Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - David Reutimann will drive the No. 51 car
in place of Kurt Busch this weekend at Pocono Raceway following Busch's recent
suspension for violating his probation.
Reutimann has been driving the No. 10 car for Tommy Baldwin Racing in races
that Danica Patrick is not scheduled to compete. Baldwin and Phoenix Racing
team owner James Finch arranged a deal for Reutimann to drive Finch's No. 51
car, while Dave Blaney will be behind the wheel of TBR's No. 10 at Pocono.
Blaney normally drives the No. 36 car for Baldwin, but Tony Raines will be in
the seat of that entry this weekend.
"I understand the position James was put in this week," Baldwin said in a
statement. "As an owner of a small team, I wanted to help him out. We talked
and thought that this lineup would be best for both of our teams."
NASCAR suspended Busch from competition until June 13 after officials
determined he violated his probation when he verbally abused a member of the
media following last Saturday's 200-mile Nationwide Series race at Dover
International Speedway.
Last month, NASCAR fined Busch $50,000 and placed him on probation until July
25 following his actions in the 500-mile race at Darlington Raceway. The
sanctioning body penalized Busch for "reckless driving on pit road during the
race" and for being "involved in an altercation with another competitor (a
crew member with Ryan Newman's team) after the completion of the race."
Busch's probation period has now been extend through the remainder of the
year.
Finch said during an interview with Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday morning
that he plans to meet with Busch to discuss his future with the team.
The Sports Network