Goody's Fast Relief 500 winner Ryan Newman celebrates in Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway.Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR
First congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.!! Second in points while sitting only 6 points back from the leader, and finishing third at Martinsville.
When asked about the situation with David Reutimann and the #10 car, when Reutimann’s car stopped at the end of the frontstretch and forced NASCAR to wave the yellow flag, which set up a late restart. Current leaders Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, spun out when Clint Bowyer made it three-wide into the first corner, and Ryan Newman ended up winning the race.
While being interviewed by the media in the media center following the race, Dale was asked what his thoughts were on it. This is what Dale said:
“Well, I would like an explanation on why that happened, from him, his crew chief, somebody. But there’s no – it doesn’t seem like there could be a logical reason for him to end up stopped on the track. ”
“He was running around slow; you got a problem, you really — get down and get on pit road. I don’t believe he had any trouble getting down. When we went by him the first time he was low. I would like to hear a good excuse to be honest with you, because I’m sure it would be laughable. (Laughter).”
All in the while after being summoned to the NASCAR hauler, team owner Tommy Baldwin carried a broken part wrapped in a white towel to show NASCAR and said driver David Reutimann did nothing wrong when he stopped on the track with three laps to go in the race. “He didn’t have a choice (to stop).” said Baldwin.
Baldwin continued, “The steering broke and he couldn’t get on pit road, and about 15 laps before that, he was complaining about the motor. It just happened at the same time. I mean, we just looked at it down there – it won’t start, it won’t do nothing. There’s nothing we could have done.” (SB Nation)
Another victor was missed – Hendrick’s chance of winning his 200th victory. Dale’s thought’s on this:
“Disappointing for everybody to run as good as we did today and not finish up there. I know Jeff is especially disappointed because of the way his year’s been going. And I’ve got a real good idea of what his opinion is about that.
You know, Jimmie is trying to climb back into it, and they had the winning cars all day, both of them. You know, I expressed my opinion about the finish there and the guys stopping on the track. And I don’t think I want to talk about it too much. I don’t want to say more until I get an explanation from them or read one somewhere. Maybe you guys (media) can track one down.”
David Reutimann made his comments known post race:
“Number one, I just hate it,” said Reutimann, who was black-flagged by NASCAR and finished 35th, 79 laps down. “I just hate that I was involved in anything that changed the complexion of the race so I’ve got to apologize to the guys that it affected. It broke a tie-rod or something like that. I was just trying to limp around there. We needed to finish next couple of laps to try to stay in the top 35 [in points].”
“I know it sucks. I hate it for everybody that it affected, but I mean I can’t get out and push the thing,” said Reutimann.