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.