Ok ... I am officially starting to feel for the #22 Caterpillar Toyota Team. If The Blaniac Challenge has served any purpose--besides getting Dave Blaney a lot more coverage in the Fanhouse than he would have had--it's been to make me pay more attention to the teams outside the top 35. So, Blaney failed to qualify for the Dodge Dealers 400--his third DNQ of this season. It's going to be much harder to come back now after taking home zero points when those above and below him in the standings will be racing Sunday.
The timing couldn't be worse with the season winding down and teams looking for guaranteed starting spots in the first five races of 2008, including the always-overflowing field at Daytona.
Not only is Ken Schrader going to pull away from Blaney in the #21 car ... Scott Riggs stands to close the gap between 36th and 37th significantly, particularly if his 6th-place starting position holds up.
Unless Blaney starts pulling off some solid finishes in the last remaining races, his chances of finishing in the top 35 are getting slimmer. I'm not saying it's over yet, I'm just saying ...
As expected, I have enjoyed The Blaniac Challenge, even though Blaney's fans seem to have stopped following along--or at least stopped commenting.
At the very least, the Victory Junction Gang Camp will get a $22 consolation donation. It's not much, but Pattie Petty says every donation--no matter how small--makes a difference. It's the least I can do on behalf of the Blaniacs who made a difference this season in the NASCAR Fanhouse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2007 @ 6:40PM
CJ said...
Why in the hell does CAT and Bill Davis keep Dumbass Dave in the car? Jeremy's time is up there, as should be Dave's as well! He's a bust, and needs to get canned, just like Stremme and Yeley did this year! That car hasnt had a decent driver in it since Ward Burton and need to be trying to get him back! Fire Blaney, he's a loser with a capital L!
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9-23-2007 @ 11:31PM
Don Emerson said...
I agree, get rid of Blaney, but Ward Burton is not the man to replace him. To be honest, neither Burton brother has ever impressed me. They are just two laid back dudes who drive for a living, not race. I can't understand why the team owners keep drawing from, and competing for, the same tired pool of used up second rate drivers. Surely out of all the race tracks across the country, there has to be some talented unknown drivers who deserve a shot. The list of drivers now is getting old and stale. We need some new blood. Works for me.....
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9-24-2007 @ 8:31AM
Peaches said...
CJ watch out now TGOM will be all over you about her BLANEY..............lol
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9-28-2007 @ 4:23PM
CJ said...
Well, apparently Bill Davis does not want to succeed in the sport cause he renewed Blaney's contract and even put a clause in there to pick up another year or two after the 2008 season, but ill be suprised if he's still in that car at this time next year. The guy has not been able to keep the car in the top 35 in owner points, so why keep him around? I mean, he's not even a sought after talent by other teams! I find it funny that Bill Davis had found some of the greatest talent in the past in Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte, but he hasnt had a talented driver in that car since Ward Burton. Blaney will get he boot eventually, it just depends on how long it takes Bill Davis to realize that and actually starts to look for REAL talent again!
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11-21-2007 @ 2:55PM
Josh said...
So, on the memo line for your check to VJGC, will you and the TGOM faithful, along with the Blaney Haters out there, be writing "For Crow Dinner" on the subject line?
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