For the second consecutive week David Reutimann has shown every Hardcore Race Fan in the nation that he means business.

Starting in 27th, Reutimann made his way through the field to ninth place recording his second straight top-10 finish.

Leading a total of 104 laps and losing that lead with a little over 50 laps left in the event, Reutimann was relocated to the ninth spot where he ended the race.

“I wish we could have held them off there at the end,” Reutimann said cravingly. “Ryan Pemberton (crew chief) and the guys did a really good job and we had really good pit stops all day. That was one of our new generation cars, which is the same thing we had last week. That’s all due to the guys at the fab (fabrication) shop and Toyota did a great job with great horsepower all day. We just came up a little short and got too tight to move forward like we needed to. All in all it was a pretty good day for the UPS Toyota.”

“I think we led the most laps, but I would have taken just leading one lap and that would be the last one,” Reutimann continued. “I’m proud of my guys and it was a blessing to have a good run today.”

The second year driver was not the only one in the organization that had apromising day.

After running in the top-5 for a period in the race, Rookie of the Year contender Michael McDowell recorded a solid 20th place finish reclaiming a spot in the top-35, guaranteeing him a seat in next weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“It felt good to run up front,” McDowell confirmed. “I wish we could have left Richmond with a top-10 finish. The pit stops were great all day and we were able to reposition the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota back inside the top-35 where it belongs.”

“It was a huge accomplishment for us,” McDowell noted. “We were able to run up front and take back a top-35 position. We’re looking forward to New Hampshire.”

With every driver in his organization driving in the top-5 at one point in the race, Michael Waltrip was pleased with how the weekend concluded.  “I am really proud of the job all three of my MWR teams did today,” Waltrip exclaimed. “David led a bunch of laps and scored his second-straight top-10. McDowell climbed back into his car and gets a solid finish and a spot in next Sunday’s race. My NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota was really good, too.”

What seemed to be a top-15 run rapidly went astray on Sunday when tire issues brought a successful night to a screeching hault.

On lap 360 Waltrip pitted for four new tires and some gas (no adjustments) and entered the track in 16th. He quickly began to lose positions and later came to find out that his tire came down resulting in a 28th place finish.

“It’s frustrating that it happened,” Waltrip mourned. “My NAPA guys worked their butts off and our pit stops were awesome. We would have gotten at least a top-15 if the tire would have been OK. After this weekend, there is no doubt in my mind that MWR can have another strong run next week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.”