David Reutimann: "When my daughter gets older, she's probably going to think I'm the biggest nerd there is." Credit: Autostock

Conversation: David Reutimann

David Reutimann, driver of the No. 17 Toyota for Darrell Waltrip Racing, is as old school as a nu skool driver can be. In fact, he'd race every weekend, given the chance.

Reutimann was the Craftsman Truck Series' rookie of the year in 2004, and he recently won his first NASCAR race, aptly enough the Toyota Tundra 200 on Aug. 13 at Nashville Superspeedway. (And ol' DW was the race's grand marshal, to boot.)

Reutimann also ran a limited Busch Series schedule in 2003 after posting three wins in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series. He debuted in the Busch Series in 2002, competing in four races.

Given his lust for wheeling, it's no surprise that Reutimann was driving his motorhome from Bristol when he took a few minutes to discuss his on- and off-track career. (He was using a hands-free device. ... We think.)

Q: You're the son of racing legend Emil "Buzzie" Reutimann. What do you remember most about watching him race?

	Inside the Numbers David Reutimann in 2005 Track Start Finish Daytona 14 12 Fontana 3 13 Atlanta 8 24 Martinsville 19 23 Gateway 6 24 Mansfield 8 21 Charlotte 14 17 Dover 8 5 Texas 23 10 Michigan 7 8 Milwaukee 10 23 Kansas 4 3 Kentucky 3 3 Memphis 2 2 IRP 8 11 Nashville 6 1 Bristol 1 29 Averages 8.5 13.5

Reutimann: I've got a lot of great memories of going track to track, every weekend, from New York to Florida. It's how he made his living, and he was a guy that a lot of people liked. He had a lot of fans.

He was the proverbial "good guy," with the black, horned-rim glasses. He looked like a school teacher, instead of a driver.

I remember sitting with throngs of people who made "00" sweaters; there weren't merchandise trailers back then.

(Buzzie Reutimann made one Grand National start. He finished 10th on Nov. 11, 1962, at Tampa, Fla.)

Q: Do you ever hear his voice in the back of your head when you're racing?

Reutimann: All the time, really. He would always give you bits and pieces of advice. When I was young, it went in one ear and out the other.

He'd say, "Racing is racing -- no matter what level." He told me to always look ahead on the track, always anticipate. And 99 percent of the stuff he told me was right on the money.

He was an old-school racer -- no retirement, no insurance. It was always "just get to the next race." He doesn't have a college education, but he's one of the smartest men I know.

Q: Are you happy with the progress of your career?

Reutimann: Obviously, at my age [35], I would like to be further along. ... I probably spent too much time dirt racing. But like a lot of drivers, I was too busy making a living to make a change.

I didn't look at it as a career; I was into eating the following week. I don't regret any of it, but I have learned to save money. I'm quite possibly the cheapest guy in the garage.

I just thank the Lord that I've gotten with good car owners and the money has started coming in. I came through the school of hard knocks, but I've been extremely bless with a great family. I have a strong belief in the Lord and I just follow the path He set.

Q: Is Darrell Waltrip as aggressive as an owner as he was as a driver?

Reutimann: When DW was at the track, it was take no prisoners. I think he's mellowed considerably. He's more patient than I expected, because I made every rookie mistake. He wants to win, and he's willing to help, but he demands perfection. That's why he won so many races [84 in Cup].

Last year, he was willing to let some stuff fly, but you don't have to wait on a comment from DW. He'll be the first one to tell you his opinion -- not so much about the set-up, but about driving, coaching. That's his forte; his advice hits the mark.

Q: What does the future hold for you -- Busch Series, Cup Series? Will you be one of Toyota's first stock-car drivers?

The Reutimann File Career NASCAR statistics Series Races W T5 T10 Busch 15 0 2 3 Truck 42 1 9 17 Totals 57 1 11 20

Reutimann: I'd like to think so. I hear the same thing the media does, but I haven't sat down with Toyota [to discuss future plans]. On thing about Toyota, when they do something, they're aggressive and meticulous. It'll be right on the mark.

But I like racing in the Truck Series. When Toyota joined the series, it really gave the Truck Series a shot in the arm.

Q: When you're away from the track, what's your pastime? Any hobbies?

Reutimann: I have a 3½-year-old daughter [Emilia] I like to spend time with. I'm really a private person. I'm really pretty boring, and I married way above me [wife, Lisa].

I do like to play video games and computer games. ... I just enjoy quiet time with my family. I like having dinner with my family.

You see these guys on NASCAR Nation and they're racing dirt bikes, this and that. I don't want to do anything that costs a lot of money. When my daughter gets older, she's probably going to think I'm the biggest nerd there is.

Q: Which is your favorite track?

Reutimann: I like Nashville -- and not just because I won there. I like Kentucky, Kansas, Atlanta ... there aren't too many I don't like.

Q: Which is your least favorite track?

Reutimann: Martinsville, I could do without it. The reason is that we haven't had a good truck a Martinsville -- yet [average finish of 19.3 in three races].

Q: Do you like the Truck schedule, with so many open dates?

Reutimann: I'd run 36 races! Maybe if I'd been in the game as long as Mark Martin I might want to enjoy life more, but I've worked my whole life to race. The more races, the better. I'd be happy running 40.

Ken Schrader is the ultimate racer. He's on dirt, ARCA, Cup. Schrader has the best deal going in Motorsports. I'd love to have his deal.

Q: So, you're driving the motorhome?

Reutimann: I do have a guy, a friend of the family who was a fan of my dad, who actually drives to far away races. But Bristol is only three hours from our house.

When I was growing up, I got a Class A CDL and drove to the track, then I'd race, then drive back home. That's just how you did it.

The Lord has been good to me, blessed me. I have a career, a good family and I'm having the time of my life.