Blaney looks to new team
The NASCAR Nextel Cup driver eclipsed $3 million in earnings in 2005.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BROOKFIELD -- Out with the old and in with the new.
That New Year's Eve slogan aptly applies to Dave Blaney, especially since he was at the Yankee Lake ballroom, a place where New Year's Eve celebrations are legend.
Lately, his status in NASCAR circles has come full circle
Like several Nextel Cup drivers, Blaney changed teams since the end of the 2005 season. The Hartford native bid adieu to Richard Childress Racing and joined Bill Davis Racing.
Make that re-joined.
Blaney drove for BDR in the Busch Series in 1998 and 1999 and then with the Amoco car in the Winston Cup Series for 2000 and 2001.
"I know and like all those guys over there and I'm happy to be going back," Blaney said recently while at Yankee Lake for a tribute to his father, Lou Blaney.
Changes all 'round
His Busch years with BDR were also in the Amoco car.
"We were ready to keep going, but that's when BP merged with Amoco and pulled out of racing altogether," Blaney said of the move that shook the team in 2001. "That's went we went to the Jasper car for a couple years and then Jack Daniels."
Now, Dave returns to BDR's Caterpillar team and car No. 22.
His release from Childress was due to lack of performance.
"Everybody was disappointed in the season, me included," Blaney said. "I wasn't happy with how we ran and wish we could have done a whole lot better. They made their decision to go with Clint Bowyer, a younger guy who ran real well in Busch in 2005. They wanted to get him moved up to Cup. That's the nature of our business. That stuff happens."
Blaney's departure leaves Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton as other RCR drivers. Bowyer moves into the 07 Jack Daniels car.
"When I found out the Caterpillar car was open, that's one I wanted to land in so we were lucky enough to do it," Blaney said.
New crew chief, too
Blaney replaces Scott Wimmer, who drove No. 22 the last two years.
"They didn't have the results they were looking for, either," Blaney said of Wimmer's demise. "A lot of times, these teams will just shake things up and stick another driver in, stick another crew chief in or mix and match."
The No. 22 will also have a different crew chief, Kevin Hamline.
"He came from Richard Childress," Blaney said. "He was crew chief for Jeff Burton in 2005 on the Cingular car. He's an experienced guy. He was crew chief for Dale Earnhardt when Earnhardt died in 2001. He's been with Childress for quite a while and won a lot of races over there. He's a good guy to have."
Although working for Childress was a great opportunity, the Childress organization, as a whole, didn't have a good year, Blaney said.
"Their best car - Harvick's -- was 14th in points. That's not what they're looking for. They're a little bit behind at RCR and they know it and they're working on it and will fix it. It's just timing, getting with the right team when it's strong. I think the Davis team has some good stuff coming in the future."
Michael Waltrip is teammate
With BDR, Blaney will be teamed with Michael Waltrip.
"They were a one-car team the last couple years," Blaney said, "but Waltrip coming in with the NAPA sponsorship to be teammates with the Caterpillar car strengthens the team considerably."
They'll race out of the same shop.
During 2005, Blaney eclipsed the $3 million mark for season earnings with $3,342,290. He was 26th in the standings.
His last race of 2005 was a sixth-place finish at Homestead, Fla.
"That was a good way to end the season, but all the decisions [for 2006] were already made. It was fun. Kevin Hamlin, my crew chief next year, was crew chief for my last two races [in the 07 Jack Daniels] and we did well, especially the last race. We were excited about that."
Blaney drove a Chevy for RCR, but will be back in a Dodge for Caterpillar.
"My last year in a Davis car was a Dodge. That's right when they switched. Honestly, it doesn't make any difference anymore what the make. The templates are close enough where there's just not that much difference. The biggest thing is the quality of the team and quality of people preparing the cars. That's where it's at. All the big teams have plenty of money to spend and plenty of resources and parts. It's about the right people together and good, smart quality people and having them work together. That's the key."
bassetti@vindy.com