Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team started off the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season strong during the running of the Budweiser Shootout Saturday night. After drawing the 19th starting spot for the all-star event, Blaney, making his second start in the race, spent the entire night near the front of the field and took the checkered flag in seventh place.
The festivities for the Bud Shootout began Thursday night. Blaney, along with the other 23 former pole winners in the race, drew for his starting spot during an event televised live on Speed TV. Blaney was among the last half of the drivers to draw and wound up with the 19th place flag. Things got really exciting the next night in practice when, during two separate final practice incidents, eight teams were forced to pull out their backup cars. Blaney was able to avoid both accidents during the session.
The green flag flew for the start of the 70-lap Shootout and the veteran driver wasted no time in getting his Cat Dealers Toyota Camry to the front. By the fourth lap of the race, he had worked his way up to ninth place, and by lap nine, he had maneuvered his way into second. Blaney made the comment to crew chief Tommy Baldwin that the car was loose when he was side by side with another car, but pretty good overall.
The Cat Dealers machine held down the second position through the end of the first 20-lap segment. During a 10-minute intermission, Baldwin called for a four tire change along with a track bar adjustment during the pit stop and sent Blaney back out on the track for the final 50-lap run.
The green flag flew for the restart and though Blaney got caught on the outside and fell back several positions in the early laps, he made his way back up to second just before a caution flag flew on lap 25. Baldwin opted not to bring the No. 22 Toyota to the pits and when the green flag flew again the car remained in the second spot. Blaney took advantage of his position on the front row and drove past the competition into the lead. The Cat Dealers Camry remained on the point for the next four laps.
Blaney held down fourth when the caution flag flew on lap 49. Blaney told his crew that the changes made to the car helped, but that he couldn’t get enough help from his competitors to make the moves he needed. Baldwin called for right side tires during the ensuing pit stop and Blaney returned to the track in the lead after most of the other teams opted for four fresh tires.
With only seven laps left in the Bud Shootout, Blaney found himself mired back in the 13th position after getting stuck in the middle groove and shuffled backwards. Another yellow flag waved two laps later and Baldwin opted to bring the Cat Dealers Camry into the pits for four fresh Goodyear tires. The event came down to a green/white/checkered flag finish and Blaney was able to work his way into the seventh spot before the checkered flag flew.
The Sprint Cup Series remains in Daytona Beach this week. The Gatorade Duels will be run Thursday and the Daytona 500 will be run Sunday, February 17.