MWR Darlington Race Report

David Reutimann, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota - finished 11th - now 24th in points.


Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry - finished 19th- now 13th in points.

David Reutimann Race Summary: It was another strong performance for David Reutimann and the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Saturday night at Darlington Raceway. Reutimann finished 11th jumping three spots to 24th in the point standings after the 500-mile race. Reutimann ran in the top five early in the race and led three laps near the midway point. The finish could have been even better were it not for some bad luck in the closing laps. The race’s final caution fell as Reutimann pitted dropping him from seventh to 15th as he managed to stay on the lead lap. He gained four spots in the closing laps. Reutimann and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to action Sunday in Dover, Del.

REUTIMANN: "It was just a struggle. We were loose the whole race and just couldn't get on the other side of it. We made it better, but the track changes as it goes and we couldn't keep up with it. We didn't get it where it needed to be.

We got it good towards the end and then we pit and the yellow comes out. That's the way our season has gone. I mean it happens-we go from top five to outside the top fifteen. Then you have got to battle back there...we just weren't as good as we needed to be because we kept trying to make the car tighter and tighter and we were getting better, but we just ran out of time to at least get back in the top 10."

Reutimann Notes:

Reutimann started fourth—his second consecutive top-five qualifying effort.

Reutimann has finished in the top 15 in six of the eight races he’s finished in 2010.

Reutimann raced in third in the early going but dropped to 10th by lap 23 struggling with a loose race car.

By lap 200, reported the car was “way, way better” moving up to 13th.

The Aaron’s crew serviced Reutimann the fastest of any of the team allowing him to take the lead on lap 230.

Reutimann led three laps—upping his season-long total to 8 laps in 2010 and 230 laps in his career.

Fell back during pit stop sequencing but ran seventh with about 45 laps remaining.

Pitted with about 20 laps remaining, but untimely caution dropped him back to about to about 15th.

Ended the race in 11th.



Martin Truex Jr. Race Summary: Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota team looked like they were in position to collect a $250,000 paycheck for Truex’s charity foundation as he battled Danny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick in the DirecTV Head2Head competition Saturday night at Darlington Raceway. After an early race crash the NAPA Know How Crew battled back and appeared poised for a top finish. But Truex reported the car stuck in second gear on a lap 234 restart that saw him lose a lap and fall out of contention. He battled back but couldn’t get the caution that would allow him to return to the lead lap and challenge the leaders. Truex ended the race in 19th. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return to action Sunday in Dover, Del.

TRUEX: “This certainly wasn't the finish we deserved. This is tough. We needed a caution to get back on the lead lap. If it would have happened we were in the money. Our car had the speed. We just needed a break. If we keep bringing cars this fast, it will eventually go our way. Tough, tough, night.”

Truex Notes:

Truex Jr. started 33rd and finished 19th.

Truex saw his night nearly end early when Greg Biffle’s spin forced Truex and Jimmie Johnson to collide.

The NAPA team made repairs on pit lane and returned the Toyota to competition without losing a lap.

Truex and Crew Chief Pat Tryson kept adjusting on the No. 56 and lap times improved.

He climbed into the top 10 on lap 201 and moved to fourth by lap 221.

The lap 234 restart saw the car stuck in second gear stacking up the field.

Truex lost a lap to the leaders that he never could make up and finished 19th.



RACE NOTES:

Denny Hamlin dominated the race leading 104 of the race’s 367 laps for his third win of the season.

Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Juan Montoya rounded out the top five.

The race took four hours and four minutes with 11 cautions for 56 laps.

The 500-mile race saw 11 leaders and 22 lead changes. There were 18 cars on the lead lap.

In the DirecTV Head2Head competition Denny Hamlin defeated Truex, Bowyer and Hamlin.