RIDING WITH Dave Blaney

Last week: The Hartford native came up with his highest finish of the 2007 season at the oft-delayed 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Blaney says MIS is one of his favorite tracks and Tuesday’s performance won’t diminish that belief. The performance got Bill Davis Racing back in the top 35 in the owners’ point standings, ensuring a starting spot for Blaney in Saturday’s event at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

This week: Blaney will make his 257th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series start, including his 14th at Bristol Motor Speedway. His career-best finish here was a sixth in 2000; overall, he has four top-15 finishes at the short track and has qualified in the top 10 three times. Saturday’s race will be run with the Car of Tomorrow; Blaney ran this car in the first event this season at Bristol, at Phoenix and in both road races.

Source: daveblaney.com