Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team qualified in the 19th spot for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.  After working through balance issues throughout the event, Blaney took the checkered flag in 30th place.

The Caterpillar Racing team was forced to qualify for the race on time because it sat outside the top 35 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ points.  Blaney was the 42nd of 45 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Thursday afternoon.  His speed of 132.256 mph around the one-mile oval was enough to place the team solidly in the field.  Blaney was set to line up for Sunday’s event in the 19th position.

The green flag waved for the start of the event, and Blaney let the team know early on that he was still struggling with some of the same issues that had bothered the team all weekend.  Crew chief Tommy Baldwin took advantage of a caution flag on lap 43 of the 312-lap event to bring the No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota into the pits for fuel, fresh tires and a chassis adjustment.  Blaney returned to the track for the lap-46 restart in the 42nd spot.

Though the balance of the car was still not to Blaney’s liking, he was able to move through slower traffic.  By the time the second round of pit stops began, he held the 38th position.  The team got a break when the No. 78 car had problems on the track after many teams had already made their stops.  Blaney was able to drive into the pits under yellow flag conditions.  He restarted in 32nd.

Misfortune hit the Cat Racing team when the No. 12 car lost an engine on lap 133, dropping oil all around the track.  Several cars, including the Cat Racing machine, slid in the oil.  Though Blaney made only slight contact with another car, he lost a lap to the leaders when the car would not refire.  Blaney was eventually able to get the car started, and after a brief red flag period, he drove to the attention of his awaiting crew for minor damage repair and a track bar adjustment.  Blaney lined up for the lap 141 restart in 36th place, two laps behind the leader.

Blaney was awarded the Allstate “Good Hands Driver of the Race” award by the FOX television commentators after narrowly avoiding the slowing car driven by Elliott Sadler on lap 163.  The Cat crew continued to make adjustments to the car throughout the remainder of the event in an effort to help the balance of the car.  The team gained several positions late in the race as a result of Baldwin's late-race decision to remain on the track and not stop for fuel while many cars were forced to do so.  Blaney took the checkered flag in the 30th position.

The Caterpillar Racing team did gain some ground in the fight for the top 35 in owners’ points and now stands only eight points outside that coveted position.

The Sprint Cup Series will take a well-deserved weekend off before traveling to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in two weeks.  Qualifying for the Aaron’s 499 is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.  Coverage of the 188-lap race is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start, April 27 and will broadcast on FOX (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio.