TALLADEGA, Ala. (May 7, 2012) – Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) visited Talladega Superspeedway, typically a good track for the team, this weekend and was optimistic for two good finishes. Pit problems relegated David Reutimann and the No. 10 Chevrolet to a 22nd-place finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event. A nine-car incident on lap 144 relegated Dave Blaney and the No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet to a 30th-place finish in the Aaron’s 499.
David Reutimann – No. 10 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet: The No. 10 team focused on race trim in both practice sessions and posted the 36th and 13th fastest laps in the two practice sessions. Reutimann drove the TBR Chevrolet to the 34th starting spot in Saturday’s qualifying.
Reutimann took the green flag at Talladega Superspeedway from the 17th row. By the first lap, he moved up 13 spots to the 21st position. He continued to race in the top-25 until the first caution, called for oil on the track. Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin called for a two-tire pit stop, and the No. 10 Chevrolet restarted in 22nd place on lap 21.
He drove into the 13th position by lap 33 and continued to race in the top-20. The Zephyrhills, Fla., native drove into a race-high eighth place on lap 54 before making a green-flag pit stop on lap 59. The team changed four tires and had a fueling issue on the stop. Reutimann returned to the track in the 31st position behind the main pack.
The No. 10 Chevrolet drafted with Denny Hamlin to stay on the lead lap. Another long green flag run allowed for a round of green flag pit stops. Reutimann made his pit stop on lap 101, giving up the 30th spot. The No. 10 crew changed two tires and returned to the track in the 30th position. Unfortunately, the main pack caught up to the No. 10 Chevrolet, and the team fell a lap down on lap 110.
On lap 140, the No. 10 team pit for four tires. An incident involving nine cars, including teammate Blaney, on lap 144 brought out the caution and caught the No. 10 Chevrolet two laps down. Reutimann restarted on lap 151 in the 27th position. A three-car incident in turn two brought out the third caution of the day on lap 177 with the No.10 in the 26th spot.
Reutimann restarted in the 26th position but two laps later the yellow flag waved for a two-car spin on the frontstretch. He held onto the 26th spot for the restart on lap 185. One lap later, a nine-car incident in turn one brought out the final caution and caused a green-white-checker finish. Reutimann restarted in 22nd place on lap 190 and held onto the position to finish in the 22nd spot.
The No. 10 Chevrolet is currently in the 33rd position in NSCS Owner Points. The team is three points behind the No. 32, two points ahead of the No. 36 Chevrolet and locked into the top-35 by 37 points. Reutimann is 31st in NSCS Driver Points. He is ahead of Travis Kvapil by six points and trailing David Gilliland by 11 points.
“It was a really disappointing day,” explained Reutimann. “We had an issue on a green flag pit stop, and the way the cautions fell, it really hurt us. We had a good car and were just saving our stuff to make a run at the end. I think we had a good chance at a solid finish, and unfortunately, we got stuck a lap down.”
Dave Blaney – No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet: During both scheduled practice sessions, Blaney and the Golden Corral/Camp Corral team focused on race runs and securing a top-10 finish so kids could eat free at Golden Corral on Monday. The No. 36 Chevrolet posted the 42nd and 17th fastest times in practice, and Blaney drove to the 38th place starting spot.
The No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet started the Aaron’s 499 from the 19th row. Blaney drove up to the 13th position by lap 10. The No. 78 Chevrolet’s engine expired on lap 17, and NASCAR Officials called a caution for oil on the track. Blaney made a two-tire pit stop. The air gun for the rear tire locked up during the first stop, and Blaney had to drive back down pit road to change the rear tire. He restarted from the 25th spot on lap 21.
He drove the Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet into the 14th position by lap 26 and stayed in the top-20 until lap 40 when Blaney radioed that he would go to the back of the pack to keep the engine cool. The Hartford, Ohio native raced in the 22nd position and then drove into the 15th spot when the field began green-flag pit stops on lap 57.
Crew Chief Ryan Pemberton called the No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet down pit road for a two-tire pit stop on lap 59, and Blaney returned to the track in the 26th position. He drove the Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet into 13th place by lap 80. By lap 101, the team made a second green-flag pit stop. The Golden Corral/Camp Corral crew changed the two left-side tires, and the No. 36 Chevrolet returned to the track in the 28th spot.
Blaney once again raced into the top-15 until green-flag pit stops began on lap 140. Preparing to pit on lap 143, Blaney held the inside line. Contact with the No. 43 car sent the No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet up the track and into the outside wall, collecting seven other cars. The incident caused major damage to the right front and rear of the car. After assessing the damage, Pemberton called for the team to push the car back to the garage. The incident relegated the Golden Corral/Camp Corral team to a 30th-place finish.
The No. 36 team fell to 34th in NSCS Owner Points. The team is now ahead of the No. 83 by five points, behind the No. 10 by two points and locked into the top-35 by 35 points. Blaney is in 33rd place in the NSCS Driver Points. He is five points ahead of Landon Cassill and trails Kvapil by eight points.
“It was not the day we had hoped for,” said Blaney. “Our main goal was to get a top-10 finish so kids could eat free and to help promote Camp Corral. We had a good car, and I felt like I could drive through the field when we wanted to. We were just trying to stay out of trouble and not overheat, so we could go for it at the end. Unfortunately, the No. 43 ran out of fuel in front of us. It’s a shame we tore up such a good car. Thankfully, we have two more chances for kids to eat free at Golden Corral.”
Blaney will return to the No. 36 SealWrap Chevrolet this weekend for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Reutimann will return to the No. 10 Chevrolet at Dover International Speedway June 3rd, as Danica Patrick will take over driving duties for Darlington Raceway and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. ### About Golden Corral: Founded in 1973, privately held Golden Corral Corp. is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Golden Corral currently has 485 restaurants in 41 states. The company’s vision is to be the leader in the family restaurant segment by making pleasurable dining affordable for every guest, at every restaurant, every day. Golden Corral restaurants have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military. Golden Corral restaurants nationwide are participating in a 60-day $1,000,000 fundraising campaign to send 1,800 children to Camp Corral, a free summer camp for children of wounded, disabled or fallen military families.
To donate, register or learn more about Camp Corral, visit www.campcorral.org. For more information on Golden Corral, visit www.goldencorral.com. About Tommy Baldwin Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin formed Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in 2009. Baldwin utilized a declining economy to open a NSCS team with a stringent budget. The team worked to build to full-time competition, and by the 2011 season, the team’s third season, TBR competed in every race and locked the No. 36 Chevrolet in the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points. Dave Blaney drove the No. 36 Chevrolet to TBR’s highest finish of third in the October 2011 event at Talladega Superspeedway. TBR also fielded a second car for select races in the past two seasons with multiple drivers.
Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the NSCS in 2012 with NASCAR veterans David Reutimann and Dave Blaney. The team will also compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Ryan Blaney, Bobby Santos and Ryan Truex.
For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit tommybaldwinracing.comor follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
