Reutimann, MWR Improving Greatly

Prior to the 2009 season, an outlandish guess would have been picking a car from Michael Waltrip Racing to be fifth in points after three races.

No, that's not a slight to the organization. It's just that previous success wouldn't exactly lend to such results.

MWR's David Reutimann, however, isn't afraid to buck that trend -- as was clear after he earned his best career finish last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

That finish -- a fourth-place result -- was just the continuation of a strong start to 2009 and a decent finish to 2008 that certainly has expectations raised for the rest of 2009. Already, Reutimann has finishes of 12th (Daytona) and 14th (Auto Club) to complement his career-best.

Most telling about Reutimann's surprise consistency is that the No. 00 is 5th in points -- just 51 markers from leader Jeff Gordon. (For that matter, Reutimann's teammate and car owner Michael Waltrip sits a surprising 12th in the standings -- a great start for a guy who is pondering retirement if results don't improve in 2009.)

Sunday's result, while a nice success for the driver from Zephyr Hills, Fla., was more relief than anything.

"You are just kind of relieved if anything," said Reutimann. "You run around here for a couple of years and trying to get close to winning one of these things and so we're a little closer than what we were. It feels good to be where we are."

Team owner Michael Waltrip has to be relieved as well after convincing sponsor Aaron's to go from a partial-season sponsor before 2009 began to the full-season outfit based on one thing -- getting Reutimann to victory lane.

"They (Aaron's) stepped up to half season of Cup and I was talking to (Ken) Butler, the CEO, and I said, 'Reutimann's going to win. You watch.' And I said, 'If he wins in somebody else's car, that's going to really get on my nerves, because you guys have put us here. We want him to win in your car," said Waltrip prior to Daytona Speedweeks.

From the looks of things early in 2009, Aaron's might have jumped on board at the right time as Reutimann and Co. appear aimed in a much better direction than 2007 and 2008.