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 DAVE
BLANEY – FORD 400
HOMESTEAD – MIAMI SPEEDWAY |
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HOMESTEAD,
Fla. (Nov. 19, 2006) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar team
traveled to the 2006 season finale at Homestead-Miami
Speedway looking to finish what has been a season of both
ups and downs on a high note. Blaney qualified for the event
in the 25th spot and, despite experiencing both handling and
tire problems, finished in the 26th position.
Blaney was the 38th of 55 competitors to take to the track
for qualifying Friday afternoon, and his time of 30.689
seconds (175.959 mph) around the 1.5-mile oval earned him
the 25th spot on the starting grid. In the final practice
session, the Caterpillar Racing team posted speeds that
placed it among the 10 fastest teams. Blaney was set to
begin his march to the front the following afternoon.
The green flag waved for the start of the event, and almost
immediately, Blaney communicated to the team that the
handling of the Caterpillar car was good. That good news
didn’t last long, however, and before long, Blaney let the
team know that the handling was a tiny bit tight in the
center of the corners. The team received its first
opportunity to make changes to the car during a caution on
lap 16, during which time Blaney drove down pit road for
four tires and a track bar adjustment. Though he was running
16th before the pit stop, Blaney returned to the track in
35th because not many cars made pit stops.
Not long after the restart on lap 19, Blaney informed crew
chief Kevin Hamlin that the car was much tighter than it had
been. Blaney continued to struggle with the handling of the
car, but patiently made his way past slower traffic. By lap
62 of the 267 lap event, the Cat car held the 26th place.
Though the crew continued to adjust the car throughout the
day, Blaney went one lap down to leader Kasey Kahne on lap
112.
Misfortune struck the team once again just past lap 145 when
Blaney mentioned that he thought he had a tire going down.
The crew could see from the pit box that he did indeed have
a problem with the left rear tire. Blaney tried to wait for
a caution before coming into the pits, but he wound up
making slight contact with the outside wall on the
frontstretch. The caution flag then waved, and Blaney made a
trip to the pit stall to the attention of his awaiting crew.
Unfortunately, the Cat car went one more lap down while
Blaney nursed the car around the track after his contact
with the wall.
Blaney drove as far as he could among the cars two laps
down, and at the 200-lap mark, he stood in the 31st
position. He reported to his crew that the car was better
than it had been in a while. The Cat machine became tight
again with 35 laps to go, but thanks to a couple of
late-race incidents, Blaney held on to finish in the 26th
spot.
Now that the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season is over,
the team can officially begin to prepare for the 2007
season. Blaney is scheduled to spend Dec. 6 and Dec. 20
testing at Kentucky Speedway with new teammate Jeremy
Mayfield. |
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HOMESTEAD-MIAMI
SPEEDWAY NEWS AND NOTES |
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•
HOMESTEAD’S HOTROD…The No. 22 Caterpillar car Dave Blaney is
scheduled to drive this weekend in the Ford 400 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway is chassis No. 78.
• PHOENIX RECAP…Blaney and the Cat Racing team started the
event in 31st and struggled with the handling of the car for
a while. Just when the handling began to improve, Blaney was
caught in someone else’s mess late in the race. The crew
spent time on pit road making repairs to the left front and
toe and was able to do so without losing a lap. Blaney took
the checkered flag in the 23rd spot and picked up one spot
in the owners’ points standings in the process. The No. 22
Bill Davis Racing team now stands just 88 markers outside
the top 25.
• BLANEY’S CAREER STATS…Blaney will make his 235th career
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start when the green flag waves
Sunday afternoon on the final event of the 2006 NEXTEL Cup
season. He made his first career Cup Series start in October
1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished
23rd after qualifying in fourth in his first Cup Series
start at Homestead in 1999. Like this weekend, Blaney was
aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.
• BLANEY AT HOMESTEAD…Homestead-Miami Speedway ought to be a
place Blaney looks forward to visiting. In six starts on the
1.5-mile oval, Blaney’s three top-10 finishes have
contributed to his average finish of 19.2. With an average
starting spot of 15.2, Blaney’s also not too shabby when it
comes to qualifying. In fact, he has never started outside
the top 10 at the South Florida facility.
• BDR AT HMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned Cup
cars have been racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway since 1999
and have made 13 starts. Bill Davis Racing drivers have
earned two top-10 finishes in competition at the Miami area
track.
• FISH ON…Blaney will participate in the Miccosukee Resort &
Gaming Hot Rods & Reels Charity Fishing Tournament Saturday
morning at the track. The event benefits the non-profit
Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and the Betty
Jane France Pediatric Center "Speediatrics" at Homestead
Hospital.
• ONE LAST TIME…Blaney will sign autographs at the
Caterpillar merchandise trailer following final practice
Saturday afternoon. Stop by the Cat souvenir trailer or
visit www.daveblaney.com for updates and additional
information.
• HOMESTEAD BROADCAST SCHEDULE…Qualifying for the NASCAR
Nextel Cup Ford 400 is scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 17. The 267-lap event is scheduled to start at
2:55 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 19, and will broadcast LIVE on NBC
(TV), MRN (radio) and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144.
DAVE BLANEY ON HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY…”It’s actually hard
to believe that were headed to the last race of the season.
I always have mixed feelings this time of year. On the one
hand, I’m one of the guys who would race all year round if I
could, but at the same time, I think I could use a little
break from it all right now. The good news is that everyone
at Bill Davis Racing and Caterpillar is really excited about
next year, and we think things are really going to be a lot
better than this year. I don’t think anyone on this team
expected us to struggle as much as we have at times. That’s
been tough, but we’ve held our heads high, and we’ve plugged
away at it. Our goal of being in the top 25 points is still
reachable, and that’s what we’re going to concentrate on
this weekend in Homestead.” |
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DAVE
BLANEY – CHECKER AUTO PARTS 500
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY |
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AVONDALE,
Ariz. (Nov. 12, 2006) – With just two events remaining on
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule, Dave Blaney and the
Caterpillar Racing team traveled west to Phoenix
International Raceway with hopes of a strong finish to the
season. Blaney qualified the car in the 31st position and
had a run-in with another car while trying to avoid a bigger
accident late in the race. Despite this, Blaney and the team
fought back for a 23rd-place finish in the Checker Auto
Parts 500 Sunday afternoon.
Blaney was the 12th of 51 competitors to take to the track
Friday afternoon, and his time of 27.354 seconds (131.608
mph) around the one-mile oval earned him the 31st spot on
the starting grid for the event. Although Blaney’s
qualifying time was .2 seconds faster than his fastest
practice time, the early qualifying spot the team drew did
not work to its advantage, as the track seemed to get faster
as the day progressed. Nevertheless, both practice sessions
on Saturday went well, and the team was confident it had a
good car to work with Sunday.
The green flag waved for the start of the event, and almost
immediately, Blaney communicated to the team that the
handling of the Caterpillar car was tight in and loose off
the corners. The first caution flag of the afternoon waved
on lap 70, and the Cat team performed a four-tire stop with
a wedge adjustment one lap later. Blaney restarted in the
30th spot.
Blaney ran into the same problems during the next run and
went one lap down to leader Kevin Harvick on lap 132 while
still running in 30th place. Another opportunity to make
changes to the car came during a caution period on lap 153.
The team made air pressure, wedge and track bar adjustments
during the pit stop and sent the No. 22 machine back out on
the track in the 27th position.
Blaney fought to be the first car one lap down and got a
break when the yellow flag waved again on lap 188. Blaney
earned the Lucky Dog award and returned to the lead lap.
During that same caution, the team made additional chassis
and air pressure adjustments in an effort to make the
handling of the car more to Blaney’s liking. The team broke
into the top 25 near the 200-lap mark and entered the top 20
about 25 laps later.
The Caterpillar machine was much better in the last third of
the race, and Blaney was 17th on lap 247 before he
encountered battery problems on lap 258. Blaney switched to
the back up battery, then focused on regaining the positions
he had lost, as he now stood 28th. He regained some of those
positions, but unfortunately, several cars got together in
front of him in turn one not long after his battery
incident. Blaney was unable to avoid making contact with
another car during the melee, and he drove down pit road so
the Caterpillar team could assess the damage to the left
front of the machine. Blaney made several stops during the
ensuing caution period so the team could repair the damage
and reset the toe, which had been knocked out during the
accident.
Blaney was running in the 25th spot with seven laps
remaining in the event. A one-car accident prompted the red
flag with fewer than five laps to go, and when the checkered
flag finally waved, Blaney held the 23rd spot. The top-25
finish moved the team up one spot in the owner point
standings to 26th place. The Bill Davis Racing team now
stands just 88 markers outside of 25th.
The NEXTEL Cup Series will head to the 1.5-mile
Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend for the season finale.
Qualifying for the Ford 400 is scheduled for Friday, Nov.
17. Coverage of Sunday afternoon’s race, scheduled for a
2:55 p.m. ET start, will broadcast on NBC (television), MRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio.
It was also announced prior to the race in Phoenix that
Blaney will drive the No. 32 Toyota Camry full-time in the
NASCAR Busch Series for Braun Racing in 2007. This is in
addition to Blaney’s full-time commitment as the driver of
the Caterpillar car in the NEXTEL Cup Series. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – DICKIES 500
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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FORT WORTH,
Texas. (Nov. 5, 2006) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar
Racing team headed back to Texas Motor Speedway with high
hopes for the weekend. After qualifying in the 30th spot,
Blaney ran into trouble midway through the race, which
resulted in damage to the left front of the Cat car and
wreaked havoc with the toe. The team worked hard to repair
the damage and Blaney took the checkered flag in the 32nd
spot.
Blaney was scheduled to be the 33rd of 50 competitors to
take to the track for his qualifying run Friday afternoon.
His time of 28.246 seconds (191.178 mph) around the 1.5-mile
oval was not exactly what the crew had been anticipating,
but was fast enough to earn them the 30th spot in the
starting grid for Sunday’s event.
Rain delayed the start of the event for almost an hour and
the 43-car field began the race under yellow. The green flag
finally flew on lap five of the 334-lap event and Blaney
moved up several positions early on while communicating to
the Caterpillar crew that the car was tight through the
corners. NASCAR through a competition yellow flag on lap 40
and every team took advantage of the caution period by
making the first round of pit stops of the day. Crew chief
Kevin Hamlin called for a wedge adjustment in addition to
four fresh tires and fuel before the crew sent Blaney back
to the track for the lap-46 restart in 29th place.
Though the changes made to the car seemed to help in the
beginning of the next run, the car tightened up as the laps
wore on. Hamlin and the Cat crew made additional track bar
and wedge adjustments during the next round of pit stops
which occurred on lap 91. Blaney restarted in the 30th spot
and continued to struggle with the handling of his car
despite additional adjustments that were made during the
middle stages of the race.
Blaney ran into trouble on lap 173 when the No. 21 car,
which was running in front of him, veered hard into the
inside wall. Though he did his best to take evasive action,
Blaney clipped the No. 21 machine, which resulted in
extensive damage to the left front of the Cat car and also
wreaked havoc with the toe of the car. Blaney made several
pit stops during the ensuing caution and the team worked to
repair the damage to the left front without losing a lap. A
left front tire rub forced Blaney into the pits on lap 191
and the team lost four laps making more repairs and then
several more during a caution period on lap 198 as the crew
reset the toe.
Blaney was running in the 35th spot with 25 laps to go in
the event. A multi-car accident with two laps left resulted
in a green-white-checkered-flag finish and Blaney crossed
the finish line in the 32nd spot.
With two races remaining in the 2006 season, the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series will return to the one-mile Phoenix
International Raceway next weekend. Qualifying for the
Checker Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10.
Coverage of Sunday afternoon’s race, scheduled for a 3:25
p.m. ET start, will broadcast on NBC (television), MRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio. |
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HIGH POINT, N.C.
(Aug. 25, 2006)
– Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced today that Dave
Blaney, current driver of the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing
entry, will remain in the Caterpillar car for the ‘07
season and Jeremy Mayfield will join the organization to
drive the No. 36 Toyota Camry the team will field in
2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition.
“We’re happy
to have Dave back in the Caterpillar car next year, and
we’re just as excited that Jeremy has decided to join
our team,” said Team Owner Bill Davis. “Both of these
men are very talented and capable drivers who are
veterans of the sport and yet still hungry to win. Both
Jeremy and Dave are extremely knowledgeable and will
play an important part in taking our race team to the
next level.”
Blaney, a
Hartford, Ohio, native, has been behind the wheel of the
Caterpillar car the entire 2006 season. His first
partnership with Bill and Gail Davis came back in 1998,
when Blaney drove part-time in the NASCAR Busch Series.
He joined the Cup Series in 2000 and remained with Bill
Davis Racing through 2001. After departing to race for
Jasper Motorsports in 2003, he returned to BDR to drive
part-time in the Cup Series in 2004. In 2005, Blaney
was invited drive for Richard Childress Racing, where he
posted two top-10 finishes. In all, Blaney has made 222
starts in NASCAR’s premiere series and has captured one
pole position and 19 top-10 finishes during his tenure.
“It’s
certainly nice to know with half the season left where
I’ll be next year, and I’m glad it will be back with
Bill Davis Racing,” Blaney stated. “This is the place I
have always considered home, and though we’ve struggled
a bit more than anyone thought we would this year, we
all think the future is bright for BDR. I’m excited
about the opportunity to be a part of Toyota’s entrance
into the Cup Series, and I’m looking forward to working
with Jeremy next year. I think next season has the
possibility to be the best one Bill Davis Racing has
ever seen.”
360 OTC™
joins Bill Davis Racing to serve as the primary sponsor
of the No. 36 Toyota machine beginning with the ’07
Daytona 500. Headquartered in Athens, Ga.,
Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Inc. is the developer of 360
OTC, a brand of FDA-approved Over-the-Counter (OTC) pain
relief medicines. Included in the 360 OTC family are
360 OTC Relief, which relieves symptoms of headache,
fatigue, heartburn, upset stomach and generalized aches
and pains associated with a hangover, and 360 OTC Lite
Relief, a caffeine-free version of 360 OTC. Other
products include 360 OTC Ignite, a fast-acting alertness
aid that safely helps restore mental alertness during
times of drowsiness and fatigue, and 360 OTC Hangover
Relief, which relieves generalized aches and pains
associated with a hangover.
“We have done an incredible
amount of research to find the perfect combination of
ownership, team chemistry, driver performance and
manufacturers support,” said Michelle Shearer, CEO of
Rockford-Montgomery Labs. “There is no question that we
have found the best business partner in NASCAR to
entrust the value of our brand. “ Having Bill and Gail
Davis, Tommy Baldwin, Jeremy Mayfield and Toyota behind
our brand on the track every week is a direct reflection
of our commitment to NASCAR fans, our retailers and our
shareholders. We need to get the 360 OTC No. 36 Toyota
Camry in victory lane, and we are very fortunate to have
this winning combination at BDR to accomplish that
goal.”
“We feel
like we’ve put together a winning combination,” Davis
said. “Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Inc. is a solid
company which has learned in the short time they have
been involved in the sport just how big a marketing tool
NASCAR can be. They were interested in finding a
spokesperson that can get their No. 36 Toyota to victory
lane as well as appeal to the people in their market.
Everyone agrees that Jeremy is that guy. He’s a proven
winner and is obviously a talented and consistent
driver, as well as a smart businessman. He brings with
him Chase experience and a great deal of excitement, and
we feel fortunate to welcome both he and 360 OTC to our
family.”
Mayfield
most recently competed for Evernham Motorsports. The
37-year-old driver, who hails from Owensboro, Ky., has
made 402 starts at NASCAR’s highest level and was a
contender in the Chase for the Championship during both
the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
“I’m very,
very excited about the opportunity to be a part of Bill
Davis Racing,” Mayfield said. “I’ve always thought a
lot of and had a lot of respect for Bill and Gail, and
I’m thrilled to be a part of their organization.
Obviously, I’m looking forward to working with Toyota,
Todd Holbert [General Manager of Triad Racing
Development, Inc.], Tommy Baldwin and everyone involved
with the Toyota program, and I’m
looking
forward to being a part of Toyota’s entrance into NEXTEL
Cup racing as well as working with them for a long time
to come. Rockford-Montgomery Labs and 360 OTC has also
given me a great opportunity, and I’m happy to have the
chance to represent their company, their people and
their products.
“From what
I’ve seen at Bill Davis Racing, they have the resources
in place and the desire to do whatever it takes to be
competitive, and those are the kinds of people and the
type of place that I want to be involved with.”
Mayfield
made his first Cup Series start in 1993 before teaming
with Cale Yarborough the following season. He remained
with that team through most of the 1996 season, before
uniting with car owner Michael Kranefuss, who eventually
joined forces with Roger Penske in 1997. Mayfield spent
the next four seasons with the Penske organization. He
scored his first career victory at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway
in 1998, and went on to finish seventh in the
championship standings that year. Mayfield earned two
more victories in 2000. He joined Evernham Motorsports
beginning with the 2002 season, where he continued to
prove his talent by winning races in 2004 and 2005.
Mayfield has five NEXTEL Cup victories under his belt,
has started from the pole position nine times and has
posted 96 top-10 finishes throughout his career.
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HIGH POINT, N.C. (July
31, 2006) – Bill
Davis Racing (BDR) announced today that Tommy Baldwin Jr.
will join the organization serving as Competition Director
for its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series multi-car efforts,
effective August 1, 2006. Baldwin returns to the team after
having spent four seasons with the organization from
1999-2002.
Included in Baldwin’s
responsibilities as competition director will be overseeing
Bill Davis Racing’s conversion to Toyota for the 2007 NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup season. Baldwin will work closely with leaders
from Toyota Racing Development, Inc. (TRD) and Triad Racing
Development, Inc. (a technical partner to TRD) to ensure a
smooth transition and will also work with existing Bill
Davis Racing crew chiefs to guarantee an efficient and
effective transformation to Toyota.
“Tommy has worked
successfully with Todd Holbert (General Manager of Triad
Racing Development, Inc.) in the past and we see that as a
huge asset as we move forward with our program,” commented
BDR General Manager Mike Brown. “We look forward to their
continued teamwork to play a vital role in the future
success of Bill Davis Racing.”
“Tommy brought a lot of
success to Bill Davis Racing during his time here and we’re
looking forward to his return to our organization,” stated
team owner Bill Davis. “Not only will he play a key role in
the team’s physical conversion to Toyota, but he will also
serve as the BDR representative in that change. Tommy is
extremely qualified and driven to succeed and we can’t think
of anyone who would do a better job working with the other
Toyota team competition directors to make sure the program
gets off on the right foot. We feel fortunate that he was
available to us and we are looking forward to his return.”
Baldwin, a 39-year-old native
of Bellport, N.Y., began his tenure as a leader in NASCAR’s
premiere division in 1997 and joined BDR at the end of the
1998 season. Baldwin led the No. 22 Caterpillar Racing team
to four victories in four years, including two wins at
Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and one at New Hampshire
International Speedway in addition to a victory in the
prestigious Daytona 500 in 2002. Baldwin spent the 2003
season at Ultra Motorsports before heading to Evernham
Motorsports to serve as a team director in 2004. In 2005, he
guided Kasey Kahne to victory lane at Richmond (Va.)
International Raceway, scoring Kahne’s first career win and
Baldwin’s fifth. Before making the move back to Bill Davis
Racing, Baldwin was serving as a crew chief at Robert Yates
Racing and grabbed the pole position earlier this year at
Talladega Superspeedway.
“This is an exciting time at
Bill Davis Racing and I can’t wait to be a part of it,”
commented Baldwin on his return to the team. “To have the
opportunity to play a key role in the successful
introduction of Toyota to the Cup Series is a once in a
lifetime opportunity. It would mean a great deal to me to be
able to help BDR achieve the success it had several years
ago. Bill and Gail Davis have always been like family to me
and I’m glad to be back home." |
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 RACING
COMMUNITY REACHES OUT TO HELP SANTA MARIA MAN |
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SANTA MARIA,
Calif. – On Saturday July 29th, the Orcutt
Youth Recreation Hall in Santa Maria, Calif. will be the
sight of a unique and very personal benefit auction. NASCAR
Crew Chief Kevin Hamlin and his wife Patti will host a
NASCAR/ NHRA collectable auction to benefit Patti’s brother
Kevin Miles.
Miles, a 40 year
resident of Santa Maria, was diagnosed with Liver Cancer in
November of last year. Although he has medical insurance,
his coverage does not cover all of his expenses prompting
the Hamlin’s to host this benefit event.
Hamlin has
served as a crew chief in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series for
many years. He has worked with a number of drivers during
his career including Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Jeff
Burton, Mike Skinner, and most notably the late Dale
Earnhardt. Hamlin is currently the crew chief on the number
22 Caterpillar Dodge driven by Dave Blaney.
“When my
brother-in-law was diagnosed with Liver Cancer, Patti and I
felt helpless,” said Hamlin who lives in Mocksville, NC.
“Living on the east coast and so far away from Santa Maria,
we felt powerless to help him. With Kevin’s medical bills
mounting, and his insurance covering only a fraction of the
expense, it occurred to Patti and I that the best way we
could help him would be to host a benefit in Santa Maria.
“Patti and I
have been together for seven years and during that time
Kevin has attended many NEXTEL Cup races. At many races he
and his buddy Joey Eames have treated the drivers and crews
to Santa Maria style Bar-B-Que, along the way making many
friends in the garage area.
“Prior to our
marriage my wife Patti worked for many years in NHRA drag
racing. First for Santa Maria drag racing legend Alan
Johnson, and then as a public relations representative for
many NHRA teams. During that time her brother was a fixture
at the west coast races, making lots of friends at the drag
strip along the way.
“It occurred to
Patti and I that in a race crazy town like Santa Maria a
NASCAR/ NHRA memorabilia auction would raise a lot of money.
We decided to ask our friends for donations. When we started
talking to people about the benefit we were amazed to find
that everyone we talked had been touched by cancer in one
form or another. Everyone we talked to in both NASCAR and
NHRA were eager to donate anything that would help Kevin. We
are absolutely astonished by the love and generosity of the
racing community.”
“In the last
couple months my brother-in-law has been going through
chemotherapy. Just about everyday he tells us sad stories of
other patients at the Marian Hospital Cancer Treatment
Clinic who are going through real hardship because their
insurance does not meet their needs. Good working class
people who are losing their homes while they are fighting
for their lives. Because of this we decided to split the
proceeds of the auction and set up an endowment for cancer
patients at the Marian Hospital Cancer Treatment Clinic who
are in need of financial help.
“We are hoping
for a good turn-out. We would like to raise enough money to
make a difference for the patients at the Marian clinic, and
my brother-in-law.
“Cancer is a
terrible disease that touches everyone’s life. When you look
at the big picture what we are doing is small, but if it
helps Kevin and the clinic then it is worth all the hard
work.”
The benefit will
be on Saturday July 29th at the Orcutt Youth
Recreation Hall on Foster Road in Santa Maria, Calif. The
evening will start with a reverse drawing at 6:00 PM which
be followed by both a live and silent auction. Doors will
open for the general public at 7:00 PM with the live auction
to starting at 7:30 followed by the silent auction.
Fast Facts:
The Kevin Miles
NASCAR / NHRA Benefit Auction hosted by Kevin and Patti
Hamlin will take place on Saturday July 29th at
the Orcutt Youth Recreation Hall in Santa Maria; Calif.
Event Schedule:
Doors will open at 4:00 PM
No host cocktail hour from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Santa Maria Style Bar-B-Que Dinner and reverse drawing will
start at 6:00 PM.
Doors will be open to the public at 7:00 PM.
The live auction will
start at 7:30 and will be followed by the silent auction.
- All proceeds
for the Kevin Miles NASCAR/ NHRA Benefit Auction will be
divided between the Kevin Miles medical fund and an
endowment for patients with needs being treated at the
Marian Hospital Cancer Treatment Clinic.
Cash donations
may be made to:
Kevin Miles
Medical Fund
Community Bank of Santa Maria
1421 South Broadway
Santa Maria, Ca 93454
Account # 01126010
-Ticket for the
Santa Maria Style Bar-B-Que and Reverse drawing are
available by calling Debbie Jeffers at 805-4314256 or Patti
Hamlin at 704-957-3940. |
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Congratulate
Dave on 25 years of racing by attending the 9th Annual
Dave Blaney Fan Club Meeting at Sharon Speedway Saturday
afternoon, July 29, 2006 from Noon to 2 p.m.
Dave will be
there to sign autographs and answer any and all
questions. Also, there are plans to have the #22
Caterpillar show car as well as the Caterpillar souvenir
trailer.
Fan club
members can purchase discounted tickets for Saturday
evening’s races at Sharon Speedway. Tickets are normally
$11, but members can purchase a ticket for only $6.
Contact Sharon Speedway for more information at (330)
772-1186.
Unlike last
year’s meeting, I can almost promise no snow or freezing
temperatures.
Only current
fan club members can attend.
Other fans
and friends can join the fan club at the door, but we
would much rather have you join before the meeting in
order to keep the line moving. Have them go to
www.daveblaney.com
and click on sign up now in the lower right hand
corner of the main page.
We have had
well over 100 fan club members attend the last couple of
years, so be sure and get there on time.
You can also
bring your camera if you would like.
So we have an
idea of how many to expect, please call or email me if
you plan to attend the meeting.
The fan club
office number is (918) 743-1220 and the email is
fanclub@daveblaney.com.
Directions to Sharon Speedway from Interstate 80
(Hubbard, Ohio Exit 234B)
From the off
ramp, turn left and take Rt. 7/62 north 1 mile.
Stay in the left lane, (Route 62 and 7 split) and
continue north on Rt. 7 four miles into Brookfield.
Stay on Route 7 for five miles. Turn right onto Rt. 305
for one mile.
Turn right onto Custer-Orangeville Road.
The track is on the right.
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CAT® Footwear to sponsor #22 Caterpillar®
Dodge and Driver Dave Blaney
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Rockford, Michigan, USA-
CAT Footwear is pleased to announce the 2006
sponsorship of the Bill Davis Racing #22 Caterpillar
Dodge and driver Dave Blaney. While CAT Footwear has
long sponsored drivers of the #22 Caterpillar car,
this marks the brand’s first year of car
sponsorship.
“We are excited to work with
Dave and the Bill Davis Racing staff to promote CAT
Footwear through retail and track initiatives. The
CAT Footwear consumer will identify with his
perseverance and work ethic, as an established
driver with experience at all levels of racing,”
said Kelly Ballou, CAT Footwear US Marketing
Manager. Blaney will appear on brand promotion
materials and appear on behalf of CAT Footwear at
retail and track events.
As the Midwestern son of a
sawmill owner, Blaney grew up around heavy machinery
but traded logging for left turns as soon as he
graduated from high school. Though he has risen
through the ranks of racing from sprint cars to the
Busch Series to the Nextel Cup Series in his 25
years in racing, Blaney is still in touch with his
roots. He is the owner of his home track in Ohio, a
dirt track where he first raced sprint cars. He
also enjoys a strong following that includes
thousands of “Blaniacs”, as members of his fan club
are known.
“I am excited to have CAT
Footwear on board as a sponsor and look forward to
representing the brand. Whether in the garage or
getting my hands dirty back home at the dirt track,
heavy-duty footwear is a must. And for a guy like me
who also wants to be as comfortable as possible, CAT
Footwear is the perfect fit,” Blaney said.
CAT Footwear produces shoes
and boots that represent the long-standing values of
the Caterpillar brand. Known globally for
manufacturing high quality work and rugged casual
footwear, the company is committed to developing
innovative comfort, durability and
technology features. Brand and
product information available online at
www.catfootwear.com.
CAT Footwear is a division of
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), with global
headquarters in Rockford, MI., U.S.A. CAT Footwear
is a global licensee of Caterpillar Inc. With a
commitment to service and product excellence,
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world’s
leading marketers of branded casual, active
lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear
and slippers. The Company’s portfolio of highly
recognized brands includes: Bates®, Hush
Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®,
Sebago®, and Wolverine®.
The Company also markets footwear under popular
licensed brands including CAT®,
Harley-Davidson® and Stanley®.
The Company’s products are carried by leading
retailers in the U.S. and are distributed
internationally in over 140 countries. For
additional information, please visit our website,
www.wolverineworldwide.com.
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DAVE
BLANEY – BASS PRO SHOPS 500
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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HAMPTON, Ga.
(Oct. 29, 2006) – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing
team headed to Atlanta Motor Speedway hoping to recover from
a frustrating past couple of weeks. The day seemed promising
in the early stages of the Bass Pro Shops 500, and despite
fighting a tight handling condition for much of the day,
Blaney took the checkered flag in the 18th spot.
Blaney was scheduled to be the 32nd of 47 competitors to
take to the track for his qualifying run Friday evening, but
Mother Nature had other plans. Rain showers blanketed the
region all day, which prompted NASCAR officials to cancel
all on-track activities and line the cars up based on
owners’ points. Blaney and the Caterpillar team were awarded
the 26th spot on the starting grid for Sunday’s event.
The 43-car field took the green flag for the start of the
Bass Pro Shops 500, and Blaney wasted no time making his way
to the front of the field. The first caution flag waved on
lap five of the 325-lap event, and the Caterpillar driver
took that opportunity to let Crew Chief Kevin Hamlin know
that the handling of the Cat car was a little loose heading
into the corners. Blaney took the restart in the 21st spot
and broke into the top 15 by lap 32. He ducked down pit road
for the first stop of the day on lap 58. Hamlin made the
call for a slight chassis adjustment during the four-tire
stop.
Blaney remained in the top 20 for much of the first half of
the event and went one lap down to leader Jeff Gordon on lap
144 while running in the 14th position. Another pit stop
several laps later gave the team the opportunity to make
additional changes to the Cat car, including both track bar
and wedge adjustments. The caution flag waved once again on
lap 171, and Blaney let the crew know that the car had
started a little free, but it was better than it was during
the previous run.
Near the lap 200 mark of the event, Blaney began to struggle
with a car that had become extremely tight. He fell to 20th
before heading to the pits for a scheduled pit stop.
Unfortunately, despite the changes that Hamlin made during
every subsequent stop, the handling remained tight. Blaney
lost another lap to the leader on lap 242 while holding the
20th position. Blaney picked up several spots in the closing
laps of the event, and when the checkered flag waved, he
held the 18th place.
With only three races remaining in the 2006 season, the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will travel to the 1.5-mile Texas
Motor Speedway next weekend. Qualifying for the Dickies 500
is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3. Coverage of Sunday
afternoon’s race, scheduled for a 2:55 p.m. ET start, will
broadcast on NBC (television), PRN (radio) and XM Satellite
Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – SUBWAY 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY |
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 22, 2006) – Dave Blaney and the
Caterpillar team posted their best qualifying effort of the
season Friday afternoon in preparation for the Subway 500 at
Martinsville Speedway and were hoping to remain up front
when the checkered flag waved. Though they ran well in the
opening stages of the race, a power steering problem sent
Blaney behind the wall for 14 laps and relegated the team to
a 33rd-place finish.
Blaney was the 21st of 50 competitors to make his qualifying
attempt on the .526-mile oval Friday afternoon. He posted
his quickest lap time of 19.557 seconds (96.825 mph) on the
second lap of his two-lap run, which earned him the sixth
position on the starting grid. It was his best starting
position of the season.
The 43-car field took the green flag as scheduled for the
start of the Subway 500 Sunday afternoon after intermittent
rain showers all morning threatened the start of the race.
Blaney remained in the sixth spot for the first 15 laps of
the race before communicating to Crew Chief Kevin Hamlin
that the handling of the Caterpillar car was loose. A yellow
flag on lap 66 of the 500-lap event allowed Blaney to drive
down pit road to the attention of his crew, who changed all
four tires, filled the gas tank with fuel and adjusted the
car in an effort to remedy the loose handling condition. The
team gained two positions due to a quick pit stop, and
Blaney restarted in the 12th spot.
Blaney remained in the top 15 for the first 160 laps before
losing ground while struggling with a car whose handling had
become extremely tight. Just past the 200-lap mark, Blaney
went one lap down to leader and eventual winner Jimmie
Johnson. He was then awarded the Lucky Dog pass on lap 204
when the caution flag waved. As the halfway point of the
event approached, the team continued to battle a tight
handling condition. On lap 275, NASCAR officials black
flagged the Cat car because they saw smoke coming from the
rear of the car for several laps. Blaney was forced to drive
down pit road so the crew could check out the situation.
Though it initially appeared the smoke came from a rubbing
fender, once the crew got the car behind the wall and began
to survey the problem, it became clear the issue was bigger
than that. A problem with the power steering was discovered,
and Blaney remained behind the wall for the next 14 laps
while the team fixed it.
Blaney returned to the track and held the 38th spot at the
300-lap mark. Though he could run lap times consistent with
those of the leaders, he spent most of the next 200 laps
working to stay out of trouble and stay out of the way of
those fighting for the win. Blaney picked up several
positions due to attrition and eventually took the checkered
flag in 33rd place.
With only four races remaining in the 2007 season, the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is set to travel to the 1.5-mile
Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend. Qualifying for the Bass
Pro Shops MBNA 500 is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27.
Coverage of Sunday afternoon’s race, scheduled for a 2:55
p.m. ET start, will broadcast on NBC (television), PRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio |
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DAVE
BLANEY – BANK OF AMERICA500
LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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CONCORD,
N.C. (Oct. 14, 2006) – Dave Blaney scored his first career
NASCAR victory Friday night in the NASCAR Busch Series race
at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and the Caterpillar team was
hoping for that same kind of success during Saturday night’s
event. A wreck on lap 17 made it clear to the team that
Blaney would not have a repeat performance, but despite
losing more than 40 laps while repairing the car, the team
still managed a 26th-place finish in the race.
Blaney was the 47th of 52 competitors to make his qualifying
attempt on the 1.5-mile oval Thursday evening. He posted his
quickest lap time of 29.093 seconds (185.612 mph) on the
second lap of his two-lap run, which earned him the 37th
position on the starting grid. One competitor’s time was
disallowed after the qualifying session, which moved the Cat
car up one spot to 36th on the starting grid.
The 43-car field took the green flag for the start of the
Bank of America 500 Saturday night, and Blaney almost
immediately found himself in the midst of trouble. On just
the second lap of the race, several cars collided on the
frontstretch, which caused a chain reaction and sent several
competitors straight to the garage area. Blaney was behind
the incident but was still forced to take evasive action
through the frontstretch grass to avoid a spinning car. He
maneuvered the Caterpillar car through the main part of the
accident, but his run through the grass affected the front
valance of the car. He stopped on pit road the next lap so
the crew could check the damage, but was relegated to the
end of the longest line on the restart because he drove down
pit road before the pits were opened.
Blaney was running in 37th position when disaster struck on
lap 17. As Blaney exited turn four, the Cat car broke free
and went careening into the outside wall, causing extensive
damage to both the front and rear of the car. Blaney drove
down pit road, where the team attempted to repair the car.
Blaney returned to the track for several laps, then reported
that the car needed more repair work. He drove to the garage
area, where the crew continued to work on the battered
machine.
The repair work was completed just past lap 60, and Blaney
returned to the track. Several accidents eliminated
additional cars during the evening, and Blaney gained
positions by simply remaining in the race. By the time the
checkered flag waved, the No. 22 car stood in 26th place.
Though Blaney and the Cat team were hoping for more from the
evening, they remained in 26th place in the owners’ points
standings following the event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and
now stand only five points outside the top 25.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series sticks close to home next
weekend as it makes its final stop of the season at
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Qualifying for the Subway 500
is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 20. Coverage of Sunday
afternoon’s race, scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET start, will
broadcast on NBC (television), MRN (radio) and XM Satellite
Radio. |
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Dave Blaney –
UAW-Ford 500
Talladega Superspeedway |
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Talladega,
Ala.
(Oct. 8, 2006)
– Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar team looked forward to the
opportunity to continue their trend of solid finishes last
weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Though it was
disappointed with its qualifying run Saturday morning, the
crew knew the car would perform well in the race. The team
lost several laps early in Sunday’s event after a flat left
rear tire but was able to rebound from the incident to
finish in the 28th place.
Blaney was the 18th of 49 competitors
to make his qualifying attempt on the 2.66-mile oval
Saturday morning. He posted his quickest lap time of
51.099 seconds (187.401 mph)
on the second lap of his two-lap run, which earned him the
35th position on the starting grid. Every car was impounded
after qualifying, and the crews were only allowed to make
minor changes to the cars in preparation for Sunday’s race.
The 43-car field took the
green flag for the start of the event, which was the last
restrictor plate race of the season. Blaney broke into the
top 25 by lap four and spent much of the race’s early stages
running three wide in the middle of the large pack of cars.
The first pit stop of the day occurred on lap 32, and crew
chief Kevin Hamlin called for four fresh tires and fuel when
about half the field drove down pit road under green flag
conditions. Blaney returned to the track in a two-car draft
with the No. 7 car, and the pair worked together to catch a
larger pack of cars just ahead. By lap 48 of the 188-lap
race, Blaney had reached the lead pack and held the 25th
position.
Blaney made a stop for fuel
only on lap 64, and reported to his crew nine laps later
that he had a flat left rear tire. By the time he made it
back to pit road, the left rear quarter panel had sustained
significant damage. The yellow flag waved so clean up crews
could clear the track of tire pieces. Meanwhile, Blaney made
several stops so the Cat crew could work on repairing the
damage to the car. The team went one lap down while in the
pits, as the green flag waved for the restart before the
repair work was complete.
Because Blaney was running
around the track alone with no drafting help, his speed was
no match for the 35-car draft. The field sped by him on lap
84, putting the No. 22 a second lap down. Blaney found
himself in the midst of a four-car pack when the caution
flag waved on lap 131. Blaney restarted 41st on lap 135
after driving down pit road for a routine four tire change.
The biggest incident of the
day occurred several laps later. Eight cars were involved in
the melee and most were either unable to continue or were
forced into the garage for extensive repairs. Blaney
restarted 33rd on lap 146, after cleanup from the accident
was completed. Blaney stayed out of trouble and passed
several cars in the closing laps of the UAW-Ford 400. He
took the checkered flag in 28th place. The Caterpillar team
dropped only one spot in the owners’
point standings
following the event at Talladega Superspeedway and now
stands in 26th place.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
sticks close to home next weekend as it makes its final stop
at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Qualifying for the
Bank of America 500 is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12.
Coverage of Saturday evening’s race, scheduled for a 7:10
p.m. ET start, will broadcast on NBC (television), PRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – BANQUET 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY |
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KANSAS CITY,
Kan. (Oct. 1, 2006) – After three consecutive top-12
finishes, Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar racing team looked
forward to continuing the trend at Kansas Speedway. After
posting a 17th-place qualifying effort, Blaney and the crew
struggled with the handling of the Caterpillar car for most
of the day, but rallied to take home a 21st-place finish in
the Banquet 400.
Blaney was the 35th of 47 competitors to make his qualifying
attempt on the 1.5-mile oval Friday afternoon. He posted his
quickest lap time of 30.839 seconds (175.103 mph) on the
first lap of his run, which earned him the 17th position on
the starting grid.
The 43-car field took the green flag for the start of the
event, and Blaney moved into the 15th spot by lap two of the
267-lap race. By the time the first caution flag of the day
waved, Blaney had lost several places and had communicated
to crew chief Kevin Hamlin that the car’s handling was
extremely tight in the center of the corners. Blaney drove
down pit road to the attention of his crew on lap 12, and
the team bolted on right side tires, filled the tank with
fuel and made a track bar adjustment. Thanks to the two-tire
stop, Blaney lined up 11th for the restart.
Blaney ran as high as eighth during the next run before
falling just outside the top 25 when the handling once again
became tight. A wedge adjustment awaited the car when Blaney
drove into the pits for a routine four tire stop during a
caution period on lap 61. Blaney restarted the race in 27th,
moved up several spots just after the restart, and then
began to fall through the field before losing a lap to
leader Kyle Busch on lap 103. Blaney was running in the 33rd
position at the time.
Hamlin called for front shock adjustments on lap 135 in an
effort to help his driver overcome the battle he was having
with the car, as the handling had now become loose. It was a
caution flag-filled race, which gave the team another chance
to make adjustments on lap 148. Hamlin called for air
pressure and wedge adjustments this time around, and not
long afterward Blaney commented to the crew that the
handling of the Cat machine was slightly better. The team
got a lucky break when the 11th yellow flag of the day was
shown on lap 196, and Blaney was awarded the Lucky Dog
award, thus returning the team to the lead lap. Blaney
restarted in the 24th spot on lap 200 and was able to pass
several cars following the restart before the car again
became extremely tight in the centers of the corners.
Blaney was unable to hold off the hard-charging leader and
again fell one lap down with just over 30 laps to go.
Several of the front-running cars were forced to stop for
fuel in the closing laps, and the team moved into the 20th
position with six laps remaining, and Blaney took the
checkered flag in the 21st spot. Blaney’s Bill Davis Racing
team, which had picked five positions in the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series owners’ point standings in the last three races,
remained in the 25th spot in the standings following the
event at Kansas Speedway.
The NEXTEL Cup Series heads to Talladega (Ala.)
Superspeedway for its final restrictor plate race of the
season next weekend. Qualifying for the UAW-Ford 500 is
scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6. Coverage of Sunday’s race,
scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. ET start, will broadcast on NBC
(television), MRN (radio) and XM Satellite Radio. |
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Dave
Blaney - Dover 400
Dover International Speedway |
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Dover,
Del.
(Sept.
24, 2006)
– After back-to-back top-10 finishes in the previous two
weeks, Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team hoped to
continue their solid performances in this weekend’s event at
Dover International Speedway. After a disappointing
qualifying effort that put them near the rear of the field
for the start of the race, Blaney and the team rebounded to
post a 12th-place finish in the event, their third
consecutive finish of 12th or better.
Blaney was the seventh of 47
competitors to make his qualifying attempt on the one-mile
oval Friday afternoon. He posted his quickest lap time
of
23.748 seconds (151.592 mph) on
the second lap of his two-lap run, which earned him the 38th
position on the starting grid. Though the crew was
disappointed in the qualifying run, they were confident the
car would perform well during the race.
The sky threatened rain showers for most of the morning, but
the start of the Dover 400 went off as planned. Blaney
immediately reported to crew chief Kevin Hamlin that the
handling of the Caterpillar car was loose off the corners.
Hamlin planned to make chassis adjustments during the first
stop. The caution flag waved several times in the
early laps of the event, but it was during a caution period
on lap 25 when Hamlin opted to bring Blaney in for his first
pit stop of the day. After a four tire stop that
included track bar and wedge adjustments to tighten the
handling of the car, Blaney lined up 25th for the restart.
Blaney continued to battle a loose handling racecar, but
worked hard to fight through it. By lap 100 of the
400-lap race, Blaney stood in 27th place.
The Cat car broke back into the top 25 near the 120-lap
mark, and Blaney got lucky when the caution flag waved just
after leader Matt Kenseth put the No. 22 machine one lap
down. Blaney returned to the lead lap thanks to the
Lucky Dog award. He drove down pit road under caution
for fresh tires and additional chassis adjustments,
including the removal of a spring rubber in the right rear
and restarted in 25th place. Slowly but surely, he
began to make his way through the field after communicating
to the crew that the car was better after that last change.
On lap 185, Hamlin asked Blaney to stay out on the track
during a caution period when many cars made pit stops.
Blaney stood ninth when the race resumed.
Unfortunately, he was unable to hold off those cars with
fresher tires, and by lap 200, he had slipped to 17th.
Hamlin called for several adjustments during a pit stop on
lap 208, and Blaney remained in the top 20 despite a tight
handling condition that developed during the next run.
Around the lap 280 mark, Blaney inherited 10th place after
several of the cars ahead of him began making scheduled pit
stops. He got lucky again when the caution flag waved
when the leader was right behind him. After completing
another stop for fuel and adjustments on lap 300, Blaney
left pit road in eighth place with 11 cars remaining on the
lead lap. NASCAR officials caught the Cat car speeding
coming off pit road, and Blaney was forced to restart at the
end of the longest line.
Blaney broke into the top 10 again with less than 90 laps
remaining in the race. Due to the car’s handling
issues, he was unable to retain the 10th position and fell
to 13th with just over 50 laps to go. Blaney moved
past a car that was encountering engine problems in the
closing laps and took the checkered flag in 12th place, his
third finish of 12th or better in as many weeks.
Blaney’s Bill Davis Racing team picked up three places in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series owners’ point standings.
The Caterpillar team has gained six spots in the past three
weeks and now holds the 25th position.
The NEXTEL Cup Series makes its only
trip to Kansas Speedway next weekend for the Banquet 400
Sunday, Oct. 1. Qualifying for the event is scheduled
for Friday, Sept.
29.
Coverage of Sunday’s race, scheduled for a 2:10 p.m. ET
start, will broadcast on NBC (television), MRN (radio) and
XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE BLANEY –
SYLVANIA 300
NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY |
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LOUDON, N.H.
(Sept. 17,
2006)
– Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team rebounded from
a flat left rear tire early in the event to finish in ninth
place in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International
Speedway Sunday afternoon. It was the team’s second
consecutive top-10 finish.
Blaney was the 46th of 48 competitors
to make his qualifying attempt on the 1.058-mile oval Friday
afternoon. Blaney posted his quickest lap time of
29.394 seconds (129.577 mph)
on the first lap of his two-lap run, which earned him the
21st position on the starting grid.
The green flag waved for the
start of the race, and Blaney lost several spots in the
early laps due in part to a loose handling race car. Blaney
let the crew know at the lap 15 mark that the Caterpillar
car was getting better, but by lap 30, he found himself
fighting a car that had become loose into the corners and
tight through the centers. Blaney broke into the top 20 on
lap 37 of the 300-lap race and continued to climb through
the field before making the first pit stop of the day under
caution on lap 82. Like last week, the crew worked fast in
the pits, and Blaney returned to the track in the 15th spot.
Disaster nearly struck on lap
97, as Blaney communicated to the crew that he had a flat
tire. While battling for position, Blaney and Matt Kenseth
made slight contact, and the flat tire was the result.
Luckily, NASCAR officials put the field under caution flag
conditions, and Blaney ducked down pit road to the attention
of his crew without losing a lap. The team was forced to
start at the end of the longest line for pitting before the
pits were open, and Blaney restarted 28th.
Though he continued to battle
the same handling issues through the middle stages of the
race, Blaney was able to break back into the top 25 by lap
150. A pit stop on lap 171 enabled the crew to make a
jackbolt adjustment to the car, change all four tires and
fill the gas tank with fuel. On lap 189, Blaney was
fighting to stay on the lead lap when the yellow flag waved
once again. Another round of pit stops concluded several
laps later, and Blaney lined up 18th for the restart. The
green flag run was short-lived, however, and crew chief
Kevin Hamlin decided to keep Blaney on the track during the
next round of pit stops while most of the other cars made
pit stops. When NASCAR officials waved the green flag on
lap 215, Blaney was leading the race.
Blaney did his best to hold
off the cars with fresher tires and led five laps before
settling into fourth place. During a caution period that
began on lap 266, the Cat team made a four-tire stop and
returned to the same pit sequence as much of the
competition. Several teams did opt not to pit during this
caution, and several more chose to take on only two new
tires, leaving Blaney in the ninth spot for the restart.
Blaney communicated to Hamlin that the set of tires on the
car weren’t as good as the earlier sets, but he was able to
hold onto the ninth spot when the checkered flag waved. The
ninth-place finish marked the team’s second consecutive
top-10 finish. The Bill Davis Racing team gained one spot
in the owners’ point standings following its fourth-place
run in Richmond last week, and it was able to gain even more
ground on the 25th spot this weekend. Unofficially, the
team now stands only 41 points outside the top 25.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series returns
to the Monster Mile next weekend for the Dover 400 at Dover
(Del.) International Speedway Sunday, Sept. 24. Qualifying
for the event is scheduled for Friday, Sept.
22.
Coverage of Sunday’s race, scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. ET
start, will broadcast on TNT (television), MRN (radio) and
XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – CHEVY ROCK & ROLL 400
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY |
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RICHMOND, Va.
(Sept. 9,
2006)
– After qualifying in the 15th spot for the Chevy Rock &
Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Dave Blaney
drove the Caterpillar ride to a fourth-place finish. It was
the team’s best finish of the season and the second top-five
finish of Blaney’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series career, which
now encompasses 225 starts.
Blaney was the 20th of 48 competitors
to make his qualifying attempt on the .75-mile oval Friday
evening. Blaney posted his quickest lap time of
21.306 seconds (126.725 mph)
on the second of his two-lap run, which earned him the 15th
position on the starting grid for the event. The effort
marked the third time the team had started inside the top 15
this season.
The green flag waved for the
start of the event under the lights, and Blaney immediately
began his march toward the front of the field. In the
opening laps of the event, Blaney communicated via team
radio to crew chief Kevin Hamlin that the Cat car handled a
bit tight in the center of the corners. By the time the
first caution flag of the day waved on lap 36, Blaney had
worked his way up to 13th. A lap 37 pit stop for four tires
and fuel started the night off right, as the pit crew
knocked off a fast stop and sent Blaney back on the track
for the lap 41 restart in that same spot. Blaney continued
to work his way forward and broke into the top 10 on lap 60
of the 400-lap event.
Just past the 100-lap mark,
Blaney told the crew that the Cat car was still tight, but
the crew had the opportunity to make a wedge adjustment
during a pit stop under caution on lap 122. After another
great stop by the crew, Blaney returned to the track in
10th, the same position he held before the stop. Blaney
continued to pick off slower traffic and let his team know
that the change made to the Cat machine had helped the
handling of the car. Blaney passed Mark Martin for eighth
place on lap 168, and at the halfway point of the event, he
remained in the eighth spot.
Blaney showed his competitors
no mercy, many of whom were in a tight battle to make the
Chase for the Championship. While he worked to pick off
Matt Kenseth for seventh on lap 205, Hamlin let his driver
know that his lap times were faster than those of the
leader. A yellow flag on lap 221 allowed Hamlin to make a
wedge adjustment to make sure the handling remained where
Blaney needed it to be. After the red-hot pit crew performed
a four tire and fuel stop with the wedge adjustment, Blaney
returned to the track in sixth place. He broke into the top
five on lap 242, then drove his car into the fourth spot on
lap 281.
The No. 22 remained one of
the fastest cars on the track for the rest of the race, and
the pit crew continued to shine, turning in some of the
fastest pit stops of the season. The Cat car’s handling
became loose off the corners in the final stages of the
race, but that wasn’t enough to stop Blaney from driving to
a fourth-place finish. Not only did the effort mark the
team’s best performance of the season, but it also helped
the Bill Davis Racing team pick up two places in the owners’
point standings, unofficially moving into 28th, only 123
points outside the top 25.
The NEXTEL Cup Series returns to the
Magic Mile next weekend for the Sylvania 300 at New
Hampshire International Speedway Sunday, Sept. 17.
Qualifying for the event on the
1.058-mile
track is scheduled for Friday, Sept.
15.
Coverage of Sunday’s race, scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. ET
start, will broadcast on TNT (television), MRN (radio) and
XM Satellite Radio. |
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Dave Blaney – Sony HD 500
California
Speedway |
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Calif. (Sept. 3,
2006) – Dave
Blaney drove the Caterpillar car to a 28th-place finish in
Sunday evening’s Sony HD 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event
at California Speedway.
Blaney was the 26th of 47
competitors to make his qualifying attempt around the
two-mile oval Friday afternoon, and he posted a speed of
176.978
mph during his one-lap run around the course. Though that
speed wasn’t as fast as the team had anticipated, it was
enough to earn the team a spot on the inside of the 21st
row, in 41st place.
Temperatures continued to
hover around the 100 degree mark at the start of the race.
Once the green flag waved for the start of the Sony HD 500,
Blaney began his march toward the front of the field.
Though he started near the rear of the pack, he broke into
the top 30 by the fifth lap of the 250-lap race. Blaney
informed crew chief Kevin Hamlin via radio that the Cat car
handled a little tight in the center of the corner, but
overall it was good.
The first caution flag
waved on lap 10, and Blaney pitted on lap 12 for four tires,
fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment to the right rear
tire. Blaney continued his forward progress after the
restart, and by the time the next caution flag waved, he had
made his way into the top 25. He informed the team that the
car handled well in the early laps of the run and then
quickly became very tight in the center of the corners.
Hamlin planned to make changes to the car during the next
pit stop, which occurred on lap 30. The team made a wedge
adjustment during that stop.
The tight condition began
to hamper Blaney’s progress, and he fell to 30th before
making a scheduled stop under green flag conditions on lap
79. Unfortunately, before all the competitors could
complete their stops, a yellow flag waved, which left the
No. 22 team one lap down and in 33rd place. On lap 100,
Blaney told the team the car was a little better. He asked
that Hamlin continue to help him in the center of the
corner, as that was what was hurting him the most. After a
left rear jackbolt adjustment under caution on lap 113,
Blaney restarted in the 35th spot.
Blaney did his best to get
himself in position for the Lucky Dog pass, but it was
always just out of reach. The Cat machine held 32nd place by
the 150-lap mark, and the crew continued its attempts to
free up the car during every pit stop. With 50 laps
remaining in the event, Blaney stood in 29th and had found a
groove on the track that helped the car turn in the center.
The team’s final pit stop came on lap 242 - a two-tire and
fuel stop – and Blaney took the checkered flag in 28th. The
No. 22 team remained in 30th place in the NEXTEL Cup Owners’
points standings following the event.
The NEXTEL Cup Series returns
to Richmond International Raceway for the Chevy Rock & Roll
400 Sept. 9. Qualifying for event is scheduled for Friday,
Sept. 8.
Coverage of Saturday evening’s race, scheduled for a 7:40
p.m. ET start, will broadcast on TNT (television), MRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – SHARPIE 500
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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BRISTOL, Tenn.
(Aug. 26,
2006)
– After Bill Davis Racing officials announced Friday that
Dave Blaney would return to the No. 22 Caterpillar car for
the 2007 season, the Cat crew hoped to prove what it was
still capable of in 2006. Blaney qualified in the 22nd spot
for the Sharpie 500 and fought his way through the field for
a solid 14th-place finish Saturday night.
Blaney was the 30th of 49 competitors
to make his qualifying attempt around the half-mile oval and
posted a speed of
123.467 mph on the second lap
of his two-lap run around the course. That speed was quick
enough to earn the team the 22nd position on the starting
grid for Saturday night’s event.
Blaney took the green flag
for the start of the Sharpie 500 and immediately
communicated to crew chief Kevin Hamlin that the handling of
the Caterpillar car was tight. Blaney fell to 33rd place
and was in danger of losing a lap when the first caution
flag of the evening waved on lap 60 of the 500-lap event.
As the field drove down pit road for the first scheduled pit
stops of the race, Hamlin and the No. 22 crew changed four
tires, fueled the car and made a track bar adjustment in an
effort to remedy the tight handling condition. Blaney
returned to the track and restarted the race in the 30th
position.
Blaney’s Caterpillar car
handled a bit better after the first round of adjustments,
and Hamlin continued to make changes throughout the race.
Pit strategy came into play when a caution flag waved on lap
115, and Hamlin decided that Blaney should remain on the
track while most of his fellow competitors made pit stops.
The Cat car moved into the fourth spot for the restart, but
Blaney continued to struggle with a tight handling machine
before the fourth yellow flag of the night waved on lap 203.
Blaney pitted for four tires and fuel and returned to the
track in 17th.
Blaney again broke into the
top 15 on lap 222 and remained around that spot for the next
200 laps. He reported to the team that the car was better
than it had been early in the race, but it still needed a
few additional changes to help it turn the way he needed.
Blaney worked hard to hold off the leader but went one lap
down on lap 443. Luck went the team’s way two laps later.
With the wave of the caution flag, Blaney was awarded the
Free Pass, enabling him to drive around the leader and
return to the lead lap. Blaney then made his last trip down
pit road. The crew changed all four tires, filled the car
with fuel, made an air pressure adjustment to the left front
tire and adjusted the track bar. The Cat car restarted
16th. Blaney worked his way past several cars before the
end of the race, taking the checkered flag in the 14th
spot. The No. 22 team’s second best finish of the year
enabled it to remain in 30th place in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
owners’ point standings.
The NEXTEL Cup Series returns to
California Speedway for the Sony HD 500 Sept. 3. Qualifying
for event in Fontana, Calif., is scheduled for Friday, Sept.
1.
Coverage of Sunday evening’s race, scheduled for an 8 p.m.
ET start, will broadcast on TNT (television), PRN (radio)
and XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – GFS MARKETPLACE 400
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY |
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BROOKLYN, Mich.
(Aug.
20, 2006)
– Dave Blaney started Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400 at the
two-mile Michigan International Speedway in the 19th spot
and scored a 24th-place finish at the conclusion of the
200-lap event on the track nestled in the Irish Hills of
Michigan.
After struggling a bit in the first practice session of the
weekend, the team made changes to the car before Blaney hit
the track for his qualifying run Friday afternoon
Blaney
was the 29th of 47 competitors to make his qualifying
attempt and posted a speed of
184.705
mph during his one-lap run around the course. That speed
was quick enough to earn the team the 19th spot on the
starting grid.
Blaney took the green flag for the start of the GFS
Marketplace 400 and was in 18th place when the first yellow
flag of the afternoon waved on lap five. Blaney took the
opportunity during the caution period to let crew chief
Kevin Hamlin know that the Cat car was neutral in the
opening laps, and he was pleased with the car’s
performance. Racing at MIS is typically known for its long
green-flag runs, but that was not the case Sunday. Several
laps after the lap nine restart, two cars made contact on
the track, thus slowing the field again. Blaney now
communicated that the car’s handling had become free off the
corners. He headed down pit road for the first pit stop of
the day, a routine four-tire change. Many teams opted not
to pit, and Blaney lined up 30th for the restart.
Another on-track incident prompted a third caution flag on
lap 23. The teams that chose not to stop during the last
caution made their way down pit road, and Blaney had
inherited the fifth position by the time the green flag
waved on lap 26. Unfortunately, Blaney’s older tires
couldn’t fend off the cars with fresher rubber, and he began
to fall through the field, settling in the 18th position
before another yellow flag was displayed. Hamlin called
Blaney to pit road for a four fresh tires and fuel. The
team also made a track bar adjustment in an effort to remedy
the loose handling condition Blaney experienced. The Cat
machine restarted just outside the top 20 on lap 49.
Blaney, who was still happy with the overall handling of the
car, worked his way into 17th before the next pit stop,
which occurred on lap 64. After a similar stop to the
previous one, Blaney lined up 29th for the restart. The
teams that were running a different pit strategy opted not
to make pit stops, but starting deep in the field didn’t
phase Blaney one bit. He steadily moved past slower traffic
and emerged in the 18th position by the halfway point of the
event.
The crew again went to work in the pits during a caution on
lap 116. The handling of Blaney’s ride had become tight in
the center of the corners and extremely loose off, so Hamlin
was hoping a tire pressure adjustment and the removal of a
piece of spring rubber from the right rear would help ease
the freeness off the corners. The changes did not do enough
to alleviate the problem during the next run, and Hamlin
ordered more changes during a lap 143 stop. Due to varying
pit strategies, Blaney had run as third during the previous
green flag run. But with 50 laps remaining in the event, he
stood 30th.
The team’s final pit stop of the day came under caution on
lap 162, and Blaney restarted 27th on lap 164. Blaney was
able to catch and pass his competitors, moving into 23rd
before communicating to the team that the changes made
during the last stop helped him off the corners. The
handling became tight in the closing laps of the event, but
Blaney was able to post a 24th-place finish when the
checkered flag waved. The No. 22 team gained one position
in the owners’ point standings and now stands in 30th place.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series returns
to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Sharpie 500 Aug. 26.
Qualifying for the event is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25.
Coverage of Saturday night’s race, scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET
start, will broadcast on TNT (television), PRN (radio) and
XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – AMD AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL |
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
(Aug.
13, 2006)
– A top-25 qualifying run and a good-handling race car
during the final practice sessions Saturday afternoon had
the Caterpillar Racing team looking forward to a respectable
finish in Sunday’s AMD at the Glen. Unfortunately, a
multi-car incident on lap 62 of the 90-lap event resulted in
extensive front-end damage to the Caterpillar car, and the
team was eventually credited with a 40th-place finish on the
road course in Watkins Glen.
Blaney
was the 29th of 50 competitors to make his qualifying
attempt on the 2.45-mile track Friday afternoon. He posted
a speed of 119.291 mph during his one-lap run around the
course, which was quick enough to earn him the 25th spot on
the starting grid.
Blaney took the green flag to begin the AMD at the Glen. A
lap six caution flag gave him the opportunity to let crew
chief Kevin Hamlin know that that he was struggling to get
his Cat machine to turn in the corners. It was too early
for a pit stop, but Hamlin had already planned air pressure
adjustments for when the team did make a pit stop. The team
made those adjustments during a four-tire stop on lap 24.
Blaney continued to feed the team information regarding the
handling of the car. It was still not turning well enough
in the turns. Blaney continued to work hard to maintain his
position, but he ran into trouble on lap 39 while battling
with the No. 19 car of Bill Elliott. Blaney and Elliott
collided in the area of the track commonly referred to as
the “bus stop,” and the No. 22 car spun around. Luckily,
the car didn’t hit anything else, and Blaney continued
without further incident. The incident did prompt a caution
flag, and Blaney reported to the pits for service on lap
41. The team made a track bar adjustment, changed all four
tires, fueled the car and pulled out the fenders that were
pushed in during the incident.
It wasn’t long before Blaney communicated to the crew that
the changes had not really helped the car. He was running
36th at the halfway point of the race when the caution flag
waved. Blaney again drove down pit road to the attention of
his crew. The team made a four tire change and a front
shock adjustment.
Blaney continued to struggle with the car, and the crew made
a wedge adjustment during a gas-only stop under caution on
lap 56. Things went from bad to worse just after the green
flag waved for the restart on lap 62. While heading into the
esses, Blaney was forced to slow down as several cars ahead
of him checked up. Unfortunately, as is often the case on
the narrow road courses, the car that was running behind
Blaney did not slow down in time and hit the Cat car,
sending it careening into the wall. Blaney drove his
badly-damaged car back to the pit area, but the crew quickly
assessed that the damage was too great to repair before the
end of the event. The team was credited with a 40th-place
finish. The No. 22 team remains 31st in the owners’ point
standings.
The NEXTEL Cup Series returns to
Michigan International Speedway for GFS Marketplace 400 Aug.
20. Qualifying for the event is scheduled for Friday, Aug.
18.
Coverage of Sunday afternoon’s race, scheduled for a 2:30
p.m. ET start, will broadcast on TNT (television), MRN
(radio) and XM Satellite Radio. |
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DAVE
BLANEY – ALLSTATE 400
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
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INDIANAPOLIS
(Aug. 6,
2006)
– Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team were looking
forward to their trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after
a successful one-day test at the track several weeks ago and
a streak of three consecutive top-20 finishes. Problems in
qualifying did not deter the team’s hopes for a good finish,
and the silver-and-black Cat Financial car ran well in the
middle stages of the event. When the checkered flag waved
at the famed speedway, Blaney held down 29th place.
Blaney
was the eighth of 50 competitors to make his qualifying
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