Race 2 Win: Sprint Cup Series Race Notes

Sprint Cup Series

Auto Club 500 - Dave Blaney Notes

Cat Racing/Dave Blaney Event Preview
California Speedway
Auto Club 500

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.

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,”