Waltrip Racing releases David Reutimann, paves way for Mark Martin to join team
Reutimann will drive the No. 00 car for the final three races of the season before being replaced by Martin, who will be sponsored by Aaron’s, whose deal with the team runs through 2012. Sources confirmed Thursday that Martin will join the team next year and run a majority of the races but not all of them.
MWR has a news conference scheduled for Friday morning at Texas Motor Speedway.
Martin, winner of 40 Cup races, is 19th in the current standings in his final season with Hendrick Motorsports. He will be replaced by Kasey Kahne in Hendrick’s No. 5 car next year.
The 52-year-old Martin has 827 Cup starts and was looking to run a partial schedule after three full-time seasons with Hendrick. He will join a MWR team already in transition as it is adding a third car for Clint Bowyer next season.
But missing from MWR next year will be the driver who has the only two Cup victories in team history.
Reutimann, 41, who was a Cup rookie with the team when it moved to Cup racing in 2007, won at Charlotte in May 2009 and Chicagoland Speedway in July 2010. He has 12 top-fives, 25 top-10s and four poles with the team.
“David has been a significant part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and will forever be a part of our heritage," said team co-owner Michael Waltrip. “We want to thank David for his contribution to our growth and success over the past five years and wish him well in the future."