November 4th, 2011 
Journo You’re 41. You’ve got four NASCAR wins. You’ve worked for the same people for the most of the last decade. And now you’re out of a job with just three weeks until the end of the season. What do you do?
This is the question David Reutimann has to to answer right now. What does he do? He’s not young, he doesn’t have money or sponsorship to bring (that we know of) and he’s not miraculously going to be anything more than what he is. What you see is what you get.
Reutimann’s first foray into NASCAR came in 2002 with Joe Nemechek. After sporadic runs through that season and 2003, he was hired by Darrell Waltrip Motorsports. He eventually moved full time to the Cup and Nationwide Series with Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007.
During his time with the Waltrips, Reutimann has four wins, and points finishes of second and third in the Nationwide and Truck Series’. His best Cup season to date came in 2009 when he finished 16th in the points after one win, five top-fives and 1o top-10s.
Only Michael Waltrip has more wins in his equipment than Reutimann – and to date Reutimann can claim all two of the team’s Cup wins.
What’s more, this season he’s only a little worse than teammate Martin Truex Jr. – average of finish of 22.9 compared to 18.4 – and is four spots behind Truex in the points.
Reutimann’s release on Thursday was a stunning turn about. He had been granted a three year contract extension just last year and was a consistent force with the team. To his credit, Reutimann did a lot with sub-par equipment. Apparently it wasn’t good enough though.
The worst part of all of this is that Reutimann faces pretty bleak prospects on the market, especially given the timing. Teams are cutting back, have already filled spots or are only looking at drivers who are bringing something to the table. Like David Ragan, Reutimann will be hard pressed to find anything worth while or competitive, especially at the level he’s at now.
As they say, it’s not show friends, it’s show business. Thank you MWR for making that painfully clear.
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This news made me feel so sad for David and his family. I thought he was doing ok in the MWR car and he certainly drove a car from this stable better than Mikey. He always appeared uncomfortable in the limelight, though. Did this hurt his chance to stay in a car since he was not often on TV or mentioned in print?
Welcome to the world that millions of Americans, who haven’t made the large money driving a race car, live in.
Reutimann perhaps could have hoped for better treatment, but he knew who he was working for when he signed on. So it shouldnt have come as a shock when they let him go.
David may not have been the greatest driver but he was a good journeyman driver that drove the hell out of less than good cars. I remember 2008 when after getting the #00 into the mid 20′s in points, the car was given to Md Dowell and Reutimann took over the #44 and brought that into the mid 20′s in points. Bringing two cars from outside the top 35 in one year was great driving.
I just hope MWR has had to pay through the nose to get out of David’s contract. It’s not so much what they’ve done, but when they’ve done it. I have lost all respect for Waltrip.
Not happy about this move. It seems pretty classless of Michael Waltrip and of Mark Martin. Disappointed in both of them. I realize this is a business, but sometimes the personal side of Nascar is very disappointing.
A few years ago, a driver like Reutimann would be able to get a good Truck or Nationwide gig (that is as long as he didn’t have that “Cup or nothing” attitude), and a winning team there would have to be considered at least a lateral move. Today, I just don’t know how many available seats there are.
I have to 2nd Ella on the lack of confidence in front of the camera. I always thought it was ironic that camera-whore Mikey hired camera-shy Reuti as his pitch man. Even the lammo Aaron’s commercials make fun of that strange dynamic. Guess the Lucky Dog car ain’t so “Lucky” after all.
Speaking of luck dog…why do we still have that unnecessary and outdated perk to lap downers? No more unsafe racing back to the caution w/ advent of scoring loops, right? Oh yes, it has evolved into a 2nd chance race. I know, I know different topic for a different day!
Would be nice for Reuti to milk ol’ mikey for 2 years of nice coin ala Ferrari axing Kimi Raikkonen for $10mil to stay home. He could rent a lot of lazy boys loungers from Aarons…
I am sick for Reuti.
There went any happiness I felt at Clint Bowyer driving for MWR, if it meant that David Reutimann was out of a ride.
No matter how nice and happy and peppy and it looks on the outside, I can no longer shake the truth that under it all this is one cut-throat sport.
The last few weeks have opened my eyes to parts the darker parts of this sport, and one thing is painfully clear: it seems the nice guys always get screwed over.
But, screwing up so folks can’t tell if you cheat, good guys losing rides while unproven folks can pay their way into the field…well, folks just say it’s all “racin’”
But hey! All is not lost! Brian France sez this has been a GOOD year for NASCAR!!!!
Whew, I was getting worried there.
The same thing happens all the time here in the real world. I’m an at-will employee. I’ll be employed until I’m not worth it to my company. Was MWR supposed to employ DR until the day he died?
Retimann must have banked enough money to live on for a while…
I feel a little sorry for David, just because he always was in a crap ride while his owner was off running his yap on TV. Hope something good happens for him, altho the future is somewhat grim in the Cup series. If I was Mark, I would reconsider getting in any of Mikey’s cars. They will be by far the worst stuff he has ever driven. I suppose the one we should really feel for is Bowyer, except he could have accepted less to stay with RCR.
Mikey has just shown he isn’t any more as an owner than he was as a driver. He’s a self promoting goofball, a huckster, and nothing more. Sure this was “just business” nothing personal. Somehow I think it’s pretty personal to David. This was dirty business. I hope David can collect on his contract for the next two years, every penny. I really hate to see Clint and Mark involved with MWR, to leave RCR and HMS and come down to MWR is IMO a big step back. Best wishes Mikey, you are a class act! NOT!
Sue, You say you lost respect for Waltrip. I lost it years ago when he and his brother started their schilling, bragging, and face in front of any camera anytime with mouth engaged at full speed mode. Their mouths spewing nothing important but verbal diarrhea. These guys are a HUGE CANCER growing on the sport and everyday they alienate more fans.Hopefully the powers that be see this soon and act on it.
To bad for David. Hope he finds good ride in Busch or Trucks. Problem is There just is not a lot of rides available unless you are willing to start and park. Wonder if Tony would let him do the races that Danica is not. Reutimann with Danica in the GO Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!! MWR is a third class operation and always will be. Truex made a mistake going there and Boyer and Crypt Keeper Martin will realize that very soon.
Sad to hear what happened to David.This guy stuck with MW when he had nobody and to kick him to the curb like garbage is just wrong.I don’t care about “It’s a sponsership move” you stick with people that stuck with you.MW you will be sorry you let him go he was just as good as Truex.I think you of all people need to stay out of the race car that you will be sharing with Mark cause you are crap behind the wheel as well as a commentater.
We often hear about how the average career for an NFL player is about three years. I wonder what the average number of starts is for all the people who have ever started a Cup race? For every guy who ran 750 races, there are plenty more who ran 10. Reutimann has had a good run. It’s a tough, tough business.
Michael, it seems to me that Bowyer is a good move, but to do that you have to dump either Truex or Reutimann, and Root drew the short straw. As for Martin, I have no problem with what he’s doing. I appreciate the fact that Waltrip – whatever you may think of him – is trying to field a competitive Cup team. We need more of them. If Martin can help him do that, and let The Boss run a few races, that’s fine by me.
Remember also that these guys are racers. That’s why Derrike Cope and Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine and Terry Labonte keep popping up – they love to race!
I have always been a Mikey fan. When he quit driving I was a Reutimann follower. I was really disappointed when Mike hired Clint Boyer who has never had any respect for Micheal and never a good word to say, then when he hired Mark Martin to run part time (I sure so Mike can run the rest of the time), I really have lost a lot of respect for the MWR organization. I will probably always hold a special place for the Waltrip guys, but am seriously looking for another organization to follow and cheer on in 2012. Sad day for Beak.
The sad part of the equation is that Waltrip didn’t have the guts to tell Reuttiman in person. Michael Waltrip is a clueless, classless hypocrite. Not to mention an azzhole.
I feel sorry for any driver who loses his or her ride, but this is the economics of NASCAR. I saw in one of the articles that Aaron’s had a performance clause. If it cost what it did 10 years ago to run a Cup team, there would be 45 fully sponsored teams, Roush, Childress, Earnhardt-Ganassi, RPM/Yates, and Gibbs would all have four-car teams, and Reuti would probably still have ride. Unless and until the sponsorship market dramatically improves or NASCAR drastically cuts costs and/or raises purses, we have to accept that in this sport, sponsors decide who drives and playing to the media and sponsors is necessary.
As for Reutimann’s prospects at 41, I keep thinking of how many races Harry Gant had won at that age and what kind of career he ended up having. His future may be in the Trucks or Nationwide, but guys like Todd Bodine, Ted Musgrave, and Johnny Benson won championships in the Trucks after being journeymen in Cup.
And yet someone like Joe Nemecheck who rarely even finishes a race still always manages to have a sponsor every year….go figure.
I just feel so badly. I just recently became a real fan of David Reutimann and David Ragan. Until this year I had just pretty much liked everyone though I guess you could say I had a liking of Michael Waltrip, but mostly I just had a couple I didn’t like. This year, I actually got up close and personal with all 3 of these men and bought merchandise and decided to go off the fence and have some favorite drivers. Well, didn’t get far did I. Sorry guys. I hope the David’s at least can get back on the road again. Love you all.
What’s next, DW running the car for the first five races to use his PC Provisional?
Maybe Mikey just has a thing for “My Favorite Martin”. Sorry old timers, but just had to throw that out there.
Mark cannot retire (again)until he does a stint w/ Dodge to complete the quad…Think Penske Dodge in a couple years when he has had enough of Kurt’s antics.
Chalk up one more victim of Mark Martin’s drive to set a record on the most number of retirements and “comebacks”. How many victims does that make now? Let’s see, beginning with Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek, Regan Smith, Eric Almirola, I can’t remember them all. And now, David Reutimann. All of them lost rides to Mark’s quest for part-time employment.
I used to be a big Mark Martin fan – had a big #6 flag that I flew under my US flag when Mark won. I never got a #5 flag, he didn’t deserve the recognition. I’ll say one thing – Mark deserves Mikey and his junk. And I guess Mikey Mouth deserves Mark. Unfortunately, David Reutimann deserves better.
Cotton
MWR is, and always will be a loser team. I was very dissapointed that Truex went there. As for Mark Martin, he’s a has been anyway. He’d fit in well at MWR.
Candace Ball: Nemechek doesn’t have much in the way of sponsorship at all, that’s why he start-and-parks. The 87 car has run blank for the most part this season.
Jay: Nah, the 00 is guaranteed a spot in the first five, unless they move the owners’ points to Bowyer. Plus, Mikey’s going to apparently be in the car at Daytona.
Jim S: I’d think Reutimann would need to bring sponsorship with him to run the third SHR car in the rest of the races. Tony’s said he doesn’t plan to run that car full-time right now.
DAVID REUTIMANN IS THE MAN! I’ve been a fan since he started racing under the Domino’s Pizza sponsor. I followed him as he went to the number 44 under UPS. I jumped for joy when he won as 00 and put my hands up when he wrecked or when someone else hit him. And now, I’m pi$sed. When will the head honchos of Nascar realize that they have good drivers while the equipment they have is actually the item that needs replacement. Put money into the tool that’s needed for the sport not the man who can get it done! (I’m keeping my fan club stuff in memory of my favorite driver….hope he returns and kicks @ss!)
First, full disclosure, I’ve been a Mark Martin fan for nearly 20 years, and I have no particular fondness for Mikey. That being said, MWR and TRD have made numerous business decisions that should provide improvement to MWR in 2012 and beyond.
1.) TRD combining forces with JGR on motors could very possibly improve MWR and other Toyota affiliated teams to the level of the 11, 18 (& 20?).
2.) MWR signed the best available free agent, who brought funding to the team. Boyer is a proven winner and a frequent chase participant. Although I’d view this as a backward step for Boyer, this was definitely an upgrade for MWR.
3.) MWR signed a part time veteran driver, who’s driving plans dove-tail with a partially sponsored car. Mark Martin is not only a proven winner, a frequent runner up championship contender, but he also have a track record of providing leadership to younger drivers (Burton, Kenseth, Biffle Almirola, Smith). He has the potential of mentoring both Boyer & Truex. Martin has had a pitiful season this year, so we’ll see if this was in improvement in driving ability. However, his knowledge alone should provide some guidance to the team.
4.) MWR hired RCR’s former competition director, Scott Miller, who certainly knows what it’s like to be at a tier 1 team.
5.) MWR cutting one of the two under performing drivers. Perhaps both Truex and Reutimann’s season can be attributed to sub-par equipment. Reuti seems like a good enough guy, and I hate to see him out of the ride, lot’s of good guys have been cycled through cup. This is a performance based business, and few drivers have had a career as long as MW with such mediocre success.
It’ll be interesting to see if all these changes pay dividends for MWR in 2012.
I feel sad for Reutimann, I thought he was doing a great job for Michael, considering what he had to work with. I think it is disgusting the way that MWR and more particularly, Michael treated him (finding out from the media). I hope he finds something, sounds like he is most successful in Truck or Nationwide, maybe he can return there.
Reutimann sounded depressed in all his interviews so far this weekend. He knows how bleak his situation is and seemed to question what the point of staying around is. Michael Waltrip really screwed him over in this situation.
And will Mark Martin ever call it quits? The old man was supposed to finish in 2005! I’ve gone through two levels of academic graduations in that span of time, and he is still here!
I recently had a visit to the MWR facility and was given a very in depth tour.
At the end I was left wondering why they don’t get better results?
They have very good engineering, good motors with TRD, but at the end I simply had to conclude that the drivers were most of the problem.
But the real question is where they would get better? The Hendricks/Roush/Childress/Gibbs/Ganassi teams seem to have first call on the top guys with their well run feeder programs, so after the top fourteen/fifteen drivers, how do teams such as MWR survive? The whole MWR facility would seem to need funding the wrong side of $25M to stay in business, so to wonder why they don’t get better results is to wonder how this can all be sustained on the occasional top five finish?
The answer is it can’t.
I think that for guys like Reutiman the deal is very clear, win , or close to it, often, or go home.
They know it, so crying is not an option, if he any relationship with Mickey, then he will pop up somewhere and he will have had his fifteen minutes of fame.
Sad, but the facts.
I’m having a real problem with this one, I get business but how is utilizing 2 drivers at the end of their career a better option. MM is a great guy but I’m not really sure his reaction time is what it needs to be and MW can drive a restrictor plate car in a pack but not so much in this latest format. David stood by MW and MWR through all the BS, bad equipment and bad decisions and then gets dumped so the boss can drive when ever he wants too. I was a Mikey fan but now I am extremely disappointed in him. The 00 is a Reutimann family number and I’m sure he feels about it the way Mikey did the 15 the whole thing is just sad
Well that answers that,how much of a cut throat is the MWR organization,somebody is pulling the puppet strings,maybe AArons & Napa,but it is just about like the Waltrips to run around blowing their horn,but it all goes back to the Daytona Premier when they got caught cheating and their credibility has been tumbling since then and now this,you just know these two Kentucky hillbillys ain’t never been smart enough to do anything right and then to get little weasel from Florida only enforces my cut throat theory,if Mark Martin was really that good a driver he would have started his own team but he’s to cheap of a money hoarder to do that.Finally,after years of mediocre performance J.R. saw the light, what a truly worthless bullcrap artist he truly is,I hope none of his cars make any chases and never will be a fan of any MWR drivers or the phony owner either.Someday,they will have a big sale,probably run by the sheriff and we will all be better off.Just to reinforce this why didn’t RCR keep Clint and why didn’t Hendrick keep Mark,the writing is on the wall there and RCR not signing Jr. proves my point,that man knows talent.
One has to wonder exactly who was the most stupid this weekend…Kyle or Michael?
Tough call.
If you owned a cup team, who would you pick to drive it?
David’s 41 and he has 4 wins across 3 series.
Mark Martin has won 96 races across 3 series & is the best driver that has never won a championship.