Dave Blaney Budweiser Shootout/Daytona 500 Races Preview
Bill Davis Racing, Press Release
Daytona International Speedway News and Notes
· Blaney’s No. 22 Camry…
The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 27 for the Budweiser Shootout and chassis No. 35 for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Both of these cars were tested during the second testing session at the track in January.
· A New Face…
Phil Moran has stepped into the position of car chief for the Caterpillar Racing team. Moran, a native of Colchester, Conn., was previously the Cup shop foreman at BDR. Jeremy Milless has also joined the team and will serve in the engineer position. Milless comes to BDR from the open wheel ranks. The remainder of the team remains the same as last year.
· What’s the Deal?...
The No. 22 Bill Davis Racing team will start the year with a new paint scheme for the Budweiser Shootout. The Cat Dealers logo will adorn the Toyota Camry for that event. The “Cat Dealers” car for the Budweiser Shootout salutes the U.S. and Canadian dealers and their longtime support of the Cat Racing program. This North American dealer network -- one of the company’s most important competitive advantages -- serves all equipment, service, and financing needs for customers. Many of the independent dealers in this extensive network have relationships with their customers that span at least two generations. The names of all U.S. and Canadian Cat dealers will adorn the trunk lid of the No. 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for this special event.
· Blaney’s Career Stats…
Dave Blaney will make his 269th 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 27th after qualifying 31st for his first Cup Series start in Daytona Beach in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.
· Blaney at Daytona…
Blaney has made 16 Cup Series starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway during his career, starting as high as fourth (2000) and finishing as high as 14th (2005). He has scored three top-15 finishes and eight top-25 finishes in Cup Series competition at Daytona.
· BDR at DIS…
Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Daytona International Speedway since 1993 and have made 39 starts. Those drivers have posted three top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and have completed 6,479 of 6,826 possible laps (94.9 percent). Additionally, the team won the 2002 Daytona 500.
· Shootout Stats…
Blaney’s only appearance in the Bud Shootout came in 2004 after he won the pole at North Carolina Speedway the previous season. Blaney started the event in the fourth spot, led three laps and was involved in an accident. He was eventually credited with a 19th-place finish.
· Break out the Sharpies…
Look for Blaney to stop by the Caterpillar/Toyota Racing merchandise hauler Sunday, Feb. 17 to sign autographs at 11 a.m.
· Bud Shootout Broadcast Schedule…
Drawing for qualifying for the Bud Shootout will take place Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET and will take place outside turn four on the “Speed stage”. The Shootout, a regular event since 1979, will occur Saturday, Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET, and be broadcast on FOX (TV) and MRN (Radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
· Speedweeks Broadcast Schedule…
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 10. The Gatorade Duels will take place the following Thursday and will air on Speed TV and MRN Radio. The 200-lap 50th Daytona 500 is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 17, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
· The Cat Crew…
Gordy Arbitter Front Tire Changer
Steve Aspinwall Tire Specialist
Tommy Baldwin Crew Chief
Gabe Barajas Rear Tire Carrier
Mike Brown Spotter
Tim Clancy Transporter Driver
Jason Everhart Shocks/Gas Man
Rick Garner 2nd Can Gas
Craig “Fish” Griffitts Engine Tuner
Michael Hubert Pit Support
Tom Hubert Rear Tire Changer
Tim Hussey Gas Runner
Ted Johnson Sign Board
Jason Kivette Catch Can
Jeremy Milless* Engineer
Phil Moran* Car Chief
Kyle Roland Jack Man
Dave Salerno Windshield
Alex Yonchuk Front Tire Carrier
*Change from last season
Blaney’s Thoughts on Daytona…
“We’ve been looking forward to getting back to Daytona ever since we left the test last month. Our cars were really good while we were there. The Toyotas were strong, and all the pieces to our restrictor plate program are working well together -- the engine program, the cars and the team. As long as you can be up front, stay in the draft and run around everyone else, you will be in a good place, and we felt that way when the test was over. Hopefully, those things will remain the same when we get back. This Cat team has worked really hard during the off season, and we’d like to get ourselves a good finish so we start off strong and don’t dig ourselves a hole in the points right off the bat and have to worry about that like we did last year. If we can stay out of trouble, there’s no reason to think we won’t come away with a really good finish in the 500 and start our season off on the right foot.”
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Dave Blaney California NSCS Race Preview
Bill Davis Racing, Press Release
California Speedway News and Notes
· Blaney’s No. 22 Camry…
The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 11 for the Auto Club 500 at [Fontana] California Speedway. Though the team spent one day testing at the two-mile track several weeks ago, this car was not tested during that time. This Cat Camry was used on several occasions last season, and it was completely rebuilt during the off season.
· Pavers Scheme…
Dave Blaney’s No. 22 Cat Camry will feature a special “Cat Paving Products” paint scheme this weekend. The design, which features Cat Paving Products machines on both sides of the car and the trunk lid, also has a “highway” look that is integral in the scheme. The equipment depicted on the No. 22 car for this event represents various stages of the paving process from start to finish. The PM-200 Cold Planer is used for the removal of asphalt and concrete pavements prior to re-surfacing. In addition to preparing the surface for new asphalt, a key new feature is that it has low exhaust emissions — exceeding all emission regulations for off-road applications. The AP655D is a new track-type asphalt paver which handles a wide variety of paving projects — from new construction, to resurfacing — such as the recent repaving of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif, which was done by working around-the-clock and completed in less than 15 days. The machine's proven Caterpillar engine technology also exceeds all requirements for product emissions, and its cooling system provides a better working environment for both tractor and operators. The new line of Cat Vibratory Asphalt Utility Compactors — CB14, CB24, and the CB34 — can both start and finish the paving job. The compactors’ size and maneuverability makes them ideal for site preparation, patching, driveways, city streets, roads, alleys, landscaping, and many more uses. The complete line of Cat Paving Products is a team of machines that work together to tackle any project.
· Blaney’s Career Stats…
Blaney will make his 270th career NASCAR 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 38th after qualifying 17th for his first Cup Series start in Fontana in 2000. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.
· Blaney at California…
Blaney has made 10 Cup Series starts at the two-mile speedway during his career, starting as high as 14th (2007) and finishing as high as 9th (2002). He has scored two top-15 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway.
· BDR at Fontana…
Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at California Speedway since 2000 and have made 21 starts. Those drivers have posted two top-10 finishes and have completed 4,809 of 5,255 possible laps (91.5 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. Blaney will also appear at the California Speedway Party Zone on Saturday at noon.
· Fontana Broadcast Schedule…
Qualifying for the Auto Club 500 is scheduled to start at 6:40 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 22. The 250-lap event is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 24, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
· The Cat Crew…
Gordy Arbitter Front Tire Changer
Steve Aspinwall Tire Specialist
Tommy Baldwin Crew Chief
Gabe Barajas Rear Tire Carrier
Mike Brown Spotter
Tim Clancy Transporter Driver
Jason Everhart Shocks/Gas Man
Rick Garner 2nd Can Gas
Craig “Fish” Griffitts Engine Tuner
Tom Hubert Rear Tire Changer
Tim Hussey Gas Runner
Ted Johnson Sign Board
Jason Kivette Catch Can
Jeremy Milless* Engineer
Phil Moran* Car Chief
Kyle Roland Jack Man
Dave Salerno Windshield
Alex Yonchuk Front Tire Carrier
*Change from last season
Blaney’s Thoughts on California…
“I like California Speedway. Once we get racing there, you can run the top of the track or the bottom of the track -- it doesn’t seem to matter. All the drivers like that part of it, I’m sure. The race might be a little spread out as far as being a good race fan-wise, but the drivers enjoy it, just having a lot of room to race. If you get you’re car good you can go to the front. We’ve opted to bring a different car this weekend than we tested a couple of weeks ago. We just weren’t happy enough with the results of that test, and we think this car, which we ran last year but has been totally rebuilt, should be pretty good.
“Obviously our main goal will have to be to finish this race. We got ourselves into a hole last week by not finishing the 500, and we just can’t have that happen again. Just the thought of not being in the top 35 after the fifth race is enough to make you sick. We went through it last year, and we’re not going through it again,”
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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.
· The Cat Crew…
Gordy Arbitter Front Tire Changer
Steve Aspinwall Tire Specialist
Tommy Baldwin Crew Chief
Gabe Barajas Rear Tire Carrier
Mike Brown Spotter
Tim Clancy Gas Man
Rick Garner 2nd Can Gas
Craig “Fish” Griffitts Engine Tuner
Tom Hubert Rear Tire Changer
Tim Hussey Gas Runner
Ted Johnson Sign Board
Jason Kivette Catch Can
Jeremy Milless Engineer
Phil Moran Car Chief
Kyle Roland Jack Man
Dave Salerno Windshield
Alex Yonchuk Front Tire Carrier
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 Dealers 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.”
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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 and finished in that same spot. It was the team’s best finish thus far this season and it 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.
· The Cat Crew…
Gordy Arbitter Front Tire Changer
Steve Aspinwall Tire Specialist
Tommy Baldwin Crew Chief
Gabe Barajas Rear Tire Carrier
Mike Brown Spotter
Tim Clancy Gas Man
Rick Garner 2nd Can Gas
Craig “Fish” Griffitts Engine Tuner
Tom Hubert Rear Tire Changer
Tim Hussey Gas Runner
Ted Johnson Sign Board
Jason Kivette Catch Can
Jeremy Milless Engineer
Phil Moran Car Chief
Kyle Roland Jack Man
Dave Salerno Windshield
Alex Yonchuk Front Tire Carrier
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.”
This Press Release and any images that are used,
are used with permission. Do not duplicate or
redistribute in any form without permission or credit.
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Dave Blaney Budweiser Shootout/Daytona 500 Races Preview
Dave Blaney California NSCS Race Preview
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