SPARTA, KY (June 14, 2008) Racing in two NASCAR series again this weekend and splitting his time between Michigan International Speedway and the Kentucky Speedway, David Reutimann brought home a 13th place finish in the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine at Kentucky after struggling with an ill handling racecar most of the evening Saturday.  With severe weather in the area Friday, Reutimann did not get a chance to practice in the Dream Machine and his first laps in the car were his two qualifying laps three hours before the race.
 
Starting the 200-lap event in the 14th position, it only took a handful of laps before Reutimann would report that something was wrong with the car, saying that it would not turn and that the front end seemed to be bouncing.  Crew Chief Jerry Baxter would bring him down pit road at the first caution flag on lap 13 and make a major adjustment to both of the front shock absorbers hoping to steady the car around the 1.5-mile tri-oval.

Despite losing a great deal of track position due to the pit stop, the changes helped the bouncing, but the Dream Machine was still a handful and Reutimann wanted more front grip through the turns on his next stop. 

Unfortunately a long green-flag run ensued and Reutimann would not be able to make his second stop until lap 71.  Coming into the pits under green for tires and fuel, the Dream Machine fell one-lap down in the 22nd spot.  When the caution did come out on lap 79, Baxter ordered Reutimann down pit road again and made major chassis changes. This time the changes made a difference and the car started running fast, consistent lap times.

Working his way into position to be granted the Aaron’s Lucky Dog free pass when the next caution flag waved, the caution didn’t come and Reutimann was stuck in the 17th position.  After running 30-laps waiting for the next caution, it seemed that the Dream Machine could not get the break it needed to get back on the lead lap despite running upfront with the top five. 

With 37 laps to go, the caution flag came out when the No. 18 spun, and Reutimann finally got the Aaron’s Lucky Dog and restarted 16th, the last car on the lead lap.  One last pit stop for new tires and another chassis adjustment proved to hurt more than help in the closing laps. 

Moving up to 14th with 25 laps to go, Reutimann again had his hands full of an ill-handling Dream Machine and could not make up any time on the cars ahead of him.  David would pick up one position in the closing laps to finish 13th.

Despite the average finish, Aaron’s received considerable coverage on television and radio before and during the race.   ESPN interviewed David before the event and also installed an in-car camera for close-up action shots during the race. That attention along with the pit reporters noting the team’s struggles several times throughout the broadcast, gave Aaron’s some excellent exposure.

Reutimann dropped one position from second to third in the Nationwide Series driver points race, but is only 175 points out of first place.  The next race for Reutimann and the Aaron’s Dream Machine will be at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, WI next Saturday at 8:30 PM eastern and can be seen live on ESPN2.