Fender Damage Hurts Dream Machines Shot At Win

LOUDON, NH (June 28, 2008) David Reutimann collected his tenth top-ten finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway Saturday.  His No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine was one of the fastest cars all day and Reutimann had a great chance to get his first win of the season until contact late in the race damaged the right-front fender and hurt the handling.

Starting in the 12th position, Reutimann quickly moved forward and broke into the top-five in only 40 laps.  After the team’s first pit stop on lap 46, the Dream Machine was turning its fastest laps of the race and was the fastest car on the track.  Carefully moving by some of the biggest names in NASCAR, Reutimann took the second spot on lap 78 and set his sights on leader Kyle Busch.

After the second pit stop on lap 100, Reutimann put the pressure on the No. 18 of Busch and moved into the lead on lap 111 after an exciting side-by-side, five-lap battle. 

Caution came out with 73 laps to go and Crew Chief Jerry Baxter ordered the Dream Machine down pit road for four tires, fuel and a slight chassis adjustment.  However, many teams took only two tires and/or fuel only, and the Dream Machine lost some track position and Reutimann restarted ninth.

Working his way back through the field, Reutimann came into contact with the No. 16 and knocked in the right-front fender.  The damage hurt the cars handling through the turns and the Dream Machines lap times suffered.  Reutimann would hang on to cross the finish line in seventh.

“These cars are sensitive and the damage hurt the handling.” Reutimann said after the race.  “We had a real good car today and the pit stops were good.  We were in position there before that last stop and I guess a two-tire change was the way to go. But we’ve been beaten on the two-tire deal before, so I think four was the right call. The fender damage just hurt us there at the end.”

Reutimann’s march through the field and leading for 20 laps was well documented by ABC television and PRN radio and as a result, Aaron’s garnered tremendous national exposure.  The Dream Machine’s progress was featured throughout the race and highlighted when Reutimann battled Busch for the lead midway through the race. 

Reutimann’s seventh place finish moved him into the second position in the driver points championship race, 182 behind leader Clint Bowyer.  The No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine moved Michael Waltrip Racing into fourth in the owner points championship.

The next race for Reutimann and the Aaron’s Dream Machine will be this Friday at the Daytona International Speedway.  You can catch all of the action on ESPN 2 Friday, July 4 at 8:00 PM.