As a high school student, David Reutimann was highly regarded among his peers.  His affable demeanor, athletic prowess and 3.5 grade point average made him one of the more popular classmates in Zephyrhills High School’s graduating class of 1988, so much so that he was chosen by his fellow students as the member of the Senior class that was Most Likely To Succeed.  The honor earned Reutimann recognition in the yearbook alongside Best Looking Seniors Teddy Buchanan and Rachel Franklin and Senior Class Clown Buddy Hambeck.  Under the heading Most Likely To Succeed is a picture of a smiling 18 year old Reutimann with text reading “David is driven to succeed.  This is one young man who is on the fast track to greatness.”

However, young minds are prone to making mistakes and their foresight on Reutimann’s future was lacking.  Now, the graduating class of 1988 is looking to rescind Reutimann’s Most Likely To Succeed honor, a move that is unprecedented because of the cost and logistics involved.  Despite the impossibility of the task, Class President Duncan Monroe says the action is a necessity regardless of the difficulty involved.  “It is our responsibility as elected officials representing the Class of 88 to make sure we are represented in a positive light,” said Monroe. “This is certainly unprecedented but not unwarranted.  Reutimann has brought this upon himself.  A Zephyrhills High Bulldog doesn’t settle for 2^nd place let alone 43^rd.  Reutimann has become all too comfortable with losing.  It’s unbecoming of a Bulldog.” 

The process, as outlined by Monroe, would include the recall and reprinting of each and every yearbook from 1988 with an estimated cost of $100,000 and over 500 man hours.  “A small price to pay for portraying Zephyrhills High in a positive light,” said Monroe.  Monroe has indicated that he will move to install himself as Most Likely To Succeed citing his rise to Lead Urinal Cake Distributor for the bathroom supply company for which he works. 

“We have a lot of distinguished alumni that have had great success,” said Yearbook Editor Buffy Fluffer.  “Danny Jenkins is up in prison but he has truly overcome adversity and now is the chief inmate in charge of making all personalized license plates for the state of Florida.  Randy Covington went to college for a semester and Nate Grunwald is the night manager up at the Wendy’s near Universal Studios in Orlando.  Zephyrhills High has a long list of successful alumni.  I only wish we would have seen their potential back then.  All of this could have been avoided but what can I say?  We were only kids and should never have been given this responsibility.”

The recall is not without controversy however, sources close to the 1988 student council say the motivation for the move may stem from a personal vendetta Monroe has against Reutimann resulting from Reutimann asking Monroe’s mother to prom. 

Reutimann, who currently drives the #44 UPS Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, was seen as a promising prospect in the Sprint Cup Series, that is until he got behind the wheel of a car in the Sprint Cup Series.  The driver has yet to come upon the success predicted by the graduating class of 1988.  “The honor is Most Likely To Succeed,” said a spokesman for Michael Waltrip Racing.  “That’s open ended.  It’s not Most Likely To Succeed by 2008.  David still has plenty of gas left in his tank.  He’s still Most Likely To Succeed in the hearts and minds at Michael Waltrip Racing.”