Solid Top-Five Keeps Aaron’s Dream Machine Fourth in Championship Points

DOVER, DE (May 31, 2008) David Reutimann collects his fourth top-five finish of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Dover International Speedway Saturday with a strong fourth place run at the famous Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware. 

It looked as if it would be a long weekend in Dover this Friday when the primary Aaron’s Dream Machine caught fire after turning three laps in the first practice and the crew had to bring out the backup car.  A loose fuel line fitting at the carburetor spilled racing fuel across the engine and the fire burned intensely before the track’s fire crew extinguished the flames. But the damage was enough to have to park the car.  However, the Michael Waltrip Racing team worked feverishly to prepare the backup Dream Machine in time for Friday’s second practice and setup the car to Reutimann’s liking. 

Saturday morning’s qualifying session earned Reutimann a 15th place starting position for the 200-lap afternoon event, but heavy rain moved into the area and postponed the start of the race for three hours. 

When the sky’s cleared and the race began, Reutimann wasted no time moving forward through the field and broke into the top-ten on lap-25. 
Midway through the race, the pit crew performed a solid pit stop changing four tires and filling the tank with fuel in 13 seconds and gained three spots moving the Dream Machine into the top-four.  But trouble further down pit road between two other front-runners moved Reutimann into the second position for the restart.  Reutimann would not fall out of the top-five for the second half of the race.

Restarting fifth with 40 laps to go, Reutimann flirted with third after a hard battle with the No. 64 of David Stremme but could not finish the pass.  As the laps wore down, Reutimann settled into fourth and crossed the finish line with a solid top-five.

"We finished fourth in a back-up car.  Overall it was a pretty good effort.  I have to thank Aaron's and everybody at Michael Waltrip Racing. These back-up cars seem to go pretty good,” Reutimann stated after the race.  “We were just a little too tight in the center to run with those guys when we needed to.  The pit stops were awesome; those guys did a great job there. All in all it was a good day and I have no complaints.”

Aaron’s gained excellent television and radio coverage as Reutimann’s performance was highlighted during pit stops and key moves throughout the race, especially his battle with Stremme. 

The fourth place finish kept Reutimann in the fourth position in the Nationwide Championship Points race, only 166 points out of first place.  The next race for the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine will be Saturday, June 7 at the Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, TN.  Reutimann will be splitting his time between Nashville and Pocono, PA where he will be racing his No. 44 UPS Sprint Cup car.