RIDING WITH … Dave Blaney

Today: NASCAR’s top series stays in the north, for the 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. Television coverage on ESPN begins at 1 p.m. with the green flag scheduled to drop just after 2.

Last week: The Trumbull County native started in 29th position for the Centurion Boats at the Glen, the last of NASCAR’s road races for 2008. He probably doesn’t care to have another one very soon after a 41st-place finish. Blaney got no higher than 26th place, on lap 80, just two laps before he got caught up in a huge wreck caused by Michael McDowell and David Gilliland. The damage to the Toyota Caterpillar was so extensive Blaney was unable to continue the race.

Season to date: Blaney fell two spots in the Sprint Cup standings, to 31st, getting overtaken by Robby Gordon and Reed Sorensen.

The Vindicator, NASCAR.com