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**Dylan** · 04-01-2012, 09:53 PM

Bug,
The 10 car is in partnership of Stewart Haas Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. If they can keep the 10 car ranked in the top 35 - Danica Patrick would automatically get a provisional exemption when she takes over the car on May 12th. Meaning, she would not have to qualify to get in the race. But, the car dropped to 36th. Patrick might have to earn it for once - at DARLINGTON RACEWAY!

Excerpts: USA Today - Drivers lambaste Reutimann's costly move

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Danica Patrick won't return to Sprint Cup until May 12 at Darlington Raceway, but her nascent career in NASCAR's premier series indirectly made a heavy impact Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race.

Third-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Reutimann changed the outcome by "driving around at 15 mph for two or three laps"

before the yellow and should have went to the pits rather than risk stopping on the racetrack.

Other drivers weren't able to be so cavalier about the circumstances involving Reutimann, who is sharing the No. 10 with Patrick. Sunday's 35th dropped the car to 36th in the standings, one point outside the top 35 positions guaranteed a spot in each race. If it remains there, Patrick would have to qualify on speed for the Southern 500 at Darlington, the toughest track on the circuit. LOL

Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race.

Said Brad Keselowski, who finished ninth: "That was really, really uncalled for and ruined the day for a lot of people from having a lot better finishes. I think we're all really, really frustrated with (Reutimann)."

"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," Reutimann said. "It broke a tie rod or something. I was just trying to limp around. We needed to finish the next couple of laps to try to stay in the top 35.

The yellow for Reutimann essentially cost Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory.

Teammates Jeff Gordon, who led a race-high 328 laps, and Jimmie Johnson, who led 112, were running 1-2 and elected not to pit when the rest of the lead-lap cars did. On the next restart, Clint Bowyer made contact with Gordon with an inside pass for the lead, triggering a crash that also collected Johnson, who finished 12th, and handed the lead to Newman.

Gordon, who ran out of gas under caution before the final restart and settled for 14th, said, "That's (a) Martinsville green-white-checkered. There are no guarantees at this place."

And for Patrick, there now might not be a guarantee at Darlington.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...ove/53935638/1

04-01-2012, 09:53 PM	#776
Dylan The Lede Join Date: Aug 2007 Casino cash: $10016591	Bug, The 10 car is in partnership of Stewart Haas Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. If they can keep the 10 car ranked in the top 35 - Danica Patrick would automatically get a provisional exemption when she takes over the car on May 12th. Meaning, she would not have to qualify to get in the race. But, the car dropped to 36th. Patrick might have to earn it for once - at DARLINGTON RACEWAY! Excerpts: USA Today - Drivers lambaste Reutimann's costly move MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Danica Patrick won't return to Sprint Cup until May 12 at Darlington Raceway, but her nascent career in NASCAR's premier series indirectly made a heavy impact Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race. Third-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Reutimann changed the outcome by "driving around at 15 mph for two or three laps" before the yellow and should have went to the pits rather than risk stopping on the racetrack. Other drivers weren't able to be so cavalier about the circumstances involving Reutimann, who is sharing the No. 10 with Patrick. Sunday's 35th dropped the car to 36th in the standings, one point outside the top 35 positions guaranteed a spot in each race. If it remains there, Patrick would have to qualify on speed for the Southern 500 at Darlington, the toughest track on the circuit. LOL Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race. Said Brad Keselowski, who finished ninth: "That was really, really uncalled for and ruined the day for a lot of people from having a lot better finishes. I think we're all really, really frustrated with (Reutimann)." "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," Reutimann said. "It broke a tie rod or something. I was just trying to limp around. We needed to finish the next couple of laps to try to stay in the top 35. The yellow for Reutimann essentially cost Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory. Teammates Jeff Gordon, who led a race-high 328 laps, and Jimmie Johnson, who led 112, were running 1-2 and elected not to pit when the rest of the lead-lap cars did. On the next restart, Clint Bowyer made contact with Gordon with an inside pass for the lead, triggering a crash that also collected Johnson, who finished 12th, and handed the lead to Newman. Gordon, who ran out of gas under caution before the final restart and settled for 14th, said, "That's (a) Martinsville green-white-checkered. There are no guarantees at this place." And for Patrick, there now might not be a guarantee at Darlington. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...ove/53935638/1 __________________ Last edited by Dylan; 04-01-2012 at 10:06 PM..
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