For Reutimann, Talladega a Day of What Could Have Been

David Reutimann went into turn 3 Sunday at Talladega with four laps to go in third position. The next time by at that same point in the track, Reutimann's day would have went up in smoke -- figuratively and literally.

Driving a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, Reutimann was by and far having the best day of the year for any team out of that stable. He had driven a smart race and pit strategy had gotten him in position to stay at the front of the pack. Reutimann wasn't planning on any aggressive moves to the lead. Instead, he just wanted grab a solid day and plenty of momentum for his struggling team.

Instead, his engine had other ideas.

"I'm so bummed out. I had a chance to run pretty good today, I thought. That stuff happens and I'm just disappointed for the whole team," said Reutimann.

Reutimann's engine exploded off of turn 4, bringing out the day's second to last yellow, and the hopes of the new guys in the Toyota camp. Reutimann wound up 32nd.

"Today was just a situation where stuff breaks no matter how hard you work on it. We'll regroup and we still have a good speedway car for Daytona so we'll go from there."

I'd imagine most of the components in Reutimann's Toyota were not especially designed to run 500 miles at Talladega because of his go or go home status in qualifying. The impound procedure at Talladega causes teams that need to make the race to qualify with faster, but less enduring parts -- and that could have led to Reutimann's demise Sunday.

All in all though, it's a step forward for MWR and Toyota.