside the top 35. But this time around, Reutimann, as well as boss Michael Waltrip, was able to make all 36 races. He also started to show that he was becoming a competitive driver near the end of the season where he nearly won the fall race at Richmond after leading the most laps and winning the pole for the last race of the season. He also recorded his first career top 10 and ended with four for the season. After his horrible rookie year, his sophomore season saw him improve considerably as he finished 22nd in the points standings.
2009
With the #44 reverting back to Petty Motorsports ownership and UPS moving on to Roush Racing, Reutimann was moved back to the #00 Aaron's Toyota. Lack of sponsorship was a concern before the season started with Aaron's only sponsoring the car for half the races. Michael Waltrip, however, convinced Aaron's to sponsor the car for the entire season. More was expected of him for 2009 and he was able to relax by not having to qualify on time for the first five races of the season. At Las Vegas he recorded his first career top five and has only finished worse than 20th once so far this season. With an in-joke nickname The Franchise (now plastered on his car), he proved his franchise worth by taking the pole away from Jeff Gordon for this weekend's race at Texas. Currently he stands as a Chase contender, sitting 11th in points and not budging with consistent finishes.
Notable Special Schemes
2007 Brooklyn-style PizzaFans were able to vote for which pizza and paint scheme would win, between Brooklyn-style pizza or Philly Cheese Steak-style pizza. Obviously Brooklyn-style won and the scheme was run at the spring Talladega race.
2007 Burger King/Domino'sFor the Nextel Open, Burger King and Domino's were both primary sponsors for the race.
2007 The Simpsons MovieRan at Indianapolis to promote Burger King's involvement with The Simpsons Movie.
2008 Kentucky DerbyA staple sponsor for the UPS car to promote the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. This scheme ran at the first Talladega race.
2008 Toys for TotsRan at the Labor Day California race to promote Toys for Tots.
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