Dave Blaney
No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Event/Date: Subway Fresh 500 – April 23, 2005
Venue: Phoenix International Raceway – Avondale, Ariz.
NOTES:
This Week’s Race Car at Phoenix International Raceway … Dave Blaney will pilot chassis No. 106 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Formerly a Cingular Wireless Chevrolet, this car was raced seven times in 2004 with a best finish of ninth coming last September at California Speedway. This is the same car Robby Gordon was in position for a victory with last fall at PIR until engine woes sidelined him six laps short of the scheduled distance.
Stats Facts … In four Cup starts at PIR, Blaney has completed every lap of competition. He has only started outside the top 15 once and owns a pair of top-10 finishes.
Teammate(s) testing … Blaney’s RCR teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer tested at PIR April 12-13.
Make it four for RCR … Clint Bowyer will make his NEXTEL Cup Series debut for RCR this weekend driving the No. 33 Sylvania Chevrolet.
Meet the Driver … Blaney will sign autographs at the Jack Daniel’s souvenir trailer Saturday, April 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Up to Speed … The Subway Fresh 500 will be televised live Saturday, April 23 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on FOX and be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the eighth of 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events will air live on Speed Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m. EDT and will also be broadcast live on MRN and XM Satellite Radio.
DAVE BLANEY QUOTES:
Does Phoenix fall into the same category as a short track like Martinsville or Richmond?
“I don’t really see Phoenix as a short track at all. Even though places like Phoenix and New Hampshire are only a mile, they both have lots of room to race. Phoenix is always a fun race track. There are always at least two lanes and sometimes more to race on, so I’m happy as long as it stays that way.”
RCR has spread out testing between all of its Cup teams. Has that been working out the way everyone had hoped?
“I think it’s working out very well, but it’s early. We’ll be able to tell a lot better as the season hits its stride but so far it’s worked out great. I did the testing at Texas and Jeff (Burton) and Clint (Bowyer) tested at Phoenix. Hopefully, that gives everyone a good base to start with. So far the testing plans have worked out the way we had hoped and I think everyone is pretty happy.”
In four starts at Phoenix, you’ve got a couple of top 10s so it seems like a track that suits you pretty well. Would you agree?
“I’ve always enjoyed racing at Phoenix. That's been one track that I run decent on and I like going there. I've been going there for a long time. It's our first night race out there and I think that'll be fun. I’ve run a handful of Silver Crown races out there and I’ve had some degree of success in a Cup Car. The fact that there is so much room is what I really like about Phoenix.”
Are you at all concerned about the timing of the start of the race?
"Yeah, if I remember right, the sun going into Turn 1 gets pretty bad. But everybody will have the same problem. We'll just deal with it."
