After welcoming a ninth-place finish at Kentucky Speedway last Saturday in the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota, David Reutimann returns to Gateway International Raceway for the second time this season. Reutimann piloted Joe Nemechek’s No. 87 Busch Series entry last May.

“We had a good Top-10 run going at Gateway in a Busch car earlier this year, but motor problems sidelined us,” said Reutimann, who was relegated to a 30th-place finish. “We pitted early because we were trying to get on a different pit sequence than everybody else. So, when we went back out, we were around 25th in the running order. Under green, we drove all the way up into the Top-10, which at Gateway is no easy feat because it’s pretty tough to pass there. Then we had motor problems that took us out of the race. I feel that we could’ve finished in the Top-5.”

This weekend will mark Reutimann’s third outing at the unique egg-shaped 1.25-mile oval.

“I ran an All Pro car there back in 1999,” continued Reutimann. “I can’t remember exactly where I finished. We were actually the first race ever under the lights at that racetrack. I’ve seem to run well at Gateway. Hopefully, the things that I have learned will transfer over.”

According to Reutimann, he favors odd-shaped tracks like Gateway International Raceway.

“Back when I raced the short track stuff, the funnier the shape of the track, the better I have seemed to run,” said Reutimann. “Gateway is a different type of racetrack. The track is as close to being an egg than anything. Turns 1 and 2 are really sharp and Turns 3 and 4 are really fast, but still flat. You kind of go downhill in Turns 1 and 2 and then you go back up the hill on the exit of 2. Turns 3 and 4 are your standard basic flat track turns. It’s surprising how fast you can go through the turns.  I’m feeling really confident going to this racetrack and it helps me a lot when I feel that way.”

Before Reutimann arrives at Gateway, the Zephyrhills (FL) native is slated to test the No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Busch car for Joe Nemechek at USA International Speedway in Lakeland (FL) on Wednesday.

“Nemechek has a car that they are going to take to Loudon and I’m just going down to Florida to make some laps with them,” said Reutimann. “They’ve got a lot of stuff they want to try. Hopefully, I’ll be able to learn something that I can apply to racing the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota at short tracks. It’s kind of two fold with me helping them out and them helping us out. Some things could crossover and that’s why we are doing it.”

Live coverage of the 160-lap (200-mile) event at Gateway International Raceway is scheduled Saturday, July 17th at 8:00 p.m. EDT live on SPEED Channel. MRN Radio will broadcast the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.