Waltrip team evolves from laughingstock to winner

These days the front page of the Michael Waltrip Racing Web site features a full-sized photo of a wet but smiling David Reutimann, one arm placed on the mammoth Coca-Cola 600 trophy, one index finger pointed in the air. A short video shows crewmen spraying champagne in a theatre turned into a makeshift Victory Lane, and Reutimann receiving a warm ovation during the traditional winner's reception in the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

One for the old guys

David Retuimann getting his first Cup victory at 39 years of age goes against the recent trend of young guns winning race after race. David Caraviello says this could be just what NASCAR needs.

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• Audio: Reutimann reflects

It's difficult to believe that this is even the same team that blundered its way onto NASCAR's big stage three seasons ago, entangling itself in a morass of penalties and missed races that led many to question whether the organization would even survive the year. And yet here is Michael Waltrip Racing today, basking in the afterglow of Reutimann's rain-shortened breakthrough victory Monday in the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600, not only alive but clearly healthier than ever.

"It's incredible to be able to progress from where we were in '07 as a new organization, and then compete all throughout the latter half of '08 and into '09 at a level I've been really proud of," Waltrip said. "We've seen cars run in the top five, a couple of solid finishes for me last year late in the season with a chance late in the race at Daytona to win. I'm real proud of the progression, and real proud of the job that David did [Monday]."

That progression is somewhat startling, given where the Waltrip organization came from. There was Waltrip, tossed into a 100-point hole to start the 2007 season because of penalties stemming from an illegal fuel additive discovered prior to the Daytona 500. There was the unforgiving nature of the top-35 rule and a change allowing only limited use of past champion provisionals, factors that clearly played a part in the 39 combined races missed by Waltrip, Reutimann, and Dale Jarrett. There were whispers about whether the big-money sponsors that had bankrolled Waltrip's effort would bolt for more successful organizations, whispers about manufacturer Toyota's commitment, whispers about whether the former roller rink Waltrip was trying to turn into a state-of-the-art race shop would ever be completed. (Continued)