CAT RACING EVENT PREVIEW
HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
FORD 400
HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY NEWS AND NOTES
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.”
