FONTANA, Calif. - Michael Waltrip Racing got exactly what it needed to start the season with a pair of top-six finishes at Daytona. David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr. now want to keep pushing forward in Southern California.
"We just need to carry a little momentum over from Daytona and hopefully get out of here with a good finish and get off to a good start for our season," said Reutimann, who starts 11th at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.
Reutimann finished fifth in the Daytona 500, one spot ahead of Truex in his debut for the Waltrip team in the full-time spot that used to be occupied by the team owner.
"I felt like it was a first good week together for us. We gelled well together," Truex said. "When I got out of the car I felt like we were in Victory Lane, everybody was so happy. They all had fun watching that race. So, it was a good feeling knowing that I did a good enough job for them and they were happy with how everything went."
Waltrip drove a third car at Daytona, but steps back this week as he shifts his focus more on ownership and the continued growth of the team, which is in its fourth full season.
"I'm really trying to immerse myself into this role as an owner," Waltrip said.
Reutimann had all five of the top-six finishes for Michael Waltrip Racing last season and picked up the team's first-ever win at Charlotte.
"You're only as good as your last race, so if you run good in one race, you may be able to enjoy it Monday and maybe Tuesday. Then Wednesday, it's like you have to go back and do it again," Reutimann said. "Daytona was X, Y and Z, but by Wednesday you're moving on and you come to this one and this is the most important race of the season to you until the next one. "
Strangely enough for Truex, Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 in Chip Ganassi's No. 1 car that he drove last season. But Truex certainly didn't sound bitter when asked about that.
"It was cool to see that. Obviously, I would have liked it better if I was in Victory Lane, but I was happy for those guys," Truex said. "There's no jealousy with me. I don't sit there and say why wasn't I in that car."