Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Blaney’s No. 22 Camry…The Caterpillar Racing team plans to utilize chassis No. 33 for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This Toyota Camry was one of two cars the team tested at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway during the off season.
What Happened Last Week…The Caterpillar Toyota lined up in the 26th position for the start of the event at Las Vegas and finished in that same spot. It was the team’s best finish thus far this season and it moved the team into the top 35 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points.
Blaney’s Career Stats…Blaney will make his 272nd career 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 37th (qualified seventh) for his first Cup Series start in Atlanta in 1999. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine.
Blaney at AMS…Blaney counts Atlanta among his favorite tracks to race on, and he has made 16 Cup Series starts at the 1.54-mile speedway during his career. Blaney has started as high as third (2001) and finished as high as eighth (2003, 2005). He has scored two top-10 finishes in Cup Series competition at the speedway and has qualified inside the top 10 six times.
BDR at AMS…Competitors driving Bill Davis Racing-owned cars have been racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1993 and have made 44 starts. Those drivers have posted three top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes at the Hampton, Ga., track.
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.
Atlanta Broadcast Schedule…Qualifying for the Kobalt Tools 500 is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. ET Friday, March 7. The 325-lap event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Back to Vegas…Both Blaney and car owner Bill Davis will return to Las Vegas following the race in Atlanta to make appearances for Caterpillar at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008. CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be the international gathering place in 2008 for the construction industries. Held every three years, the exposition showcases the latest equipment, products, services and technologies.
Blaney’s Thoughts on Atlanta…
"I always look forward to going to Atlanta. It’s a big, fast track, and it’s always a lot of fun to race on. Hopefully we can work out some of the issues we’ve had with our cars so far this season, and we can get ourselves a top-15 finish this weekend. We squeaked into the top 35 in owners’ points after Las Vegas, but we need to have a good finish with our Caterpillar Camry to solidify that position before we get to Martinsville and start to go off of this year’s points. We just need a couple of good weekends and we’ll be back in the hunt, but right now we’re struggling a bit. I know Tommy [Baldwin] and the guys are working really hard to get this car figured out, and I know better things are in store for us. Hopefully Atlanta will be the start of that.”
