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The Hot Pass: Reutimann living up to his name

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Lee Spencer

Lee Spencer is the senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She has provided award-winning coverage of auto racing over the last 15 years. Spencer has lent her expertise to both television and radio and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM Radio and the Performance Racing Network.

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Updated Mar 27, 2009 7:52 PM ET
     
 

MARTINSVILLE, Va.

It takes more than just a reputation to earn a haughty nickname such as "The Franchise." And no doubt, David Reutimann is way too humble to have ever given himself that handle — at least seriously. But after he qualified fourth and finished a career-high fourth at Las Vegas, it's not surprising that Reutimann was a tad bit intoxicated by his success. This was not one of those "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" tales. On Friday, Reutimann's alter ego was exposed. "I heard some football player say something that he was the franchise," Reutimann said. "I can't remember who it was, but I was like, 'Wow, that's a pretty bold statement.' "Ty (Norris, GM of Michael Waltrip Racing) and I were talking after the race and I was like, 'Ty, you know I'm the franchise, don't you.' It was completely a joke." Although Reutimann called the incident 'completely ridiculous,' his results this season have turned the No. 00 Aaron's Toyota into the flagship team of the organization. Reutimann is currently 11th in the standings and has been as high as fifth this season. Considering that last year was Reutimann's second full season on the tour, he has blossomed quickly. At 39, Reutimann says he's not racing any differently than he has in the past — but adds that's for the pundits to decide. He believes his team has improved, especially with the addition of crew chief Rodney Childers, who joined the operation this season. With two years of experience in the series and MWR's ability to mature in concert with Toyota, Reutimann finally has the support he needs to flourish at the Cup level. "People who know me know that I am probably my own worst critic," Reutimann said. "I very seldom if ever give myself credit for anything except for screwing up and I have no problem doing that. "I don't screw up as much as I used to. I get on pit road better. I get in and out of my box better and I make better decisions on the race track for the most part I think. Maybe I'm a little smarter and maybe that helps a little bit." Reutimann's fellow racers have noticed his improvement as well. Tony Stewart has noticed Reutimann's progression over the last two seasons. He admires Reutimann's demeanor, as well as his talent.
"A lot of his runs have been overshadowed by the guys that have won or run second," Stewart said. "But he's been a guy who has finished top five or top 10 and just constantly moved his way up all day. He didn't get the spotlight at the end of the race, but deserved to get talked about because he did a great job. "He's leaps and bounds further now than he was when he first got here. I don't care who you are and I don't care if you just got in a wreck with him, David's one of those guys who is hard to be mad at, especially for very long. He's a good guy and a great driver."

Busch looking for a turnaround

Kyle Busch is the best trash talker in the garage since the Intimidator used his pointed barbs to elicit a response from fellow competitors. On Friday, Busch continued throwing out zingers against one of his favorite targets — Dale Earnahrdt Jr. "I'm proud of the fact that I'm outperforming a guy that replaced me at Hendrick (Motorsports), but that's not what this sport is all about," Busch said. "This sport is to be the most consistent and to keep learning and to keep getting better and ultimately, to try to win championships.
Numbers game
Did Rick Hendrick make the wrong choice by picking Dale Earnhardt Jr. over Kyle Busch? Here's a look at the tale of the tape.
Category
Busch
Earnhardt
Age
23
34
Cup starts
155
332
Cup wins
14
18
Cup top fives
50
86
Most popular driver awards
0
6
Daytona 500 wins
0
1
"For me, I'm out there winning races right now. Last year, we weren't able to capitalize on that and win the championship. That was frustrating to me. I'm trying to get back to winning those races now." However, his feud with Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn't affected his results on the track. After finishing 38th at Daytona, Busch has been on a mission to climb back up in the standings. Sunday's win at Bristol enabled Busch to gain three spots and jump to fourth. That progress will need a boost this weekend. Usually following a win, the momentum would carry over from one track to the next. However, Busch is in a category of drivers who have yet to find their comfort zone at Martinsville — a problem that has grown since he joined Joe Gibbs Racing. "If I had Jeff Gordon's or Jimmie Johnson's success here, then I would be comfortable coming here," Busch said. "But I don't have any success here yet. I don't feel comfortable here. I'm not very good here yet. "I've had some decent runs here where I've felt like we've had a car to win and had a shot to win here — that was in the No. 5 car, the old car." The team tested at "Little Rock," the mini track at Rockingham, on March 17, but Busch insists that nothing compares to Martinsville. "Two short tracks back-to-back is pretty confusing for some of us," Busch said. "At Bristol last week, a completely different racetrack than what's here at Martinsville. I'm just getting ready for the hard braking and the slow cornering of this place and what it entails."

NASCAR vs. NFL?

Following the NFL owners' meetings this past week, Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his desire to expand the regular-season schedule, perhaps as early as 2011.
While the implications to future Speedweeks are uncertain, we may get a taste of the future in 2010 as the Super Bowl falls on Feb. 7, the same day as qualifying for the Daytona 500. Although CBS has the TV rights to Super Bowl XLIV, the massive build-up to the event is broadcast across the board — particularly on TV networks that broadcast NFL football games, which includes NASCAR partners FOX and ESPN. The season-opening Bud Shootout exhibition race, rather than serving as an appetizer for the 500, could get lost in the mix. Defending Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth cites this year's sellout of the Shootout as an example of its popularity, but believes the best way to combat the NFL is with topnotch competition. "I think the product on the track is one of the most important things," Kenseth said. "To make sure that the rules are such so we put on a good race." Spokesman Ramsey Poston said NASCAR officials are "aware and are monitoring the topic."
  • Related: Daytona 500 could face scheduling problem

    Setting his sights

    When it comes to competition at Martinsville, defending Goody's 500 winner Denny Hamlin is only worried about two drivers — Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. "Just those two," Hamlin said. "That's all we're looking at." Hamlin, 28, who grew up in Chesterfield, Va., banked many laps through feeder series at Martinsville through the years. He learned lessons that have served him well at the Sprint Cup level.

    Home Cookin'

    Denny Hamlin
    Denny Hamlin
    Joe Gibbs Racing
    Record at Martinsville
    Starts
    Wins
    Top fives
    Top 10s
    Poles
    7
    1
    4
    6
    1
    "Mentally, it's one of the toughest racetracks because you have to hit your line every time. It's very critical that you're within an inch or two off the curb at times," Hamlin said. "To hit that line just right every time is very, very tough." As tricky as Martinsville is for most drivers with its narrow turns and straightaways, Hamlin, who rolls off eighth on Sunday, is one of the few active drivers who have the half-mile figured out. Hamlin's Cup debut at Martinsville came the week after he finished eighth in his second start on the tour. He matched that performance at Martinsville and over the next six starts at the track finished out of the top 10 just once. While many drivers complain about NASCAR's oldest track, Hamlin has embraced it. "The reason is because you either run really well here or find yourself in a wreck or with a mechanical problem," Hamlin said. "It is a tough racetrack to love. It's been a good track for me. I've had relatively good luck here, but trying to keep that going is tough. "That's why people either love it or hate it, because they know it either makes or breaks them as far as points."
    • Tagged: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin

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