Reutimann wins 1st Cup race in rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600

David Reutimann (right) and his father, Buzzie Reutimann, check out the skies during Monday's final rain delay. AP

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- David Reutimann stared at the gray sky and silently prayed for one more heavy rain.

A gamble had put the journeyman driver in position for his first Sprint Cup Series victory, and so long as the clouds lingered over Lowe's Motor Speedway, it would come in the crown jewel Coca-Cola 600.

Reutimann didn't like his chances.

"These things don't ever go our way," the 39-year-old thought. "I don't know why it should now."

For most of his nondescript career, Reutimann never got the lucky break.

It finally came Monday after 75 races, three rain delays, a moment of silence, a spat with Tony Stewart and a 2-hour wait.

NASCAR declared Reutimann the winner when an ominous weather forecast indicated it would be impossible to run the longest race of the season to its conclusion. The drivers had figured that out a day earlier, when the race was postponed and carried over to Memorial Day for the first time in its 50-year history.

"It wasn't the prettiest win, but somebody has to win," he said. "When you envision yourself winning your first Sprint Cup race, you envision it different. But it's so hard to win these deals, we'll take it any way we can."

With intermittent showers spraying the track all day Monday, the race was one of strategy, as every driver simply tried to be in front when the event was finally washed out.

Reutimann gave it his best shot when, running 14th, he and crew chief Rodney Childers decided not to join the parade of cars following leader Kyle Busch down pit road during a caution for rain 22 laps past the halfway point.

The race had reached the point where if it was stopped again for rain, it was official, and the Michael Waltrip Racing team prayed the end was soon.

Reutimann claimed the lead, with pole-sitter Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon following him to the front as the rest of the field went to pit road for fuel and fresh tires. He didn't lead a single lap under green-flag racing, but was out front for five laps under caution before NASCAR called the cars back to pit road for the third rain stoppage.

Most drivers headed to their motorhomes to wait out the rain.

Not Reutimann.

He was joined at his car by his 68-year-old father, Buzzie, a racer with one career NASCAR start who still tears it up in dirt track events at East Bay Raceway near Tampa, Fla. The two didn't bother with an umbrella as they stood in a steady drizzle for just over 2 hours.

"I tell you what, people, it's been a long road. It's taken us a long time to get here," Buzzie Reutimann said. "I'm afraid I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out I'm dreaming all of this. Words can't describe how great a father would feel to see his son to win a race."

Buzzie Reutimann was in attendance for his son's other NASCAR victories, a 2007 Nationwide race at Memphis and a 2005 Truck race at Nashville. The duo never imagined they'd make it to the top level, though, when they were eking out a living in lower levels for most of their careers.

"I wasn't racing to be an NASCAR driver. I was just racing to race, to be able to be like my dad, make a living at racing," Reutimann said. "When I was at East Bay Raceway running for $350 to win in a late model feature, I wasn't concerned about being here, I was concerned about making it to next week.

"That's been the mentality my whole life."

Newman finished second and Gordon was third. Gordon might have a problem, though. NASCAR confiscated his real axle housing following post-race inspection for further evaluation.

Carl Edwards, who had changed into street clothes by the time the race was called, finished fourth, followed by Brian Vickers and Busch.

Reutimann didn't get his break in the Cup series until Michael Waltrip hired him in 2007 when he formed his own race team. But Michael Waltrip Racing was terrible, and Reutimann was not competitive as he struggled to even make races.

The team has made small strides in the past 2-plus seasons, and Reutimann has carried the banner. He's lingered around the top 12 in points all season and has given MWR credibility.

Now he's made MWR the first Toyota team other than Joe Gibbs Racing to win a Cup race.

Waltrip, who earned his second Daytona 500 title after a lengthy rain delay shortened the 2003 event, joined the father and son at the car midway through the final delay.

Reutimann also received a congratulatory call from Stewart, who argued with him and one of his crew members during the second rain delay. Stewart was upset with how hard Reutimann raced him earlier when Stewart had the faster car, and a longtime Reutimann crew member intervened.

"I think Tony felt like I raced him a little harder than I should have," he said. "That's all it was."

Rain ruined a race for Busch for the second time in three days. He led a race-high 173 laps and was out front when he pitted during the final caution. He wound up sixth.

Busch led 143 laps in Saturday night's Nationwide Series race, lost the lead during a round of pit stops, and never had a chance to reclaim it when the race was shortened by 45 miles because of rain.

"Weather, you can't do anything about it, really," Busch said.

Defending race-winner Kasey Kahne was also denied a chance when, as he was closing in on Busch's bumper, caution was called for rain. In second as they headed down pit road, he wound up seventh when the race never resumed.

It's the second time this season one of NASCAR's crown jewel events was ruined by rain. The season-opening Daytona 500 was shortened by 48 laps and Matt Kenseth was declared the winner after a short delay.

Coca-Cola 600 Place Start Driver Car Laps Rating Points Winnings 1. (21) David Reutimann Toyota 227 101.3 190 $403,998 2. (1) Ryan Newman Chevrolet 227 91.1 175 $326,754 3. (37) Robby Gordon Toyota 227 65.4 170 $208,985 4. (19) Carl Edwards Ford 227 104 160 $207,531 5. (8) Brian Vickers Toyota 227 121.6 160 $177,898 6. (2) Kyle Busch Toyota 227 139.4 160 $200,198 7. (6) Kasey Kahne Dodge 227 115.2 146 $159,998. 8. (9) Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet 227 106.2 142 $151,773 9. (14) Joey Logano Toyota 227 106 143 $163,351 10. (30) Matt Kenseth Ford 227 94.1 134 $160,965 11. (13) Denny Hamlin Toyota 227 95.7 130 $122,655 12. (20) Bobby Labonte Ford 227 76.9 127 $135,829 13. (5) Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 227 112.7 129 $158,751 14. (3) Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 227 82.9 121 $145,951 15. (10) Bill Elliott Ford 227 68 118 $106,000 16. (26) Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 227 76 115 $121,610 17. (4) Mark Martin Chevrolet 227 89 112 $111,785 18. (18) Scott Speed Toyota 227 69.2 109 $116,648 19. (28) Tony Stewart Chevrolet 227 84.9 106 $109,973 20. (16) Greg Biffle Ford 227 76.4 103 $116,175 21. (33) Jamie McMurray Ford 227 76.8 100 $105,050 22. (35) David Stremme Dodge 227 60.9 97 $128,615 23. (12) Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 227 73.8 94 $131,140 24. (34) David Ragan Ford 227 61.1 91 $102,325 25. (40) Jeff Burton Chevrolet 227 61.2 88 $137,731 26. (23) Marcos Ambrose Toyota 227 58 85 $104,898 27. (29) David Gilliland Chevrolet 226 67.4 82 $89,200 28. (25) Dave Blaney Toyota 226 54.6 84 $91,175 29. (31) Paul Menard Ford 226 53.4 76 $121,956 30. (39) Michael Waltrip Toyota 226 37.7 78 $99,925 31. (15) Elliott Sadler Dodge 226 49.3 70 $98,775 32. (38) AJ Allmendinger Dodge 226 46.6 67 $88,150 33. (36) Casey Mears Chevrolet 226 41.6 64 $106,975 34. (17) Kurt Busch Dodge 226 84.1 61 $106,900 35. (42) Reed Sorenson Dodge 226 39.5 58 $125,101 36. (24) Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 226 40.6 55 $95,625 37. (11) Joe Nemechek Toyota 226 41.4 52 $87,400 38. (43) Scott Riggs Toyota 225 31.4 54 $87,285 39. (41) Tony Raines Chevrolet 225 31.3 46 $95,175 40. (27) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 225 32.7 43 $105,065 41. (22) Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 224 31.5 40 $124,283 42. (32) Max Papis Toyota 219 26.6 37 $86,850 43. (7) Mike Bliss Dodge vibration 42 24.4 34 $87,817 Race Statistics Average Speed of Race Winner: 120.899 mph. Time of Race: 2 hours, 48 minutes, 59 seconds. Margin of Victory: Under Caution. Caution Flags: 6 for 40 laps. Lead Changes: 14 among 10 drivers. Lap Leaders: R.Newman 1-2; Ky.Busch 3-42; J.Johnson 43-48; Ky.Busch 49-72; R.Gordon 73; M.Waltrip 74; S.Riggs 75-77; Ky.Busch 78-119; B.Vickers 120-130; J.Logano 131; D.Blaney 132-133; Ky.Busch 134-144; B.Vickers 145-166; Ky.Busch 167-222; D.Reutimann 223-227. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): Ky.Busch, 5 times for 173 laps; B.Vickers, 2 times for 33 laps; J.Johnson, 1 time for 6 laps; D.Reutimann, 1 time for 5 laps; S.Riggs, 1 time for 3 laps; R.Newman, 1 time for 2 laps; D.Blaney, 1 time for 2 laps; R.Gordon, 1 time for 1 lap; J.Logano, 1 time for 1 lap; M.Waltrip, 1 time for 1 lap. Top 12 in Points: 1. J.Gordon, 1,722; 2. T.Stewart, 1,678; 3. Ku.Busch, 1,607; 4. J.Johnson, 1,594; 5. D.Hamlin, 1,575; 6. Ky.Busch, 1,540; 7. R.Newman, 1,538; 8. J.Burton, 1,472; 9. M.Kenseth, 1,460; 10. G.Biffle, 1,448; 11. C.Edwards, 1,431; 12. M.Martin, 1,428. NASCAR Driver Rating Formula A maximum of 150 points can be attained in a race. The formula combines the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish.

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