CAT RACING EVENT PREVIEW
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
3M PERFORMANCE 400
Track: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. (two-mile oval)
Race: 3M Performance 400 Presented by Post-It Picture Paper Date: 06.18.06
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY NEWS AND NOTES
Michigan’s Machine…The No. 22 Caterpillar car Dave Blaney is scheduled to drive this weekend in the 3M Performance 400 presented by Post-It Picture Paper at Michigan International Speedway is chassis No. 101. This is the first time this particular car will be used by the No. 22 team and was tested last week at Kentucky Speedway in preparation for this weekend’s event.
A Very Engaging Paint Scheme…The No. 22 Caterpillar car will sport a special “Ground Engaging Tools” paint scheme this weekend in Michigan. The paint scheme features the new K Series Tooth System used on loader and excavator buckets. The K Series Tooth System holds tighter, changes easier and stays sharper. To learn more about GET products, go to www.cat.com/get.
Pocono 500 Review…Blaney and the Cat crew battled a tight-handling car to finish 27th in the Pocono 500 last weekend.
32 and Counting…Blaney’s 27th-place finish in Pocono adds to his streak of races without a DNF. Blaney has been running at the end of 32 consecutive races, the longest current streak in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The streak began in the June 2005 event at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. He also remains in second in laps completed this season (4,619 out of 4,650 possible laps).
Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney will make his 214th career NEXTEL Cup Series start when the green flag waves Sunday afternoon. He made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway. Blaney drove his Bill Davis Racing-owned machine to a 33rd-place finish after qualifying in the top 25 for his first start at Michigan in 1999.
Michigan Mileage…Blaney has made 12 starts during his Cup Series career on the two-mile track nestled in the Irish Hills of Michigan. He has started as high as fourth, finished as high as sixth and has scored four top-15 finishes at the track. Blaney finished in the top 10 in both of his NASCAR Busch Series starts at Michigan. He also grabbed the pole position in Busch Series competition during his first start there in 1999.
BDR at MIS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at MIS since 1993 and have made 36 starts. Those drivers have posted two top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes. They have also started from the pole position twice (1998 and 1999) and have led 10 laps.
NASCAR Night at Sharon Speedway…Blaney and a host of NASCAR’s finest, including Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader and Kasey Kahne, will fly to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, Saturday afternoon for NASCAR Night at the speedway, a fundraiser for Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Check your Schedule…Blaney and team owner Bill Davis are scheduled to sign autographs at the Caterpillar merchandise trailer Friday following final practice. Check with the merchandise trailer for updates and more information.
Michigan TV and Radio…Qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup 3M Performance 400 is scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m. ET Friday, June 16. The 200-lap (400 miles) event is scheduled to start at 1:40 p.m. ET Sunday, June 18, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), MRN and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144.
Dave Blaney on Michigan…
“We took this car to Kentucky last week and had a really good test there. I think we learned some things not only about this car, but also things that can be applied at a bunch of different tracks we go to, so it was good that we went and tested. We tested twice last week, both at Kentucky and at Virginia International Raceway, and we were really happy when we left both tracks. I’ll be interested to see what happens we get to Michigan and are able to utilize the information we gathered.
“I can’t think of too many things not to like about the track in Michigan. It’s fast and wide and there’s plenty of room to pass there. There is usually a bunch of long green flag runs, so if your car isn’t handling exactly the way you want it, there probably won’t be as many opportunities to adjust on it. It’s important to be pretty good when the green flag drops. Like everywhere else we go, I’ve had good days and bad days there, but I like the track and am looking forward to getting there and seeing what we can do.”
