| id #CCCCCC; background-color: #ffffff;" /> | | | | hold of the Sportsmanship award. |
| Born on the 2nd of March in 1970, David Reutimann | | | | What probably was his biggest win was his |
| grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida with the zeal of driving | | | | daughter’s birth in 2001. Reutimann who now |
| inborn within him. The Ruetimann family name | | | | resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, set up house |
| resounds strongly within the old school races and | | | | with his wife Lisa and young daughter Emilia with their |
| various fans throughout the east coast. Their family | | | | mini-dachshunds, Roxie and Daisy. |
| name is notorious on the race tracks of Orlando, | | | | It took him a few years after his debut onto the |
| Florida. Buzzie and Wayne Reutimann (David’s | | | | professional scene before he got his three wins in |
| father and uncle) were legends amongst the old | | | | 2002 and with that, finished second in the overall |
| school racers throughout the east coast. Their | | | | championship standings. It was also that same year |
| presence commands respect on and off the tracks | | | | that the Florida native entered his first of four |
| and such a tradition was instilled in young David. David | | | | NASCAR Busch Series races. The car he raced in was |
| was brought up with racing in his blood and he has | | | | owned by Joe Nemechek after getting some help |
| made sure to continue the bloodline on the tracks. | | | | from an old friend called Brian Pattie. Reutimann went |
| David’s grandfather and father would tear | | | | on to finish at the 16th spot when he debuted at the |
| down the tracks in their early 30s Chevys, trimmed in | | | | Richmond International Raceway and later finished in |
| blue and white with the famous “00” | | | | the top 15 twice that same season. The next |
| painted on red. They brought their game to the track | | | | seasons, Reutimann ran seven Busch races for |
| and had their trophy in tow. Buzzie had the DIRT | | | | NEMCO. He also participated in the New England 300 |
| world in his hands after storm winning events all over | | | | and the Brickyard 400 in the Winston Cup Series in |
| the Eastern seaboard. David Reutimann, at the | | | | the #04 for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but |
| beginning was very much like his father. He was | | | | unfortunately failed to make the cut to qualify at |
| driving modifieds and late models on dirt and paved | | | | both times. |
| tracks while building up his own reputation. | | | | Reutimann then signed on with Darrell Waltrip |
| Although the transition from weekly tracks to big | | | | Motorsports in 2004 to race the NTN Bearings truck |
| competitions was extremely hard, David Reutimann | | | | in the Craftsman Truck series. He won the pole in his |
| proved the critics wrong. He was able to make the | | | | second race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, |
| change smoothly and after getting noticed by Darrell | | | | Reutimann had four top-fives and with his finish in |
| Waltrip, the pieces fell into place. All of this took place | | | | 14th place in points, he managed to snatch Rookie of |
| when Reutimann moved up to the Slim Jim all Pro | | | | the Year again into his bag. His first career race was |
| Series in 1997. He won Rookie of the year, finished in | | | | won in 2005 at the Nashville Superspeedway. He then |
| the top-ten eight times and had a fifth-place points | | | | went on to make his cup debut at Lowe’s |
| finish. One would conclude that that was pretty good | | | | Motor Speedway and continued to make fifteen |
| for such a large change in a short period of time. At | | | | Busch starts and had four top tens. |
| the next season’s end, Reutimann grabbed a | | | | |