Reutimann finally enjoying success on Cup circuit

David Reutimann has never been one to self promote.

That’s why the Michael Waltrip Racing driver thinks it’s funny that his nickname “The Franchise” has gotten such a lot of attention.

SOUTHERN 500 SPECIAL EDITION

Make sure you pick up a copy of the Morning News on Thursday. Inside you’ll find the 2009 Southern 500 preview pullout featuring everything you need to know on race day.
This year, they take a special look at the hobbies that keep drivers busy when they aren’t behind the wheel. All week, we’ll be publishing those stories online here at scnow.com.

MONDAY: Mark Martin, fitness fanatic
TUESDAY: Scott Speed, fashion guru and remote control car enthusiast
WEDNESDAY: Marcos Ambrose pans for gold
THURSDAY: Sam Hornish brings vintage cars back to life

In addition, this special edition will have recaps of past races, facts, figures, and more drivers and their hobbies - it's coverage of the Southern 500 you can only find Thursday in the Morning News.

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Reutimann says the nickname was a joke between he and MWR vice president and general manager Ty Norris one day when he came into the team’s race shop.

“I walked in one day and said Ty, ‘You are looking at the franchise,’” Reutimann said while laughing during a phone interview Tuesday. “We all thought it was funny.”

The nickname has stuck and Reutimann’s crew even painted “Franchise” instead of his name on his race car before a race.

They have since replaced it with the letter “F” in a Superman-type design and also have made T-shirts with “Franchise” on them.

“It’s nice to have a little bit of fun with it,” Reutimann said. “But I have never been one to take myself seriously.”

The fast-talking Floridian has lived up to his billing this season and is off to his best start in his three-year Sprint Cup career. He is in 13th place heading into Saturday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and has seven finishes of 15th or better.

Reutimann also won his second pole at Texas last month.

“We started getting better towards the end of last year,” Reutimann said. “But you still didn’t know how we were going to perform. But most of the year, we have been pretty decent.”

Reutimann attributes his success this season to his changes throughout the organization and Waltrip, whom he calls “The real face of the organization.”

“I’m just a guy that is employed here,” he said. “He gave somebody like me an opportunity to go Cup racing.”

Waltrip tabbed Reutimann, a relative unknown who had driven for his brother Darrell Waltrip in the Truck Series, during the organization’s second year in 2007.

Reutimann, like the rest of the team, had his share of struggles. He failed to qualify for seven races that year and finished 39th in points.

But those struggles are a distant memory for Reutimann, who despite a couple of bad races the last two weeks, believes his team is definitely a contender to make the Chase for the Championship.

“I think we have opportunity to make the Chase,” he said. “We just got to do a little better than we have been the last couple weeks, and when it’s time for the Chase to roll around, we will be right there.”

Notes
Concession prices lowered
Darlington Raceway reduced prices on some food and beverage items and added value meals to the menu for this weekend.

Highlights of the new menu include:

Reduced price on regular all-beef hot dog to $3.

Hot dog and fry combo meal for $5.

Cheeseburger and fry combo meal for $7.

Kids Value Meal with peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cookie, fruit roll-up and half-pint of milk for $4.

Reduced price on Dasani bottled water to $3.

Gordon, others to appear at MRN at Full Speed
Drivers Jeff Gordon and David Ragan, along with former Darlington Raceway president and current Vice-President of Corporate Communications for NASCAR Jim Hunter, will appear at the MRN at Full Speed Q&A on Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The event will take place at the Speed stage behind the front stretch.

Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions and chat with the panel, emceed by NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director and MRN pit reporter Winston Kelley.