Talladega, Ala. - David Reutimann's University of Alabama Aaron's Dream Machine was a fan favorite in Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to carrying the home state colors, the No. 00 was as fast as any of the 43 cars on the track. Reutimann led five laps but looked like he would leave with a poor finish after falling out of the lead draft. Luckily a late caution enabled him to climb back into the lead pack. In the final green-white-checkered finish he couldn't get the help needed to battle for the victory and finished 14th. Reutimann is now 27th in points as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Richmond for Saturday night's race.

"It seemed like I could give help, but no one seemed to really want to give me any," said Reutimann. "The 11 (Denny Hamlin) worked with us really good and there was a couple other guys that would. A lot of guys would work with you and then hang you out. That's just how it goes - no big deal. We should have finished a whole lot better than 14th today. We had a good car. At least we didn't tear anything up and we have something good to bring back."


NOTES:

• Reutimann started 30th and finished 14th-his best Talladega finish.
• Reutimann has finished in the top 15 in four of the five races he's finished in 2010.
• Led five laps and looked to be one of the fastest cars on the track.
• Reutimann climbed into the top five around the lap 60 mark.
• Pushed Jimmie Johnson to lead on lap 69 while running second.
• Avoided a spinning Denny Hamlin on lap 75.
• Led lap 154 as the field raced three wide.
• Hung out in the draft with 30 to go and fell out of lead pack about 13 seconds behind leader.
• A caution with 10 laps remaining allowed Reutimann to climb back into the lead pack.
• Survived the three green-white-checkered attempts to finish the race.
• Kevin Harvick beat Jamie McMurray by 0.011 seconds.
• Juan Montoya finished third. Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin rounded out the top five.
• There were 88 lead changes among 29 drivers- a race record.
• Rain cancelled qualifying on Saturday and NASCAR set the field based on points.
• Saturday's Nationwide race took place an hour after the Sprint Cup race.
• In the DirecTV Head2Head competition Truex defeated AJ Allmendinger and will face Mark Martin in Richmond