Race 2 Win: Daytona 500 - Dave Blaney Notes

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Daytona 500 - Dave Blaney Notes

Dave Blaney
No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: Daytona 500 – Feb. 20, 2005
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at Daytona International Speedway … Dave Blaney will pilot chassis No. 133 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Chassis No. 133 is a brand new superspeedway car.

Go Test Young Man … Blaney and the Jack Daniel’s Racing Team tested at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Jan. 31- Feb. 1, followed by a two-day test at California Speedway Feb. 2-3.

RCR Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won six poles and owns 22 total victories at DIS, including 10 straight (1990-1999) Twin 125 wins with Dale Earnhardt. All totaled, RCR has won five Bud Shootouts, 13 Twin 125 qualifying races, two Pepsi 400s and one Daytona 500. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the February 2002 Busch Series race at Daytona driving a car fielded by RCR.

Make it Four, RCR … Kerry Earnhardt will attempt to qualify the No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the Daytona 500, making it four entries for RCR.

Family Tradition … Blaney, the 1995 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion will spend his nights away from DIS at Volusia Speedway Park. Blaney’s brother Dale, also an accomplished sprint car racer, will compete six nights at the half-mile clay oval when the All Star Circuit of Champions and World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series return to central Florida.

Up Close and Personal … Blaney will appear on PRN’s Fast Talk Live with Benny Parsons Friday, Feb. 18 at 6:15 p.m. at the Volusia Mall located directly across the street from DIS.

Catch the Action … the Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 20 beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Fox and broadcast live on MRN and XM Satellite Radio. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying races will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on FX, MRN and XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 will air live on MRN Sunday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. EST.

DAVE BLANEY QUOTES:

Can you compare winning at Knoxville (Iowa) or at Eldora to winning the Daytona 500?
“I think so. When I was racing sprint cars, that’s all we were into. That’s what we ate, slept and breathed. We aimed toward the big races and focused on making sure we had the equipment to win those races. The same goes for the Daytona 500, just on a bigger scale. I think we have the team and the people to be able to go out and race for a win.”

What’s your general outlook for the race? Do you feel good about where the team is at based on preseason testing?
“I do. All three teams tested a lot of different things. Right now I’m really impressed with how well all three teams are working together, especially the communication between the crew chiefs and the drivers. We might not have been as fast as we wanted to be but I think we’re learning a bunch. When we get back not only to Daytona, but California and Las Vegas as well, I think we’re going to perform very well with our race packages.”

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