Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
Darlington Raceway
Dodge Challenger 500
 
     
  Darlington Raceway News and Notes

Darlington’s Ride…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 47 for the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. This is the first time this particular chassis will be utilized in an event.

Richmond Recap…Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team posted one of their best qualifying efforts of the season (17th) last weekend at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Blaney drove the Bill Davis Racing Toyota Camry to the team’s highest finish of the season when he took the checkered flag in the 18th spot. The finish bolstered the team’s ranking by three positions in the fight for the top 35 in owners’ points. The No. 22 team now stands in 36th place, 71 markers behind 35th.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney hopes to make his 278th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 367-lap event Saturday evening. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 26th (qualified 15th) for his first Cup Series start in Darlington in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at Darlington…Blaney has made 11 Cup Series starts at the 1.366-mile track during his career. The veteran driver has started as high as 10th (2003) and finished as high as third that same season. Blaney has scored one top-five finish at the Darlington track in his Cup Series career.

BDR at Darlington…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Darlington Raceway since 1993 and have made 35 starts. BDR drivers have experienced a good deal of success at Darlington and have posted two victories, four top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes at the track. Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have also earned one pole position.

Bring Your Sharpie…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Practice Makes Perfect…The No. 22 Caterpillar team tested at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Concord, N.C., Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the upcoming event there.

Darlington Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the event at Darlington is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. ET Friday, May 9. The 367-lap event is scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. ET Saturday, May 10, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Darlington…“Darlington is always a challenging place to race, and it will be especially interesting with the new pavement. From what I’ve heard from the guys that have been able to test, it sounds like they did a nice job with the project, and we’re looking forward to getting there. It will be as challenging as it always is, but probably faster and with more grip. We’re happy to have an extra couple of hours of practice on Thursday too. Being outside the top 35 in points, we often spend a good bit of the first practice making qualifying runs, so to have that extra practice will give us the opportunity to make some longer runs and see how it affects the handling of the car. It’s tough, you know, being out of the top 35. It really changes the way you approach the weekend. Last weekend our Cat Camry was pretty quick off the truck, and we were able to spend some time in race trim. I think it made a difference during the race. Hopefully we can start off strong again in Darlington.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Dave Blaney/ Caterpillar Racing – Crown Royal 400
Richmond International Raceway
 
     
  RICHMOND, Va. (May 3, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 17th spot for the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Blaney drove the Caterpillar Toyota to an 18th-place finish in Saturday night’s event, earning the Bill Davis Racing team its best finish of the season thus far.

The Caterpillar Racing team was forced to qualify for the race on time because it sat outside the top 35 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points. Blaney was the 44th of 47 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Friday evening. His speed of 125.058 mph around the .75-mile oval was more than enough to place the team solidly in the field. Blaney was set to line up for Saturday night’s event in the 17th position.

The green flag waved for the start of the event, and Blaney was quick to move into the top 15. The veteran driver made his way to 14th before letting the team know that the handling of the Cat Camry needed to be tightened up a good bit off the corners. Crew chief Tommy Baldwin called for four fresh tires and air pressure and track bar adjustments to the car during the first pit stop, which came during a caution period on lap 68.

Blaney was able to drive through traffic on the restart and remained in the top 20, but he communicated to the crew that the handling was getting looser and looser. The crew made another chassis adjustment during a pit stop on lap 130, and, for some reason, the changes made the car much too tight in the middle of the corners and extremely loose off. Blaney worked hard to stay on the lead lap, but he went one lap down to leader Denny Hamlin on lap 181 of the 400-lap race.

The Caterpillar team continued to work on the balance of the car. Blaney was running in the 25th spot when he narrowly avoided disaster. An incident between several cars running very near the No. 22 machine triggered a melee that ended up involving 10 cars, most suffering serious damage. Red flag conditions ensued while NASCAR cleaned up the debris. The green flag waved for the restart on lap 238, and the No. 22 Toyota held the 21st position.

Blaney remained in the top 25 for the remainder of the event, and the team made the most of every pit stop in an effort to help the handling of the car. A caution flag on lap 399 of the event forced a green/white/checkered finish. Blaney was in the 18th spot when he took the checkered flag on lap 409.

The Caterpillar Racing team gained some ground in the fight for the top 35 in owners’ points. After picking up three positions thanks to its best showing of the season, the Bill Davis Racing team now stands 71 points outside the coveted position.

The Caterpillar Racing team will take part in a two-day NASCAR-sanctioned test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., before traveling to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway next weekend. Qualifying for the Dodge Challenger 500 is scheduled for Friday, May 9. Coverage of the 367-lap race is scheduled for a 7:20 p.m. ET start, May 10 and will broadcast on FOX (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
Richmond International Raceway
Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400
 
     
  Richmond International Raceway News and Notes

Richmond’s Ride…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 40 for the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. This car was run earlier this season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where Dave Blaney qualified in the top 20.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney hopes to make his 277th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 400-lap event Saturday evening. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 34th (qualified 32nd) for his first Cup Series start in Richmond in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at RIR…Blaney has made 15 Cup Series starts at the .75-mile track during his career. The veteran driver has started as high as third (2002) and finished as high as fourth in 2006. Blaney has scored two top-10 finishes at the Richmond-area short track in his Cup Series career.

BDR at RIR…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Richmond International Raceway since 1993 and have made 39 starts. Those drivers have posted one top-five finish and six top-10 finishes at the track. Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have started from the pole on two occasions.

Where to Find Dave…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Practice Makes Perfect…The No. 22 Caterpillar team is testing at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Richmond. The team will also take part in the two-day test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Concord, N.C., next week.

Richmond Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Crown Royal 400 is scheduled to start at 5:40 p.m. ET Friday, May 2. The 400-lap event is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Richmond…“We typically run pretty well at Richmond, and we’re certainly hoping to continue that trend this weekend. It’s a great track to race on, wide enough to find places to pass and small enough to put on a great show for the fans. Everybody loves racing in Richmond.

“Obviously, last weekend was a pretty bad one for this Caterpillar Racing team, and while we have to put it behind us and concentrate on what’s ahead, we can’t forget it. We need to remember what it felt like to load our things up early, and we need to remember that we owe ourselves and our sponsors more than that so that it doesn’t happen again. This next stretch of races has, in the past, been some of our better tracks, but you can’t take anything for granted at this point.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Dave Blaney/ Caterpillar Racing – Subway Fresh Fit 500
Phoenix International Raceway
 
     
  AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 12, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 19th spot for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. After working through balance issues throughout the event, Blaney took the checkered flag in 30th place.

The Caterpillar Racing team was forced to qualify for the race on time because it sat outside the top 35 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points. Blaney was the 42nd of 45 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Thursday afternoon. His speed of 132.256 mph around the one-mile oval was enough to place the team solidly in the field. Blaney was set to line up for Sunday’s event in the 19th position.

The green flag waved for the start of the event, and Blaney let the team know early on that he was still struggling with some of the same issues that had bothered the team all weekend. Crew chief Tommy Baldwin took advantage of a caution flag on lap 43 of the 312-lap event to bring the No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota into the pits for fuel, fresh tires and a chassis adjustment. Blaney returned to the track for the lap-46 restart in the 42nd spot.

Though the balance of the car was still not to Blaney’s liking, he was able to move through slower traffic. By the time the second round of pit stops began, he held the 38th position. The team got a break when the No. 78 car had problems on the track after many teams had already made their stops. Blaney was able to drive into the pits under yellow flag conditions. He restarted in 32nd.

Misfortune hit the Cat Racing team when the No. 12 car lost an engine on lap 133, dropping oil all around the track. Several cars, including the Cat Racing machine, slid in the oil. Though Blaney made only slight contact with another car, he lost a lap to the leaders when the car would not refire. Blaney was eventually able to get the car started, and after a brief red flag period, he drove to the attention of his awaiting crew for minor damage repair and a track bar adjustment. Blaney lined up for the lap 141 restart in 36th place, two laps behind the leader.

Blaney was awarded the Allstate “Good Hands Driver of the Race” award by the FOX television commentators after narrowly avoiding the slowing car driven by Elliott Sadler on lap 163. The Cat crew continued to make adjustments to the car throughout the remainder of the event in an effort to help the balance of the car. The team gained several positions late in the race as a result of Baldwin's late-race decision to remain on the track and not stop for fuel while many cars were forced to do so. Blaney took the checkered flag in the 30th position.

The Caterpillar Racing team did gain some ground in the fight for the top 35 in owners’ points and now stands only eight points outside that coveted position.

The Sprint Cup Series will take a well-deserved weekend off before traveling to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in two weeks. Qualifying for the Aaron’s 499 is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Coverage of the 188-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, April 27 and will broadcast on FOX (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
Phoenix International Raceway
Subway Fresh Fit 500
 
     
  Phoenix International Raceway News and Notes

Phoenix Toyota…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 17 for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The team tested this particular car at the Avondale-area track earlier this season.

Texas Recap…After having to qualify its way into the race, the Cat team started the event at Texas Motor Speedway in the 29th spot. Dave Blaney worked his way into the top 25 early in the event and finished the race in 21st. The Texas effort was the team’s best finish thus far this season, and it moved the team up two positions in the owners’ point standings. The team now stands just 23 points outside the top 35.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney hopes to make his 276th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 312-lap event Saturday evening. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished eighth (qualified 13th) for his first Cup Series start in Phoenix in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at PIR…Blaney has made 10 Cup Series starts at the one-mile high-banked oval during his career. The veteran driver has started as high as fifth (2002) and finished as high as seventh (2002). He has scored two top-10 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway.

BDR at PIR…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Phoenix International Speedway and have made 25 starts. Those drivers have posted three top-10 finishes at the track.

Where to Find Dave…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Changes at BDR…Marty Gaunt has joined Bill Davis Racing as the team’s Vice President. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team Manager Mark Chambers will assume the duties of general manager for the entire organization. Mike Brown, who served as Cup Series general manager, is now the company CFO, and Jim Thomas joins BDR as its director of marketing.

Phoenix Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 10. The 312-lap event is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, April 12, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Phoenix…“This Caterpillar team has come a long way in just a couple of weeks. We ran strong at Martinsville, and we seemed to have our mile-and-a-half program back on the right track last weekend at Texas. There’s definitely a great deal of improvement, and we can see light at the end of the tunnel now. Plus, we’ve added quite a few people to our program, and I think that will really help make this team strong for the future. The Davis’ and everyone involved are committed to bringing Bill Davis Racing back to the level it became accustomed to in the past. I’m excited to be a part of this organization right now. I think we are on the brink of some very good things, and I’m hoping we can start it off with some success at Phoenix. Once we get ourselves solidly in the field, we’ll concentrate on getting a good run there and getting this Cat team back into the top 35 in points. That would be a good start.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  NASCAR Drivers Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart to Headline 360 Sprint Car Series; Races Feature Potential Payout of More Than $130,000  
     
  Click here to view footage from the Ollie's Bargain Outlet 360 Challenge Press Conference.

Rossburg, OH. – Ollie’s Bargain Outlet today announced that it would sponsor the Ollie’s 360 Challenge, a three-race series pitting NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney against some of the nation’s top 360 sprint car drivers. And there’s nothing “cheap” about this tournament -- Ollie will dig deep into his pockets to award the winners with a potentially record-breaking purse! With race dates set for June, July and August, the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will feature a total three-event purse of more than $80,000, with $6,000 going to each A-main winner. Additionally, a bonus of $50,000 will be offered to any driver who can win two of three A-main features.

“Taking part in the Ollie’s 360 Challenge, with confirmed entries already from drivers like Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart, is a thrill for the entire Ollie’s family,” said Mark Butler, president and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. “The Ollie’s 360 Challenge will give us another opportunity to offer “Good Stuff, Cheap” -- top-quality racing at a great value to fans across several states this summer. And I encourage people to stay tuned for news about an exciting sweepstakes all race fans will want to enter.”

The challenge will kick off with a race at the 3/8-mile Sharon (Ohio) Speedway on June 17. Owned and operated by Blaney and a group of local partners, Sharon Speedway is one of the country’s leading short tracks and hosts several 410 sprint car events throughout the season.

“I am really pleased that the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will make a stop at Sharon Speedway,” said Blaney. “My family and business partners have put a lot of time and effort into making Sharon Speedway one of the best dirt tracks in the country and it’s a privilege to welcome a marquee event such as this into our facility. I’m also looking forward to getting into a 360 sprint car again this year.”

The second round of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will take place at Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 8. The high-banked, half-mile oval has a storied history that spans more than 50 years and is a staple in the sprint car universe. Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Stewart competes in a handful of dirt track racing events each season.

“Any time I can race a dirt sprint car or late model I’m excited about it,” said Stewart. “I’ve always said that open-wheel racing is like a reset button for me and the fact that I’m going to get to race my 360 sprinter at least three times this summer is something I’m really looking forward to. We’re very proud to be able to offer our fans a variety of quality racing and I’m sure this event will be one of our biggest this season. It will be fun to mix it up with Kasey, Dave and the top 360 sprint car drivers in the country.”

The third and final round of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will be hosted by Kahne and wrap up at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on August 19. The facility, a favorite of Kahne’s, boasts a half-mile speedplant and one of the most loyal sprint car racing fan bases in the country. In 2007, the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Shootout event hosted by Williams Grove Speedway raised more than $75,000 for the Kasey Kahne Foundation. It’s a favor that Kahne is eager to reciprocate in August.

“Williams Grove Speedway is one of my favorite tracks to race on,” Kahne said. “I grew up racing sprint cars around the country and I always enjoyed racing at ‘The Grove.’ Last year, we worked with Ollie’s and the track to help raise $75,000 for the Kasey Kahne Foundation and I really appreciated all of the effort the facility and staff put into the event. We’re looking forward to working with Ollie’s Bargain Outlet again this year and I’m happy to announce that the proceeds from the Grove event will go to support the Kasey Kahne Foundation this year as well. It will be great to get to compete in these three events with Tony and Dave, as well as race against the drivers who run 360 sprint cars each week. All three races will be great for the fans, especially if someone can pull off winning the $50,000 bonus.”

The Williams Grove race not only culminates the series, it solidifies Ollie’s Bargain Outlet’s commitment to charity.

“Having a charitable tie-in is extremely important to Ollie’s,” said Mark Butler, a newly appointed member to the Kasey Kahne Foundation Chairman’s Board. “We, as a company, strive to give back to our community in any way we can. Being able to connect with the community in an exciting way via the 360 Challenge and charitably through the Kasey Kahne Foundation gives us the best of both worlds.”


About the Ollie’s 360 Challenge

The Ollie’s 360 Challenge will begin at Sharon Speedway on June 17. The second race in the three event series will take place at Eldora Speedway on July 8 with the event finale scheduled for Williams Gove Speedway on August 19. Paying $6,000 to each winner and a minimum of $500 to each A-main competitor, the Ollie’s 360 Challenge series will rank as one of the highest paying 360 sprint car events of 2008. All drivers competing in at least two of the three events are eligible for the $50,000 bonus, which will be awarded to the driver who can win two of three A-main events.

Motorsports Media Entertainment is promoting the event in conjunction with the title sponsor, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. For more information regarding Ollie’s Bargain Outlet please visit www.olliesbargainoutlet.com. For more information regarding Sharon Speedway, Eldora Speedway or Williams Grove Speedway log on to www.sharonspeedway.com, www.eldoraspeedway.com or www.williamsgrove.com. More information regarding each event of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge will become available as event times are confirmed.


About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, founded in 1982, is the largest retailer of closeouts, salvage and surplus merchandise in the Mid-Atlantic region. Famous for its signature catch-phrase Good Stuff Cheap, Ollie’s offers a huge variety of famous brand name merchandise at savings from 30-percent to 70-percent off the regular retail price, and the assortment is always changing. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet operates 59 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and North Carolina.

About The Kasey Kahne Foundation

The Kasey Kahne Foundation (KKF) was formed in 2005 with a primary mission to help and support chronically ill children and their families. KKF is also focused on diversity awareness and providing opportunities for underprivileged children. In doing so, KKF brings racing fans together for a common purpose to raise funds for distribution to a variety of designated charities, including Ronald McDonald House Charities. In addition, Kasey is a member of the President’s Council for service and civic participation, serving under President Bush. Visit www.kaseykahnefoundation.org for more information.


About Motorsports Media Entertainment (MME)

MME produces unique, media focused racing events, such as the highly successful Prelude to the Dream dirt late model all star race in June 2007 and the 22nd Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in January 2008, which appeal to the broad spectrum of motorsports fans and help partnering companies break through the sponsor clutter.

 
     
 
 
 
 
  Dave Blaney/ Caterpillar Racing – Samsung 500
Texas Motor Speedway
 
     
  FORT WORTH, Texas (April 6, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 29th spot for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. After running well for much of the event last weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the team had another promising run in Texas and finished 21st in Sunday’s event.

The Caterpillar Racing team was forced to qualify for the race on time because it sat outside the top 35 in owners’ points. Blaney was the last of 46 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Friday afternoon. His speed of 186.948 mph around the 1.5-mile oval was enough to place the team solidly in the field. Blaney was set to line up for Sunday’s event in the 29th position.

The green flag waved for the start of the event, and Blaney let his team know early that the handling of his Toyota Camry was extremely tight. The first caution flag of the afternoon waved on lap 30, which enabled crew chief Tommy Baldwin to call his driver into the pits for four fresh tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. After a quick pit stop, Blaney returned to the track in 30th place.

The adjustments made to the car seemed to help, and Blaney broke into the top 25 on lap 62 of the 334-lap race. Baldwin called for additional minor adjustments to the balance of the car during a stop on lap 112. Not long after that stop, the veteran driver communicated to the crew that the Cat car was the best it had been all day. Blaney held the 27th position at the halfway point of the race and began to experience a loose handling condition in the middle stages of the event.

Another good adjustment by Baldwin and the crew helped Blaney move through traffic with just under 100 laps to go, and Blaney remained inside the top 25 for the remainder of the race. A caution flag on lap 330 meant the race would finish under the green/white/checkered flag rule, and Baldwin utilized a bit of pit strategy to gain several positions under the caution. Baldwin opted to leave the Caterpillar Toyota out on the track while several of the teams on the same lap made pit stops. Blaney took the green flag for the restart and held off those with fresher tires, earning a 21st place finish when the checkered flag waved.

The Caterpillar Racing team picked up two positions in the owners’ point standings and now stands only 23 markers outside the top 35.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will travel to Phoenix International Raceway next weekend. Qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. Coverage of the 312-lap race is scheduled for an 8:30p.m. ET start, April 12 and will broadcast on FOX (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
Texas Motor Speedway
Samsung 500
 
     
  Texas Motor Speedway News and Notes

Texas Toyota…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 11 for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The team plans to spend Tuesday and Wednesday at Kentucky Speedway with this car preparing for the event this weekend.

Martinsville Rewind…The team, having to qualify its way into the race, made the show with an 18th-place qualifying run. After running in the top 15 for much of the event, Dave Blaney was leading the race when a hole in the radiator sidelined the team early.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney hopes to make his 275th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 334-lap event Sunday afternoon. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 22nd (qualified 24th) for his first Cup Series start in Texas in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at TMS…Blaney has made 11 Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile high-banked oval during his career. The veteran driver has started as high as 12th (2005) and finished as high as sixth (2001). He has scored three top-20 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway.

BDR at TMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Texas Motor Speedway since it opened in 1997 and have made 20 starts. Those drivers have posted two top-10 finishes at the track.

Where to Find Dave…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Now That’s Teamwork…Blaney and the Cat crew made a two-day stop at Kentucky Speedway before heading to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Next week, Blaney will spend Tuesday at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway testing the No. 5 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for Mike Skinner, who had another obligation to attend to that day.

Texas Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Samsung 500 is scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. ET Friday, April 4. The 334-lap event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, April 6, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Texas…“I think we’re making progress with this Cat team. The results from Martinsville don’t show that, but until we had the problem with the radiator, we were running pretty well. I think we were on our way to getting ourselves solidly back into the top 35, but coulda, woulda, shoulda, I guess. You have to be around at the finish, obviously, in order to take advantage of those kinds of situations. Still, we feel good about the way the car ran, and we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve done a lot of testing in the past couple of weeks, and it definitely helped us last week. We added some people and made some changes on the team, and I think that helps too. Hopefully, the testing that we have planned for Kentucky this week will be really beneficial because we’ve struggled this season on the mile-and-a-half tracks, and that’s not a program you want to find yourselves stumbling on. Texas might be our biggest challenge to date, but I’m confident in this Caterpillar team.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Dave Blaney/ Caterpillar Racing – Goody’s Orange Crush 500
Martinsville Speedway
 
     
  MARTINSVILLE, Va. (March 30, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 18th spot for the Goody’s Orange Crush 500 at Martinsville Speedway. After running well for much of the event and leading several laps in the process, a punctured radiator ended the day early for the team.

Fast in the practice session prior to qualifying, the team had to qualify for the race on time because it sat outside the top 35 in owners’ points. Blaney was the 42nd of 47 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Friday afternoon. His speed of 94.874 mph around the half-mile oval was enough to place the team solidly in the field. Blaney was set to line up for Sunday’s event in the 18th position.

The green flag waved for the start of the event, and Blaney patiently made his way past slower traffic. The first of 18 caution flags waved on lap 21 of the 500-lap race, and the Caterpillar Camry held the 14th spot. Blaney let the team know that the car’s handling had become slightly loose off the corners in the early stages of the race, and the team made its first pit stop of the day on lap 46. After the crew secured four fresh tires on the car and filled the tank with fuel, Blaney returned to the track in the 22nd position.

Once again, Blaney worked his way past slower cars, all the while avoiding incidents on the track with the help of spotter Mike Brown. The Cat Camry’s handling became tight in the middle of the corners near the lap-100 mark, and a pit stop during a caution period several laps later enabled crew chief Tommy Baldwin to make a track bar adjustment to the car. After a quick stop by the crew, Blaney returned to the track for the lap 111 restart in 20th place.

Blaney was running in the 16th spot at the halfway point, but he was still fighting a bit of a tight handling condition. Additional changes were made during a lap 263 pit stop, and with 200 laps remaining in the race, the No. 22 Toyota held the 13th place. Another opportunity to pit came during a caution period on lap 330, and because not all the teams opted to make pit stops, Blaney returned to the track in 23rd place. Blaney continued picking off his competitors, and by the time the 16th yellow flag of the day flew on lap 362, he had worked his way into the top 20. Baldwin opted not to pit this time around and the Caterpillar machine led laps 364 to 367.

The green flag waved for the restart with Blaney remaining at the front of the field. Unfortunately, upon the restart, the veteran driver communicated to the crew that he had a problem with the car. Blaney made several laps around the track before bringing his Camry down pit road to the attention of his crew. After diagnosing that the problem was terminal, the disappointed team pushed the car to the garage area. Further investigation revealed that the front bumper bar had somehow punctured the radiator. The team was credited with a 43rd-place finish.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will travel to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend. Qualifying for the Samsung 500 is scheduled for Friday, April 4. Coverage of the 334-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, April 6 and will broadcast on FOX (television), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio. The Caterpillar Racing team is scheduled to spend two days testing at Kentucky Speedway before heading to Texas.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
Martinsville Speedway
Goody’s Cool Orange 500
Martinsville Speedway News and Notes
 
     
  Martinsville’s Machine…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 40 for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. This is a new Toyota Camry, but the team spent Monday at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., shaking it down.

New and Familiar Faces at BDR…NASCAR veteran Gene Nead makes his return to Bill Davis Racing this week. Nead spent part of last year at BDR and returns to lead the team in its R&D efforts. Nead will also travel to the racetrack to assist the team during race weekends. The No. 22 team also welcomes Allen Hart to its lineup. Allen joins the team from Penske Racing and will travel with the team serving as an engineer.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Dave Blaney hopes to make his 274th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for Sunday afternoon’s event. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 41st (qualified 20th) for his first Cup Series start at Martinsville in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at Martinsville…Blaney has made 14 Cup Series starts at the .526-mile oval during his career. He has started as high as sixth (2006) and finished as high as 16th (2005). He has scored four top-20 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway and has qualified inside the top 10 twice.

BDR at Martinsville…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Martinsville Speedway since 1993 and have made 36 starts. Those drivers have posted two top-five finishes and three top-10 finishes at the track.

Bring Your Sharpie…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times. Blaney is also scheduled to appear at the Toyota PitPass stage Sunday morning.

Frequent Flier Miles…The Caterpillar Racing team will earn its wings over the next couple of weeks. The team tested at Caraway Speedway Monday and will spend Tuesday and Wednesday at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. Blaney and the team are scheduled to travel to Kentucky Speedway the following week for two days of testing there.

Martinsville Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Goody’s Orange Crush 500 is scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m. ET Friday, March 28. The 500-lap event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 30, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Martinsville…“Obviously, we’re not where we want to be points or performance-wise at this point in the game. But we’ve done quite a bit of testing this week, and we’ve got more planned for next week, so we’re hoping we’ll hit on something that will help. It’s certainly not going to hurt us to get more time on the track with these cars and I think we made a lot of headway just in the couple of hours we spent at Caraway. I’m also really glad to see Gene Nead back at Bill Davis Racing. He was here for a while last year and everyone, including myself, was sorry to see him go. I think he brings a lot to any program, so we’re excited to see him leading the R&D team and helping Tommy [Baldwin, crew chief] whenever he can. That’s definitely a positive for our Caterpillar program. Everyone is working really hard, and we’re hopeful we can get ourselves into the top 35 before we head to Texas so we can relieve a bit of the stress.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Dave Blaney/ Caterpillar Racing – Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
 
     
  BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 16, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 34th spot for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. After working through handling issues with the No. 22 Caterpillar Camry all day, the veteran driver took the checkered flag in the 34th position.

Fast in the practice session prior to qualifying, the team had hopes of a top-10 qualifying run. Blaney was scheduled to be the 19th of 46 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Friday afternoon, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Rain showers blanketed the area midday, and NASCAR officials were forced to cancel time trials and line the cars up based on 2007 Sprint Cup Series owners’ points. The Caterpillar Toyota was set to start the race in the 34th spot.

Blaney took the green flag for the start of Sunday’s Food City 500, and within four laps of the start, spotter Mike Brown communicated to crew chief Tommy Baldwin that the car was extremely loose. Blaney spent the first portion of the day wrestling the handling of the car and fell one lap down to leader Clint Bowyer on lap 21. NASCAR officials called a competition caution on lap 51 of the 506-lap race to allow teams to make pit stops and check tire wear. Baldwin called Blaney into the team’s pit stall and the crew changed all four tires, filled the car with fuel and made major handling adjustments, including track bar, wedge, spring rubber and air pressure changes. Blaney took the green flag for the restart in 42nd place.

Blaney let the team know that the changes made to the car seemed to help for a while, but they weren’t enough. The team narrowly avoided disaster on lap 120 as the car spun coming off turn two. Luckily, the Cat Toyota did not make contact with the wall, and Blaney was able to drive the machine down pit road to the attention of his awaiting crew. After a four tire change and a quick check to make sure there weren’t any noticeable issues with the front end of the car, the No. 22 Camry took the flag for the lap-126 restart in 43rd place.

Blaney and the team continued to persevere, and by the midway point of the race, the Caterpillar Camry was handling much better. Unfortunately, the team was already too many laps down to take advantage of the situation. Normal Bristol attrition late in the race helped the team a bit, and Blaney took the checkered flag after a green/white/checkered flag finish in the 34th position.

The Sprint Cup Series will take Easter weekend off before sticking close to home the following weekend to compete at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Qualifying for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 is scheduled for Friday, March 28. Coverage of the 500-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, March 30 and will broadcast on FOX (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio. The Caterpillar Racing team is scheduled to participate in several test sessions between now and then, including two-day tests at Kentucky S
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Bristol Motor Speedway News and Notes  
     
  Bristol’s Machine…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 19 for the Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. This is the same car the team won the pole with at [Loudon] New Hampshire International Speedway last July.

Atlanta Recap…The Caterpillar Toyota lined up in the 16th spot for the event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dave Blaney, who had battled illness last week, wrestled a loose handling condition with the No. 22 Camry all day. He took the checkered flag in the 34th position.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney will make his 273rd career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 500-lap event Sunday afternoon. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 35th (qualified 26th) for his first Cup Series start at Bristol in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at BMS…Blaney has made 14 Cup Series starts at the .533-mile high-banked oval during his career. He has had quite a bit of qualifying success at the track, having qualified inside the top 10 on five occasions, including both races last season. Blaney has started as high as second (2005) and finished as high as 14th (2006). He has also scored two top-20 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway.

BDR at BMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Bristol Motor Speedway since 1993 and have made 42 starts. Those drivers have posted two top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes.

Where to Find Dave…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Bristol Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Food City 500 is scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m. ET Friday, March 14. The 500-lap event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Practice Makes Perfect…The Caterpillar Racing team has several tests planned in the upcoming weeks. The team will spend next Tuesday and Wednesday at Kentucky Speedway and the following week will be at both Nashville Superspeedway and Caraway (Asheboro, N.C.) Speedway.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Bristol…“Obviously, our main goal again this week will be to get ourselves a finish that will get this Caterpillar Racing team back into the top 35 in owners’ points. We never thought we would be in this position at this point in the season, but it is what it is, and now it’s our job get things figured out and get this team locked safely within the top 35. Everyone involved with this Bill Davis team worked really hard in the off season, and I’m not sure how we got ourselves into such a hole. We’re a better team than we’ve shown, and we owe it to Caterpillar, Toyota and everyone that supports our race team -- not to mention ourselves -- to turn this season around. We’re not going to give up, just the same as we didn’t give up when the chips were down last year. But it sure adds a tremendous amount of pressure to the weekend when you don’t have a spot in the top 35 to fall back on. We don’t want to have to go through that again.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  DAVE BLANEY/CAT RACING TEAM – KOBALT TOOLS 500
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
     
  HAMPTON, Ga. (March 9, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing qualified in the 16th spot for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite battling an illness all week long, Blaney was able to complete the entire race Sunday and drove the No. 22 machine to a 34th-place finish after battling a loose handling racecar for most of the day.

Blaney was the 27th of 48 competitors to take to the track for his qualifying run Friday evening, and the ailing veteran stepped up to the plate during his two-lap qualifying effort. Blaney posted a speed of 181.776 mph on his first lap around the 1.54-mile oval, which was quick enough to earn the Caterpillar Racing team the 16th spot on the starting grid. The team’s qualifying effort was its best of the season thus far.

A morning snow shower altered Saturday’s practice schedule, and the Cat team’s plans were changed a bit too. After practicing during the first part of the session, Blaney turned the wheel of the Caterpillar Toyota over to 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Mike Bliss for the remainder of practice. The team also asked Bliss to remain in Atlanta until Sunday in case Blaney needed a relief driver during the race.

The green flag waved for the start of the Kobalt Tools 500 and Blaney, who was feeling much improved from the previous day, drove into the top 12 by the seventh lap of the 325-lap event. Unfortunately, the car became a bit of handful not long after, and Blaney communicated to crew chief Tommy Baldwin that he could not believe how loose the car had become. Blaney asked Baldwin to make a big change during the first pit stop of the day. In addition, leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. was setting a blistering pace in the early laps. He overtook the No. 22 car on lap 35, putting the Cat team one lap down.

Debris on the track resulted in the first caution flag of the race on lap 38. Baldwin called for four fresh tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment when the car entered the pit stall several laps later. Blaney lined up in the 24th place for the lap-43 restart was able to pass Casey Mears to put himself in position for the Lucky Dog award. Throughout the day, the car seemed to perform pretty well during the first laps after a restart, and this was no exception. Unfortunately, the Cat Camry’s handling once again became extremely loose. A caution and subsequent pit stop before the 100-lap mark enabled Baldwin to make additional adjustments to the car in an effort to tighten the handling.

Blaney, like much of the field, fell several more laps down to the leader throughout the race, and the Caterpillar Racing team worked diligently to help the balance of the car. Changes with just under 50 laps to go made the machine slightly better, but it wasn’t enough to enable Blaney to move through traffic like he needed. The checkered flag waved with Blaney sitting in 34th place. There were only 13 cars remaining on the lead lap at the conclusion of the race.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will travel to the high banks of Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway next weekend for the Food City 500 Sunday, March 16. Qualifying for the event is scheduled for Friday, March 14. Coverage of the 500-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, and will broadcast on FOX (television), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS AND NOTES  
     
  BLANEY’S NO. 22 CAMRY…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 33 for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This Toyota Camry was one of two cars the team tested at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway during the off season.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK…The Caterpillar Toyota lined up in the 26th position for the start of the event at Las Vegas. The team fought a tight handling condition all day. After crew chief Tommy Baldwin called for adjustments to the car throughout the event, Dave Blaney took the checkered flag in the 26th spot. The finish moved the team into the top 35 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points.

BLANEY’S CAREER STATS…Blaney will make his 272nd career Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 500-mile event Sunday afternoon. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 37th (qualified seventh) for his first Cup Series start in Atlanta in 1999. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

BLANEY AT AMS…Blaney counts Atlanta among his favorite tracks to race on, and he has made 16 Cup Series starts at the 1.54-mile speedway during his career. Blaney has started as high as third (2001) and finished as high as eighth (2003, 2005). He has scored two top-10 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway and has qualified inside the top 10 six times.

BDR AT AMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1993 and have made 44 starts. Those drivers have posted three top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes at the Hampton, Ga., track.

WHERE TO FIND DAVE…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

ATLANTA BROADCAST SCHEDULE…Qualifying for the Kobalt Tools 500 is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. ET Friday, March 7. The 325-lap event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

BACK TO VEGAS…Both Blaney and car owner Bill Davis will return to Las Vegas following the race in Atlanta to make appearances for Caterpillar at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008. CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be the international gathering place in 2008 for the construction industries. Held every three years, the exposition showcases the latest equipment, products, services and technologies.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS ON ATLANTA…“I always look forward to going to Atlanta. It’s a big, fast track, and it’s always a lot of fun to race on. Hopefully we can work out some of the issues we’ve had with our cars so far this season, and we can get ourselves a top-15 finish this weekend. We squeaked into the top 35 in owners’ points after Las Vegas, but we need to have a good finish with our Caterpillar Camry to solidify that position before we get to Martinsville and start to go off of this year’s points. We just need a couple of good weekends and we’ll be back in the hunt, but right now we’re struggling a bit. I know Tommy [Baldwin] and the guys are working really hard to get this car figured out, and I know better things are in store for us. Hopefully Atlanta will be the start of that.”
 
     
 
 
 
 
  DAVE BLANEY/CAT RACING TEAM – UAW-DODGE 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
     
  LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2008) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team lined up in the 26th spot for Sunday’s UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After a day of working through tight handling conditions and making adjustments to the car during every pit stop, Blaney took the checkered flag in 26th place, the team’s best performance of the season.

Blaney was the 29th of 47 competitors to take to the track for his qualifying run Friday afternoon. His speed of 179.354 mph around the 1.5-mile oval was quick enough to earn the 26th spot on the starting grid. The team’s qualifying effort was the best of the season thus far.

The green flag waved for the start of the UAW-Dodge 400, and Blaney communicated to crew chief Tommy Baldwin almost immediately that the handling of his Caterpillar Toyota was free in turns three and four. The first caution flag of the day waved on lap 10, and Baldwin used that opportunity to call Blaney into the pits for adjustments to the car, which included wedge and air pressure changes. Unfortunately, those changes made the car much too tight, and Blaney lost several positions before the next round of pit stops occurred.

Baldwin made additional adjustments to the machine on lap 63, and the No. 22 lined up in front of the leader on the restart. Hoping for a quick caution that would enable him to remain on the lead lap, Blaney worked hard to hold off leader Jeff Burton. He was unable to keep Burton at bay and fell one lap down on lap 78 of the 367-lap race. The Cat Camry continued to suffer from a tight handling condition, and Baldwin made changes to it during every stop. Blaney held the 33rd position at the halfway point of the race.

The adjustments to the car helped periodically throughout the day, and at the lap 200-mark, Blaney let the team know that the car was the best it had been all day. The veteran driver broke into the top 25 on lap 221 before the Caterpillar Camry once again became extremely tight. Blaney held the 26th spot with three laps to go when NASCAR officials were forced to display the red flag following a multi-car accident. Blaney earned the 26th finishing position after the green/white/checkered finish. The 26th-place finish moved the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing team into the top 35 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points.

The Sprint Cup Series will travel to the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500 Sunday, March 9. Qualifying for the event is scheduled for Friday, March 8. Coverage of the 325-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, and will broadcast on FOX (television), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
 
     
 
 
 
 
  Las Vegas Motor Speedway News and Notes  
     
  Blaney’s No. 22 Camry…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 11 for the UAW Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

What Happened Last Week…The Cat Pavers Toyota lined up in the 34th spot for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway after qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. The NASCAR Sprint Cup teams ran 87 laps Sunday before rain forced the postponement of the race until Monday morning. Dave Blaney worked through handling issues to finish the event in 30th place.

Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney will make his 271st career Sprint Cup Series start when the green flag waves for the 400-mile event Sunday afternoon. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 22nd (qualified 36th) for his first Cup Series start in Las Vegas in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.

Blaney at Las Vegas…Blaney has made seven Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway during his career, starting as high as 10th (2002) and finishing as high as 13th (2005). He has scored two top-20 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway and has qualified inside the top 11 twice.

BDR at LVMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since 2000 and have made 14 starts. Those drivers have posted one top five finish and one top-10 finish and have completed 3,005 of 3,503 possible laps (85.8 percent).

Where to Find Dave…Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs this weekend. Please check with the trailer for exact times.

Las Vegas Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the UAW Dodge 400 is scheduled to start at 6:40 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 29. The 267-lap event is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 2, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Blaney’s Thoughts on Las Vegas…“We’re hoping things go considerably better this weekend in Las Vegas than they did for us last week in Fontana. We never got our Cat Paving Products Camry handling the way we needed it, and we just struggled all weekend long. Our plan is to take the same car back to Vegas, and I know Tommy [Baldwin, crew chief] and the guys are going to spend a considerable amount of time working on it before we get to the track Friday and making changes to it to make it better this time around. Obviously, our main goal right now is to solidify ourselves in the top 35, and I have all the confidence in the world in this Cat team. We’ve gotten off to a bit of a rough start this season, but we know we’ll get it turned around.”
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
  DAVE BLANEY/CAT RA