Jess
Obviously I and every other David Reutimann fan in the universe had a lot of reason to be very distressed after Martinsville last weekend. A driver that is 28th in points should not be 37th in owner points and outside the top 35. It's a slap in the face and incredibly unfair...and it never would have happened if David had been able to keep his #00, the number he loves so much.
But we can't change that now, so although I spent Monday and Tuesday in a rage I've calmed down now and feel it's better to move forward rather than look back at what could have or maybe should have been.
It didn't help my mood Sunday night when the TV was running in the background and I randomly heard something about UPS's future on Wind Tunnel. I usually don't watch this program but I wasn't going anywhere after that!
Dave Despain was talking to Zak Brown, the CEO of Just Marketing International, about UPS's status with its motorsports program. He said that they are committed to NASCAR but are reevaluating which team they want to be with next year - and have about five teams they are looking at, one of which is MWR if I heard him right (which is a small relief). They'll make a decision in around sixty days. Brown went on to say that they want a rock star who can contend for a championship.
They want a rock star. Who can contend for championships. Winning races is included, I'm sure. A good, classy personality for bonus points.
Do you know who I think fits that bill? How about the guy that Dale Jarrett handpicked to run under UPS's banner after his retirement? How about David Reutimann?
Do I need to emphasize this?
UPS, YOU'RE ALREADY ON YOUR ROCK STAR'S CAR! HE'S ALREADY WEARING YOUR LOGOS ON HIS DRIVER'S SUIT!
David is going to be a rock star. I already consider him one - he even comes complete with his own guitar (he won the CTS race at Nashville in 2005 for those who don't know - the trophy is a Gibson guitar). He's already contended for championships in both the Craftsman Truck Series and the Busch/Nationwide Series. He's won two races. He is the definition of class and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life. He's human and emotional and handsome and passionate and his teams adore him. And he's a great driver. I hope UPS has been listening to his Cup radio because he's a top 15 driver at least even if his finishes don't always show. Those guys never give up and put their heart and soul into every race. I say "heart and soul" because that team is one heart and one soul working together toward the same goal: doing their best and living up to their potential. They want to win.
Look, I love Dale Jarrett. I think he did the best he could in his last five races but he had a lot of bad luck. It's not for a lack of effort he was 34th in owner points when David took over. He tried, he ran well but stuff just happens. But I did some research. I went back and looked for the last time DJ led a green-flag lap at the Cup level. The last time UPS led a green-flag lap.
It was October 8th 2006, the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega. Lap 1.
David led three laps at Martinsville last weekend. It was the first time UPS has led a green-flag lap for a year and a half. Forty-seven races. And it wasn't just one lap at a track where it's fairly easy to be on the outside row at the start and get a run. It was three.
There will be more to come. When Dale Jarrett told UPS that David Reutimann is their man he wasn't joking. He was dead serious. He could have said Michael McDowell or Josh Wise, but he didn't. He chose David.
UPS, please don't leave him. Stay with him. You won't regret it.
Not like they'll ever read this but maybe it will send good vibes their way.
My friend who has XM radio says that Claire B. Lang is gunning for UPS to stay with David as well - that's awesome! 
David Reutimann and UPS. They belong together. I hope they stay together for a long time.
But we can't change that now, so although I spent Monday and Tuesday in a rage I've calmed down now and feel it's better to move forward rather than look back at what could have or maybe should have been.
It didn't help my mood Sunday night when the TV was running in the background and I randomly heard something about UPS's future on Wind Tunnel. I usually don't watch this program but I wasn't going anywhere after that!
Dave Despain was talking to Zak Brown, the CEO of Just Marketing International, about UPS's status with its motorsports program. He said that they are committed to NASCAR but are reevaluating which team they want to be with next year - and have about five teams they are looking at, one of which is MWR if I heard him right (which is a small relief). They'll make a decision in around sixty days. Brown went on to say that they want a rock star who can contend for a championship.
They want a rock star. Who can contend for championships. Winning races is included, I'm sure. A good, classy personality for bonus points.
Do you know who I think fits that bill? How about the guy that Dale Jarrett handpicked to run under UPS's banner after his retirement? How about David Reutimann?
Do I need to emphasize this?
UPS, YOU'RE ALREADY ON YOUR ROCK STAR'S CAR! HE'S ALREADY WEARING YOUR LOGOS ON HIS DRIVER'S SUIT!
David is going to be a rock star. I already consider him one - he even comes complete with his own guitar (he won the CTS race at Nashville in 2005 for those who don't know - the trophy is a Gibson guitar). He's already contended for championships in both the Craftsman Truck Series and the Busch/Nationwide Series. He's won two races. He is the definition of class and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life. He's human and emotional and handsome and passionate and his teams adore him. And he's a great driver. I hope UPS has been listening to his Cup radio because he's a top 15 driver at least even if his finishes don't always show. Those guys never give up and put their heart and soul into every race. I say "heart and soul" because that team is one heart and one soul working together toward the same goal: doing their best and living up to their potential. They want to win.
Look, I love Dale Jarrett. I think he did the best he could in his last five races but he had a lot of bad luck. It's not for a lack of effort he was 34th in owner points when David took over. He tried, he ran well but stuff just happens. But I did some research. I went back and looked for the last time DJ led a green-flag lap at the Cup level. The last time UPS led a green-flag lap.
It was October 8th 2006, the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega. Lap 1.
David led three laps at Martinsville last weekend. It was the first time UPS has led a green-flag lap for a year and a half. Forty-seven races. And it wasn't just one lap at a track where it's fairly easy to be on the outside row at the start and get a run. It was three.
There will be more to come. When Dale Jarrett told UPS that David Reutimann is their man he wasn't joking. He was dead serious. He could have said Michael McDowell or Josh Wise, but he didn't. He chose David.
UPS, please don't leave him. Stay with him. You won't regret it.
Not like they'll ever read this but maybe it will send good vibes their way.
My friend who has XM radio says that Claire B. Lang is gunning for UPS to stay with David as well - that's awesome! David Reutimann and UPS. They belong together. I hope they stay together for a long time.