Michael Waltrip Racing announced Thursday that driver of the No. 00 car David Reutimann has been released from the team for the 2012 season. Reutimann will stay with the team for the three remaining races of 2011. In David’s career with MWR he scored two wins, 12 top-five, 25 top-10 finishes, and achieved four pole awards. He is currently 28th in Sprint Cup Series points.
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[/media-credit]”David has been a significant part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and will forever be a part of our heritage,” Waltrip said in a statement. “We want to thank David for his contribution to our growth and success over the past five years and wish him well in the future.”
In a press conference Friday morning at Texas Motor Speedway, it was announced that Mark Martin will replace Reutimann in the No. 00. Martin will split the ride with owner Michael Waltrip for a part-time schedule in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Martin will run 25 races each season, including 24 points races and the All-star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He will drive in the Daytona 500 and Waltrip will drive the three remaining restrictor-plate races for the 2012 season.
“The performance level is not where they’d it like to be right now, but they’re making a serious move toward stepping that up,” Martin said during the press conference. “I’m really excited to have a chance to be a part of that. Everybody knows I like to help people. Getting a chance to work with some of the young drivers that come along and come through the program is something that really means a lot to me.”
With Aaron’s sponsoring 30 races, MWR plans to run a combination of drivers and sponsors for the No. 00 car for the remaining six races. MWR will keep crew chief Rodney Childers on the No. 00 team. Mark will join MWR teammates Martin Truex Jr and Clint Bowyer. Bowyer will be leaving Richard Childress Racing next season to make the move to MWR.
