Hey, 'that's my car!'
Driver getting used to switching rides
Published: Sun, Mar. 30, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Sun, Mar. 30, 2008 04:40AM
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closeMARTINSVILLE, VA. -- David Reutimann is still adjusting to his new ride.
Reutimann moved from the No. 00 into the No. 44 for Michael Waltrip Racing this week. The car was driven in the first five races by Dale Jarrett, who then retired.
"Sometimes I don't even know I'm driving the car," Reutimann said Saturday, one day after practicing and qualifying the No. 44 in 15th place for the Goody's Cool Orange 500.
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Practice, he said, gave him a few moments that highlighted the adjustment.
"I'm out there blending in on the race track and Michael (McDowell) went by us and I'm like, 'That's my car! ... ' It's hard to get used to."
McDowell is driving Reutimann's old ride, the No. 00.
He also has Reutimann's points after NASCAR turned down a request that Reutimann be allowed to take his points with him when he switched, with McDowell getting Jarrett's.
Reutimann, however, said he's accepting that answer and moving forward. It means the McDowell stands 27th in points heading into today's race. Reutimann is 34th, only one spot above the top 35 cutoff of teams guaranteed spots in the 43-car field.
"I found in most cases maybe it's best not to ask," he said.
THANKS, DAD: Chrissy Wallace, the 19-year-old daughter of veteran NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, made her debut in the Craftsman Truck Series on Saturday, driving for Germain Racing. Her spotter for the race was her father.
"It's a good thing to have my dad spot for me because a lot of people do not trust their spotters and he's definitely somebody that I can rely on," she said.
"I made the comment to my mom the other day when we were coming back home from Martinsville -- I was like, 'Dad actually does know what he is talking about.' "
He also, clearly, knows how to talk to his daughter.
Early on, she was a lap down.
"Stay with it. Stay with it," Mike Wallace radioed to her.
"Dad, I'm trying," she replied.
"I know you are, honey, I'm just letting you know," he said.
Wallace started 35th out of 36 drivers and finished 18th.
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