| Two Florida Racers Are Living Their Dream | -KARNAC Staff Report
 Three-time NASCAR Kodak Southeast Series (formerly the Hills Bros All Pro Series) winner and NASCAR Busch Series competitor David Reutimann makes his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra with crew chief Jason Overstreet and the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports team at the historic 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway tri-oval, February 13.
David Reutimann is known by thousands of Florida race fans as a very well mannered young man who has had a great career on the local tracks, and is the son of the legendary Buzzie Reutimann.
Jason Overstreet is from the Tampa-St Petersburg area and is the son of Jill and Wendell Overstreet, well know racers on the late model circuits.
Both may be on the verge of something very big indeed.
"To sit in the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports' No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra instead of the grandstands at Daytona in a premiere NASCAR division like the Craftsman Truck Series is an incredible feeling and a dream come true for me," said Reutimann. "It wasn't long ago that I was that guy on the outside looking in. I'll never forget the day I received the call from Darrell Waltrip. At first, I thought it was a joke and that it may have been a friend on the other end making a prank call, but when the caller identification showed Waltrip I straightened up and listened. Since then, it's been a whirlwind for me and our sponsor NTN Bearings. They are entering this Series as a full-time sponsor for the first time. Their objective is brand recognition. You will be amazed to learn all of the automotive and industrial equipment parts they are responsible for making."
"I confess I did not know very much about David when we first got involved," said Rick Thomas, President and Chief Operation Officer of NTN Bearing Corporation of America. "My reaction was if Darrell Waltrip says he can drive that's good enough for NTN. When I was presented an opportunity to be a part of the NASCAR family and to sponsor a Waltrip entry, I was thrilled. I have been a fan of NASCAR and Darrell Waltrip for more than 30 years. To many at NTN, Darrell Waltrip represents all the great things that make NASCAR racing what it is today. He will put a great product on the track and will make our sponsorship enjoyable and successful."
"As a bearing and C.V. joint supplier to all of the manufacturers in the Craftsman Truck Series we are glad to be a part of the Toyota effort, continued Thomas. "Our experience with Toyota in the CART Toyota Atlantic Series over the past ten years has been very positive. Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and Toyota will make a quality combination. David is going to drive the wheels off the NTN truck. He is a solid contender for Raybestos Rookie of the Year and has a good shot at the title."
Reutimann, whose name may not be recognizable or even easy to spell, turned heads last season garnering one pole position at Memphis Motorsports Park, two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes in seven NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events for NEMCO Motorsports.
"We were very successful last season," said Reutimann. "The opportunity to race for Joe Nemechek came together with the help of my childhood friend and crew chief Brian Pattie who worked his way up to crew chief for the NEMCO Motorsports Busch car. With his help I entered my first Busch race at Richmond in 2002 finishing 16th.
"When Darrell Waltrip Motorsports began looking for someone to drive the 17 NTN Bearings truck, Brian talked to Team Manager Bobby Kennedy on his own which laid the groundwork," continued Reutimann. "Even Joe said it was something I had to look at. When I did, I realized how fierce the competition is in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and I was excited to add my name to the list of talent. Looking at the roster of drivers, I seem to recognize every name on it, but mine." While Reutimann prepares for the season-opener as NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, Jason Overstreet becomes a first-time crew chief directing the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra Darrell Waltrip Motorsports team.
"I've seen what Reutimann is capable of doing," said Overstreet. "This guy is opening a lot of eyes. When we went and tested at Daytona and Talladega in January, Reutimann had never tested or raced at either track before and his times were right up there. When he tested Joe Nemechek's Busch car at Las Vegas, it was the same scenario. Our expectations and goals for this No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra team are set high and are attainable."
As the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports team embarks upon their first season, Darrell Waltrip writes a new chapter as NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owner of the No. 17 and No. 11 Toyota Tundra entries and spokesperson for Toyota. Waltrip kicks off the season as a NASCAR on FOX TV regular as he also sets sights on his first of three - Martinsville, IRP and Martinsville - NCTS events as driver of the No. 11 Toyota Tundra. With an autobiography called "DW A Lifetime Going Around In Circles" on shelves February 9th and a soon-to-be-announced national promotion and spokesman role with a national food company, Waltrip's on top of the world and it just keeps getting better for the three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
"When people find out I work February to July and supposedly I am retired as far as driving goes, it opens doors to do other things," said Waltrip. "Owning this team was something I just couldn't turn down. I've had my own NASCAR Nextel Cup team before and my own NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team before and it was exciting. The book was something that I had been working on with Jade and it's coming out next week. And, we started working on the brownie promotion last year. My number one priority is my FOX job and it's my main focus. The other things I have to work on as I go, but that's why I have good people like Van Colley who manages my time."
"I am elated that David Reutimann is behind our No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra for 2004," continued Waltrip. "I watched David's father Buzzie race for years and I watched David drive Nemechek's Busch car last year. He did an incredible job at places he had never even been before. We were so fortunate to get him to drive our truck."
Reutimann and his No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra will take the green flag at Daytona International Speedway Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 250-mile event will be the first of 25 NCTS events telecast live on the Speed Channel this season. MRN Radio will also broadcast the entire NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule on more than 350 stations worldwide in 2003.
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