No passing trend

David Reutimann is an up-and-coming driver, but he doesn't really fit any of the latest trends in NASCAR.

NASCAR David Reutimann has proved he is a solid driver capable of strong finishes. His latest effort: an 18th-place outing in last week's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix. He's not a fresh-faced youngster or an established openwheel racing star, as are most of the drivers getting rides in NASCAR these days. But at age 38 and a product of the regional NASCAR touring series, he has two high-profile rides - the Aaron's-sponsored No. 99 Toyota in the Nationwide Series and the No. 44 UPS-backed Camry in the Cup series.

Both of his cars are fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing, and both have been driven in the past by drivers who also were slick-talking pitchmen for their respective sponsors. Waltrip had driven the Aaron's car and appeared in the company's commercials before Reutimann took over for good last year. The No. 44 was vacated after Bristol by the retiring Dale Jarrett, who was shown in numerous commercials for UPS in ad spots built around the theme of whether he'd ever race a big brown UPS truck.

It remains to be seen whether UPS will stick with Waltrip and Reutimann or seek another high-profile pitchman, but the personable Reutimann said he's willing to take on the TV role if that's what the sponsors want.

"I'm not sure I'm qualified to fill those [TV] roles," he said. "I'm just a driver. I like the driving part of it, but I feel that over time, I can do what I need to do.

"Michael and DJ [Jarrett] have been established in this sport for a lot of years. People know those guys. They can identify with them. I kind of just got here. I definitely have my work cut out for me, but there are good opportunities on both the Cup and Nationwide sides.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Reutimann, the son of short-track racer Emil "Buzzie" Reutimann, has proved he is a capable driver, having won three times on the old NASCAR Southeast Series, then moving to the Craftsman Truck Series where he won at Nashville Superspeedway in 2005. Then last year, he got his first Nationwide win at Memphis and finished second in the final points standings.

This year, he started the season in Cup in the No. 00 car and placed it safely inside the top 35 in owner points before turning over that car to rookie Michael McDowell. He took over Jarrett's No. 44 and has qualified it in two races in which he was not assured of a starting spot. He's now back up to 34th in the owners standings after an 18th-place finish at Phoenix.

That's proof, he says, that there's an upside to a team's hiring of a thirty-something driver.

"I'm definitely not a part of any of the latest trends," he said. "I got my opportunity a little later than some of those other guys, but I'll go up against an 18-year-old any day. Just because they're younger doesn't mean they want it any more than I do."

He argues that a sponsor can easily build a program around him, even though he's older than most newcomers.

"I know sponsors feel like they want to have somebody they can invest in long-term, but I feel like I have a lot to offer," he said.

"I feel like I'm still learning and getting better every week. I don't think I've peaked by any means.

"I think I'll have a lot to offer for a long time."

He expects a pretty good payoff this year.

"I think we can win a championship with the Aaron's Dream Machine," he said. "And even though the points switch [with McDowell] is messing me up with the Cup car, I think we can get inside the top 20, or maybe even better than that."