Reutimann relegated by late-race contact after racing inside the top 12 in Bristol

David Reutimann and the No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry team finished in the 29th position on Saturday night at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.  After starting in the 37th position, Reutimann and his BK Racing team paced themselves to race inside the top-15 competitors throughout the mid-section of the race.  With one of their best cars of the season, the No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry appeared poised for its best finish of the year.  However, a late-race accident left Reutimann to cross the finish line in the 29th position with a damaged racecar. 

 

Undeniably one of the most anticipated races of the year among NASCAR fans, competitors traveled to the track nicknamed “The Last Great Coliseum” for 500 laps of side-by-side racing under the lights on Saturday night.  With two practice sessions to prepare for the race, Reutimann ran nearly 150 laps to prepare his No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry for Saturday night’s race. 

 

After rolling off in the 31st position, Reutimann showed the strength of his car by immediately picking up several positions on the track.  The caution flag waved for the first time of the evening on lap 42, to bring several competitors down pit road.  Reutimann’s stop didn’t go as planned when contact with the No. 2 of Keselowski while trying to enter his pit box forced Reutimann to drive past his pit stall and re-enter pit road the next lap.  Despite the setback, Reutimann’s team continued to fight hard and by lap 200, Reutimann was scored securely inside the top 15. 

 

For the next 150 laps, Reutimann continued to battle hard for position while racing inside the top 15.  The No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry showed enough strength to be capable of a top 12 finish at the 0.533-mile concrete oval.  On lap 359, Reutimann engaged in a side-by-side battle with the No. 55 of Brian Vickers.  With little room for error, the two made contact driving through turns three and four, which sent Reutimann spinning into the outside retaining wall and across the track collecting the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson.  The BK Racing team made a series of pit stops to repair the No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, but the stops resulted in Reutimann losing several laps to the leaders. 

 

Although removed from contention for a top-15 finish, the BK Racing team repaired Reutimann’s car to allow him to compete and the No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry returned to the track.  At the conclusion of the Irwin Tools Night Race, Reutimann was scored in the 29th position. 

 

“Our No. 83 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry was really strong today,” commented Reutimann.  “The guys built a great racecar, my crew chief, Doug Reichert, made great calls on pit road all night; I really think we could have been capable of getting a top-12 finish in tonight’s race.  I’m encouraged by all the progress that we’ve made over the last few weeks, now we just need to be able to put together the whole package and make it to the checkered flag without any on-track incidents.  I’m looking forward to getting back on the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend.”

 

BK Racing PR