Warning: Objects in this post may be the only way to successfully live through the NASCAR off-season. For best results, read rearview mirror early and often.
Driver: David Reutimann
Team: No. 44 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
'08 Final Standing: 22rd (-3287)
Best Race: California (Sept.) & Richmond (Sept.) (9th-place)
Worst Race: Samsung 500 at Texas (41st-place)
Season in a box: In 2008, David Reutimann illustrated further how the driver from Zephyrhills, Fla., has the talent to compete in NASCAR's top series despite his lack of competitive equipment.
Reutimann really started to hit his stride in 2008 when the series was looking at more races in its rear-view mirror than ones left. At the rain-delayed Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond, Reutimann made a pit gamble to gain track position, but the gamble payed off in the form of 104 led laps and the 9th-place finish. He followed that finish up with three-straight finishes in the Top-20.
Reutimann later picked up another Top-10 at Texas Motor Speedway after leading some laps and finished the season on a high-note by taking the pole at the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Through the crystal windshield: 2009 will be yet another struggle for Reutimann thanks to his team's lack of full-time sponsorship. UPS leaves the team for Roush-Fenway Racing's David Ragan which will make space for Aaron's to take over as a partial-season sponsor. The car number will also change back to Reutimann's original No. 00.
The MWR program is getting more competitive on-track and it appears that it will be just a two-car operation in 2009 after Michael McDowell's team shut down in 2008 with team owner Michael Waltrip serving as Reutimann's teammate. Hopefully, having one team fully sponsored and another partially sponsored without a third team to worry about will help the program.
Reutimann could easily post a few Top-10s and maybe some Top-5s, but it will be a significant feat for the No. 00 to find victory lane.
Next up: Bobby Labonte
