NASCAR: Top-Five Drivers To Never Make The Chase
No. 5 – David Reutimann
Maybe the most surprising of all the drivers on the list but No.5 on my list is Zephyrhills, Florida native David Reutimann. Reutimann’s Sprint Cup Series career started off just about as rocky as it ended, however in the middle there were some really nice bright spots including two victories. That is something plenty of other drivers haven’t had the chance to do.
Reutimann’s big break in the Cup Series came when he was hired to drive the No. 00 Dominos Pizza/Burger King Toyota for Michael Waltrip. He was part of a three team operation in the first year of MWR and it was a disaster from the getgo. Reutimann missed eight races that season and the team struggled and lost both sponsors Dominos Pizza and Burger King after the season. Businessman Rob Kauffman bought into the team and Aaron’s came aboard as a sponsor for the No.00 car in 2008. Reuitmann, however, was slated to drive the No. 44 UPS Toyota for MWR replacing the retiring Dale Jarrett who would run the first five races of the 2008 season before calling it a career. Reutimann turned heads immediately after entering that car especially after an impressive race at Richmond in September in which he led 104 laps and finished in the ninth position. He ended up finishing the season 22nd in points.
UPS left for Roush Fenway Racing and driver David Ragan starting 2010 and Reutimann was back in the No. 00 car with Aaron’s as sponsor. The team ran well at times recording 10 top-10 finishes including Reutimann’s first career win in a rain shortened race at New Hampshire. He finished 16th in points and would have made the Chase under the 2015 format.
In 2011 he and the team ran well again. It was almost an identical season recording nine top-1o finishes including a win at Chicagoland Speedway in July. Again, under the current format Reutimann would have made the Chase. A dismal 2011 season saw Reutimann dismissed from MWR after the season even though he had two years left on his contract. Reutimann received the news in October and was left with little to no time to find a competitive ride.
The last three years of Reutimann’s career he was left running around in underfunded equipment and the driver from Florida found himself completely out of a ride in 2014. However, his success at Michael Waltrip Racing helped him make our list.
Next: A Former NASCAR Champion