Final Turn: Is Reutimann's early success long-term?

Franchise [fran-chahyz], noun: Sports Slang. a player of great talent or popular appeal, considered vitally important to a team's success or future.
-- dictionary.com

David Reutimann jokingly referred to himself as the "Franchise" for Michael Waltrip Racing. It was talked about all weekend at Martinsville Speedway. His crew has run it into the ground, nagging the third-year driver about his self-given nickname. It was even put on his car, just above the driver's side window net.

But is he correct?

David Reutimann

2009 Results

Race	Start	Finish	Status
Daytona	28	12	running
Fontana	7	14	running
Las Vegas	4	4	running
Atlanta	18	32	running
Bristol	6	12	running
Martinsville	11	20	running
Averages	12.3	15.7

Reutimann began the season in unprecedented fashion for an MWR Toyota, with finishes of 12th at Daytona, 14th at Fontana and then fourth at Las Vegas. The questions began to fly once he had climbed to fifth in points: Is David Reutimann for real?

Engine trouble at Atlanta damaged that argument, leaving him with a 32nd-place finish. Still, he's rebounded on the short tracks and ran most of Sunday's race inside or near the top 10 until cutting a tire and spinning; he finished 20th.

He remains 11th in points as the series heads to Texas next week, a track where Reutimann has two blown engines in three starts. His other finish there? Tenth last November.

What's perhaps more impressive is that Reutimann's average running position this season is 17.503, ranking 16th on the Sprint Cup Series. That's ahead of Roush driver Greg Biffle (17th), Earnhardt Ganassi teammates Juan Montoya (18th) and Martin Truex Jr. (22nd) and two-time winner Matt Kenseth (23rd).

Reutimann's No. 00 car hasn't been a legitimate threat to win a race this season, but his consistency has kept him inside the top 12 in points through six races. His teammate, Michael Waltrip, is 17th in points, and the organization's satellite car driven by Marcos Ambrose is 21st.

Clearly, there's a season's worth of racing ahead. And 11th in points in March doesn't land a Chase berth in September. But Reutimann is making an early case for an invitation to the late-season party.

Final Turn: Has David Reutimann's time finally come?
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