For each driver on the NASCAR circuit, there is one track they can point to as the one where it all began. Some call it their welcome to NASCAR moment while others may refer to it as their big break. For UPS driver David Reutimann, Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is the track where the Florida native made his NASCAR debut in May 2002.
"My debut race in NASCAR came in Richmond in the Nationwide Series in 2002," Reutimann said. "We entered that race with just one car and one motor and barely enough money for a set of tires. I had never tested at the track and we came away with a 16th place finish. I remember coming in there scared to death because I knew that it was my one shot to make an impression in the sport."
Reutimann's one race shot at RIR proved successful as his story in 2008 reads quite different than the one from 2002. This Saturday, Reutimann enters the Sprint Cup Series race as a weekly competitor at the sport's top level while receiving support from one of NASCAR's premier sponsors, UPS. Richmond has been kind to Reutimann and he hopes to take his Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota to victory lane to score his first win at the Sprint Cup level, appropriately, at the track where it all began.
The Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET start. FOX will provide the live television broadcast while MRN will provide live radio coverage.
Reutimann Discusses Racing at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond is a very special track for you. Can you talk about your first run here?
"I was a local short track driver from Florida who had a one race opportunity in a car fielded by Joe Nemechek. I borrowed money to have an opportunity to drive the car and I knew that I didn't have the money to pay it back if I wrecked, but I borrowed it anyway because I knew this was my opportunity to race. I told myself when I rolled into the gate at Richmond, 'this is your only shot.' That's a lot of pressure for anyone. Richmond really gave me an opportunity to knock down a door and to have a chance to be where I am today."
Is this one of your favorite tracks to race at as a driver?
"This is a race track that is tough. It's a driver's race track so from that aspect it's a fun track to race at. The groove widens out and you can race all over the place here. It's a track that is tough on a car, it's rough on brakes and it's rough on tempers. As a driver, especially starting out, it's a track where you can learn a lot. I seem to have pretty good luck here and pretty good results so it's a place I look forward to coming to each year."
UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest
- David Reutimann made his first NASCAR Series start at Richmond International Raceway in May 2002 by driving the #87 entry in the Nationwide Series.
- Richmond also marks the track where Reutimann has recorded his best career finish in the Sprint Cup Series, a 13th place effort in last season's Fall race.
- On Tuesday, UPS announced a sponsorship that will send the UPS colors off with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard favorite Big Brown in the 2008 running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. David Reutimann ran the Kentucky Derby / UPS Toyota last weekend at Talladega as part of the "Off to the Races" Sweepstakes.
