Tommy Baldwin Racing Locks Both Teams in Top-35 at Texas
Reutimann finished 26th; Blaney finished 37th
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 16, 2012) – Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) locked both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teams into the top-35 for next weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. David Reutimann battled the handling of the No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet to finish in the 26th position in the Samsung Mobile 500 and moved back into the top-35 in points. An engine problem ended Dave Blaney’s day early. The No. 36 Jimmie Johnson’s Anything with an Engine Chevrolet finished in 37th place Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway.
David Reutimann – No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet:
Reutimann posted the 21st and 17th fastest times in the two scheduled practice sessions on Friday and Saturday. Having to qualify on time, he posted the 31st fastest time in the No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet, second fastest of the go-or-go home cars, and made the field of the Samsung Mobile 500.
The No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet started the Samsung Mobile 500 from the 16th row. While in the 30th position, Reutimann radioed that the car was tight in the center of the corner. Just before green-flag pits stops began, he told crew chief Tommy Baldwin that the Chevrolet was really loose on entry and throttle off the corner. Baldwin called the No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet down pit road on lap 43 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment.
Reutimann returned to the track in the 31st spot. He worked up to 30th place but fell a lap down on lap 56. NASCAR Officials called the first caution of the night on lap 68 for debris on the track. The Zephyrhills, Fla., native explained that the Accell Construction Chevrolet would start the run free and slide the nose worse and worse further in the run. Baldwin called the No. 10 Chevrolet down pit road during the caution period for another four-tire pit stop and adjustments.
The field returned to green-flag racing on lap 72 with Reutimann in the 30th position, one lap down. He held onto the position and was the first car a lap down when NASCAR called the second caution on lap 95. During the caution, Reutimann explained that the car still needed some help rotating in the corner and was tight on entry. Baldwin made another set of adjustments during the four-tire stop.
The No. 10 Accell Construction Chevrolet received the Lucky Dog and returned to the lead lap for the restart on lap 101. Reutimann restarted in the 28th position. He continued to struggle with a tight condition and fell a lap down by lap 145. Toward the end of the run, the Accell Construction Chevrolet got very loose both in and off the corner. By lap 193, Baldwin called the No. 10 down pit road to tighten up the Chevrolet.
On lap 203, Reutimann held the 27th position, two laps down from the leader, and still battled a loose condition. The No. 10 team made another green-flag pit stop on lap 232 for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The Accell Construction Chevrolet fell a third lap down on lap 277 of the 334-lap race. In the final laps of the race, Reutimann radioed that the car was better but still needed some front grip. He drove into the 26th position when Greg Biffle took the checkered flag.
The 26th-place finish moved the No. 10 team back into the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points and locked the team in by four points. The team is now in 34th place, nine points behind the No. 93 in 30th and three points ahead of the No. 83 in 35th. Reutimann is 31st in NSCS Driver Points. He is three points behind David Gilliland and two points ahead of Blaney.
“I’m relieved to be back in the top-35,” said Reutimann. “We struggled with the handling today, but the guys worked hard making adjustments. Going into the race, it was important that we post a solid finish to get us back in the top-35, and we did that. We’ll go to Kansas next week and hopefully continue gaining spots in the points.”