After qualifying in the 32nd position for the Pocono 500, the Caterpillar Racing team knew it would have to work hard to continue its four-race streak of top-25 finishes. After working through a tight handling condition, Dave Blaney crossed the finish line in the 22nd position and posted the Bill Davis Racing team’s fifth consecutive finish of 22nd or higher.
The No. 22 Bill Davis Racing team was the 20th of 44 teams to take to the track for qualifying Friday afternoon. Blaney posted a speed of 166.648 mph around the 2.5-mile oval, which earned the team the 32nd starting position for Sunday’s event.
The green flag waved for the start of the 200-lap event, and it only took three laps before Blaney broke into the top 25. Though he remained in the top 25 for the first 35 laps of the race, Blaney let his Bill Davis Racing team know that he was struggling in turn one. Crew chief Tommy Baldwin called for a four tire change and a wedge adjustment during the first pit stop of the day, which came on lap 29. Blaney communicated to the crew shortly thereafter that his Toyota Camry was better, but still needed help to turn better.
The team made small gains to the handling of the car throughout the race, and by lap 64, Blaney raced among the top 15. A brief rain shower forced NASCAR officials to show the field a red flag on lap 72, but the precipitation lasted only a few minutes and the race soon resumed. At the halfway point of the race, the Caterpillar Camry held the 13th position. There were several different pit strategies taking place throughout the field, and after a four tire pit stop on lap 107, Blaney returned to the track in 22nd place.
The adjustments made to the car during every stop began to make a big difference for the veteran driver, and Blaney began to make his way toward the front of the field after a restart on lap 126. Another round of pit stops began with 50 circuits to go, and after most of the field had stopped on pit lane, the No. 22 team was credited with leading lap 157, earning them five valuable bonus points for leading a lap. Unfortunately, the team waited one lap too long to pit, and Blaney reported to his crew on lap 159 that he was out of fuel. Luckily, the car shut off near the entrance of pit road, and Blaney was able to duck down pit road without losing too much ground. Baldwin called for a four tire change and sent the car back out on the track. However, NASCAR officials nabbed the team for speeding on pit road, and Blaney was forced to make a pass down pit road again to serve the penalty.
The Caterpillar Racing team fell one lap down to the leader on lap 163 while holding the 36th spot. The car had also once again become very tight. The team was pleased to see another caution flag wave on lap 178 after the leader had already made a scheduled pit stop, earning the No. 22 machine its lost lap back. After a four tire stop which also included a wedge adjustment, Blaney lined up in 32nd place with 18 laps to go.
The adjustments made to the car obviously helped, and Blaney mowed down his competitors in the closing laps, making it all the way to the 22nd spot before running out of time. The team’s 22nd place finish was its fifth consecutive finish inside the top 22. It also helped move the team up one spot to 29th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owners’ point standings, a mere 97 markers outside the top 25.
The Caterpillar Racing team will travel to Michigan International Speedway next weekend for the Lifelock 400. Qualifying for the event is scheduled for Friday, June 13. Coverage of the event is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start and will broadcast on TNT (television), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Before heading to Michigan, the crew will test at The Milwaukee Mike Tuesday and Wednesday. Blaney will also take part in “The Night of NASCAR Stars” at Macon (Ill.) Speedway Thursday evening.