Jayski's® Silly Season Site - Team Pages

#22 Team News and Links Page

A 2008 Paint Scheme - Click on Car to go to the Paint Scheme Gallery

OFFICIAL

Bill Davis Racing
Inside CAT Racing
Dave Blaney
Sharon Speedway[owned by Blaney]

UN-OFFICIAL

(not posting new unofficial sites anymore: too many have no updates, are old, driver bashing)

#22 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)

Contract Status: Sponsor: thru 2008; Driver: 2008+

New BDR VP hopes to keep CAT as sponsor and get #22 back in Top 35: Marty Gaunt's first priority as the new vice president of Bill Davis Racing is to try to get the #22 team back in the top 35 in owners points. “There’s a lot of good people and resources at Bill Davis Racing,” said Gaunt, who was with Red Bull Racing last year. “If you look down the road at [BDR affiliate] Triad and their capabilities [with Toyota], everything is there. It’s just going over there and trying to get the puzzle all back together.” While the #22 team is the top priority and obviously Gaunt wants the successful truck programs to continue to thrive, he also wants to get a second Cup car eventually back on the track. BDR had hoped to field a second car this season for Jacques Villeneuve but that project fell through when sponsorship fell through. Stabilizing the BDR program is important as it tries to convince long-time sponsor Caterpillar to remain with the team. Not only was Gaunt brought in as vice president, but BDR has shuffled its management team with Mark Chambers moving from his role as the truck series program manager to team general manager and the hiring of a director of marketing in Jim Thomas. “It’s all of our responsibilities is to make sure we keep all of our partners in-house and keep them happy, but I think with the restructure going on we have at Bill Davis Racing and with the top priority getting performance back up, we can squash all those rumors [about Caterpillar leaving],” Gaunt said.(SceneDaily)(4-15-2008) Comment here

BDR sues former sponsor: Bill Davis Racing alleges that Rockford-Montgomery Labs has paid only $25,000 of the $14 million it was supposed to pay for sponsorship of the #36 Cup entry last season, according to a lawsuit filed April 2 in North Carolina Superior Court in Winston Salem, N.C. RML is the maker of 360 OTC, a line of hangover and headache medicine. The sponsorship was a three-year deal that was scheduled to increase to $14.5 million in 2008 and $15 million in 2009. There was a sponsor’s option for 2010 for $15.5 million. According to the lawsuit, RML also did not pay any of the $3 million it owed as a primary sponsor for the #36 truck and $1 million it owed to be primary sponsor for 10 races of the #23 truck. This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against RML, which has been sued by Just Marketing, which was handling the NASCAR sponsorship, as well as by the World of Outlaws and World Wrestling Entertainment. An attorney who represents RML in the World of Outlaws and the WWE case did not immediately return a request for comment.(see full story at SceneDaily)(4-9-2008) Comment here

Management Reorganization at BDR: Bill Davis, President of Bill Davis Racing (BDR), announced a reorganization of the company's management team. Davis, who with wife Gail has fielded teams in NASCAR for over 20 years, has added several key personnel and shifted several others within the organization. All changes are effective immediately. NASCAR veteran Marty Gaunt has been named Vice President of Bill Davis Racing. Gaunt, a native of Toronto, Ont., Canada, began his tenure in NASCAR in 1996 and has held similar positions at Penske Racing and Team Red Bull. Gaunt was also part owner of Red Horse Racing. "It's an honor for me to able to be a part of Bill Davis Racing with Bill and Gail," stated Gaunt. "Bill has fielded teams for 21 years now and to be considered to be a part of the reorganization is a great opportunity. I'm excited about the tasks at hand and ready to get started."
Mark Chambers, who previously served as team manager of BDR's Craftsman Truck Series effort, will now assume the role of the general manager of Bill Davis Racing. Chambers, who has been with the team since 2006, takes over the GM role from Mike Brown, who will move into the position of Chief Financial Officer.
"I'm confident the modifications we've made to our management and front-office staff will make our entire organization stronger," stated Davis. "Our Truck Series program continues to thrive, but there isn't any doubt that the Cup Series program has struggled this year. Our partnership with Caterpillar is over 10 years strong, and we owe it to them and to ourselves to make sure we have the best possible people in the most important positions. We have great partners in Caterpillar and Toyota and we hope to continue our affiliation with them for many years to come. I'm confident the changes we've announced today will ensure a strong future for this team." In addition, Davis has hired Jim Thomas as the organization's Director of Marketing. Thomas, a Florida native, has been the Director of Business Development for Sullivan Worldwide Marketing Group, a leading strategic marketing and planning agency to the United States motorsports industry. Prior to that, he spent several years within the financial arm of Southeast Toyota.(BDR)(4-7-2008) Comment here

BAM merging..with someone? UPDATE 2...more on Toyota: been hearing rumors, but no confirms, that the #49 BAM Racing team may be merging with another team, the rumors include either the Petty Enterprises Dodge teams [#43 and #45] or the #22 Bill Davis Racing Team. The Petty deal sounds like a better match as BAM already uses Dodges. BDR just recently suspended operations of its 2nd team [#27] and parted ways with the crew chief of that team, Slugger Labbe. BDR is currently out of the top 35 in owners points and not guaranteed a spot in the next race at Martinsville. Either is BAM Racing's #49 with Ken Schrader or one of the Petty cars, #45-Kyle Petty. Supposedly CAT is only signed with the #22 thru 2008 and could be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing in some capacity for 2009.(3-21-2008)
UPDATE: Microsoft, through the Microsoft U.S. Small Business Team, has just become one of the sponsors of the #49 Sprint Cup Series team for the 2008 season. The Microsoft sponsorship will feature the Microsoft Small Business name as well as the Microsoft Small Camry Microsoft Full Rear Business Specialist (SBSC) ‘blue badge,’ which designates those Microsoft Partners who specialize on servicing the needs of small businesses. With this sponsorship, the Microsoft Small Business name, as well as the Microsoft Small Business Specialist ‘blue badge,’ will be shown in a Microsoft section on the #49 car for all remaining races of the 2008 season. The BAM Racing #49 car will feature a full-car Microsoft Small Business theme (primary sponsorship) for the March 30, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race next Sunday at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. The car will show Microsoft SmallCamry Microsoft Rear 3-4 view Business and the Microsoft Small Business Specialist ‘blue badge’ across the entire car.(in part from the Microsoft SMB Community Blog), see images of the #49 TOYOTA on the blog site or my #49 Team Schemes page. Hearing this will be more of a working association the a merger with BDR. The #49 is listed as a Dodge on the entry list, but that could change when updates are made later this week. Of note, Schrader is entered in the Truck race at Martinsville...in the #52-Federated Auto Parts TOYOTA.(3-25-2008)
UPDATE 2: BAM Racing will begin using Toyota engines from Bill Davis Racing in the #49 car driven by Ken Schrader this weekend at Martinsville Speedway in what could be the first step toward a merger between the companies. "Right now it's more of a collaboration than a merger," said Eddie Jones, general manager at BAM Racing. "We're trying to work together to see what we can do for them and what they can do for us and see if there is anything to move forward on." BAM was under contract to use Dodge engines supplied by Gillett Evernham Motorsports this season. Jones said they're still in the process of working through that deal, but added that GEM has given permission for BAM to move forward with BDR. "That's the business part of the deal," Jones said. "I'm trying to get the race car all put together." Jones said he contacted BDR a couple of weeks ago, believing the power Toyota engines have shown could be the best long-term solution. "Short term, we expect to at least stay the same or get a little better," he said. "Long term, we're doing what we can do this year and hoping to have a great situation and by the time the year is over look at something else."(ESPN.com)(3-26-2008) Comment here

#21 Crew chief leaves team: Gene Nead, crew chief for the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Sprint Cup car, has left the team, team officials confirmed Monday morning. Nead joined the Wood Brothers in November 2007 after a stint with Robby Gordon Motorsports. With a variety of drivers this year – Bill Elliott, Johnny Sauter and Jeff Green – the Wood Brothers have failed to qualify for four of the five events. The team is 44th in owners points and has had to qualify for races on speed but should be OK for the race in Martinsville because with Dale Jarrett’s retirement and Kurt Busch now being locked in with points, Elliott is expected to be the only past champion who isn’t locked into the field. The team has not yet named a replacement for Nead.(SceneDaily)(3-24-2008)
UPDATE: “We had a whole bunch of testing planned, to go out and just race more and go through some things and figure them out,” [#22-Dave] Blaney [of Bill Davis Racing] said. “We needed the days to try to learn something, but we missed out on a couple.” Instead, the #22 Cat team will attempt to make up for lost time this week before going to Martinsville. Monday’s workout will be at a short track in North Carolina in preparation for Martinsville, while Tuesday and Wednesday in Nashville are for general testing. “We’ll try to learn all we can this week,” Blaney said. Since Bristol, the Cat team has added Gene Nead, who left a year ago to join another team. “He’s coming back,” Blaney said of the crew member whose role will most likely be that of engineer. “He’s very good,” Blaney said of Nead, who will help crew chief Tommy Baldwin in all phases. “If you can add some people to make your team stronger, no matter when, that’s a good thing. Hopefully, it’ll give us a little shot in the arm and turn it around.”(Youngstown Vindicator)(3-24-2008) Comment here

Bliss in the #22 for Blaney for practice: Dave Blaney is not practicing the #22 Caterpillar Toyota as he is not feeling well, Mike Bliss is practicing the #22 for Blaney in Happy Hour practice at Atlanta.(SPEED practice coverage)(3-8-2008)

Special scheme for Blaney at California: Dave Blaney's #22 Cat Camry will feature a special "Cat Paving Products" paint scheme this weekend. The design, which features Cat Paving Products machines on both sides of the car and the trunk lid, also has a "highway" look that is integral in the scheme. The equipment depicted on the #22 car for this event represents various stages of the paving process from start to finish. The PM-200 Cold Planer is used for the removal of asphalt and concrete pavements prior to re-surfacing. In addition to preparing the surface for new asphalt, a key new feature is that it has low exhaust emissions - exceeding all emission regulations for off-road applications. The AP655D is a new track-type asphalt paver which handles a wide variety of paving projects - from new construction, to resurfacing - such as the recent repaving of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif, which was done by working around-the-clock and completed in less than 15 days.(BDR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #22 Team Schemes page.(2-20-2008)

Diffferent scheme, car chief for Blaney: #22 Dave Blaney will start the year with a new paint scheme for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. The Caterpillar Dealers logo will adorn the #22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Camry. The "Cat Dealers" car for the Budweiser Shootout salutes the U.S. and Canadian dealers and their longtime support of the Cat Racing program. The names of all U.S. and Canadian Cat dealers will adorn the trunk lid of the #22 Toyota for the special event. Phil Moran has stepped into the position of car chief for the #22 Caterpillar Racing team. Moran, a native of Colchester, Conn., was previously the Cup shop foreman at BDR. Jeremy Milless has also joined the team and will serve in the engineer position. Milless comes to BDR from the open wheel ranks. The remainder of the team remains the same as last year [for those see my Pit Crew chart].(BDR PR), see an image of the car on my #22 Team Schemes page.(2-6-2008) Comment here

Teams Testing at Kentucky: UPDATE: #15-Paul Menard will be testing at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, Bill Davis Racing will be testing with test driver Frank Starr on Wednesday and Thursday. Fans are able to view sessions for free from the designated area outside the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N., in Sparta, Ky.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(12-11-2007)
UPDATE: BDR isn't testing at Kentucky this week. It was cancelled. Blaney and the #22 team are scheduled to test at Rockingham Wednesday and possibly Thursday.(12-11-2007)

BDR not moving: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing [#22, #27, #36], says the team is not looking to move to the Charlotte [NC] area. The team, based in High Point, N.C., is one of the few Cup teams based outside the Charlotte area. Petty Enterprises announced last week it would move from Level Cross to Mooresville, N.C., after this season, in part to be able to be closer to the Charlotte area in hopes of attracting more crew members. “I understand what the Pettys are doing and if that’s right for them, that’s good,” Brown said. “Right now, we don’t see that as something that we’re entertaining.” Brown estimates that 25% of the team’s 300 employees are based in the Charlotte area. “We’re really happy with where we’re at,” Brown said.(Roanoke Times)(11-14-2007)

Blaney, Harvick and Bodine to pull triple duty at Homestead: Dave Blaney will attempt to qualify a fourth entry for Bill Davis Racing in the Ford 200 at Homestead Miami Speedway. Blaney will be driving the #22 Toyota and will carry the familiar yellow-and-black colors of Caterpillar this weekend. Caterpillar also sponsors Blaney's #22 Nextel Cup Series Camry. Not only will Blaney attempt to qualify a fourth BDR truck this weekend, he will also continue his quest to stay locked into the top 35 in the Nextel Cup Series owners' points standings and compete in the Busch Series as well [in the #10 Braun Racing Toyota](Bill Davis Racing PR)
AND Kevin Harvick will also run all three races at Homestead, in the #29 Shell Chevy in Cup, #21 Chevy in the Busch Series and the #2 Truck in the Craftsman Truck Series race; and Todd Bodine will run all three races: #4 Chevy in Cup, #03-Toyota in Busch and #30-Toyota in Trucks.(11-13-2007)

Bill Davis Again Denies Sale Rumors UPDATE: Interviewed on Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday, Davis once again denied reports that Jacques Villeneuve or his agent, Craig Pollack, have purchased the team, saying that he and his wife maintain 100% ownership.(Sirius Speedway)(10-31-2007)
UPDATE - Villeneuve rules out BDR purchase: Jacques Villeneuve has categorically stated that he has no interest in buying into NASCAR team Bill Davis Racing. The 1997 Formula One world champion has been linked to a purchase of the team he is racing for since his manager Craig Pollock expressed an interest in buying a NASCAR team, but Villeneuve claims that he will not be involved in any takeover bid. Villeneuve said: "Over the last few weeks there has been persistent speculation that I am considering some form of purchase of the Bill Davis Racing organisation. "In spite of my consistent denial of these claims, the questions and speculation continue, so I want to set the record straight, one time only. I am not interested in buying the BDR business, or any other NASCAR team. I have not been considering such a purchase, and I will not be changing that position." Villeneuve added that he wants to remain totally focused on his racing in NASCAR, where he is currently preparing for his rookie season in the Sprint Cup in 2008.(Autosport.com)(11-3-2007)

Bill Davis Trucking Files for Bankruptcy: Bill Davis Trucking Inc. of Batesville, Ark. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Bill Davis, company president, is widely known as owner of a NASCAR team. The company's attorney, Geoff Treece of Little Rock, declined to comment on the pending case. A meeting with creditors is scheduled for Dec. 18, according to an Oct. 22 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District Arkansas in Batesville. Chapter 11 allows restructuring of debt so that a company can continue to operate. A list of assets and liabilities is not currently available. The deadline for filing that is Nov. 6. Davis also owns Bill Davis Racing, based in High Point, N.C. It had been speculated that his NASCAR team would potentially be sold or bought into.(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Statement From Bill Daivs Racing: Bill Davis Trucking, Inc., founded in 1975 by Bill and Gail Davis, announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Today’s action was necessitated by an injury accident and an ensuing lawsuit against the company, based in Batesville, Arkansas. “This has been a very unfortunate chain of events and Gail and I certainly hate that it ever had to happen,” stated Bill Davis. “Bill Davis Trucking and Bill Davis Racing are two completely separate entities and the race team will in no way be affected by today’s announcement.”(Bill Davis Racing PR)(10-30-2007)

NASCAR studying how Hamlin, Blaney had water in fuel: MORE Denny Hamlin, who thought he had enough gas while leading when his car sputtered and didn't start with three laps remaining in the Pep Boys Auto 500, actually had water in his fuel cell at the time. Whether that caused him not to accelerate and get hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. is uncertain, Joe Gibbs Racing Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Sunday night at Atlanta. But what is certain is that Hamlin and Bill Davis Racing's Dave Blaney had water in their fuel cells, and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle also might have had a similar situation. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said that no water was found in the Sunoco pumps following the race. Darby said all of the Sunoco documentation from the weekend shows no water in the tanks.(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
UPDATE: Water found in the fuel tanks of cars driven by #11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Dave Blaney during Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Atlanta was not isolated to those teams, a NASCAR official said Monday. Water also was discovered in the fuel of the Penske Racing cars driven by #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman after returning to Charlotte, N.C. In addition, water was found in the fuel cell of all three Richard Childress racing team cars belonging to #29-Kevin Harvick, #07-Clint Bowyer and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle believes his car may have had water in its fuel, although no evidence was found. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said the problem is more widespread than originally thought and that NASCAR has issued bulletins to all Cup and Truck Series teams to check for evidence of contamination so they can locate the source. Darby said everything from the underground fuel-holding tank at the track to the fuel trucks that deliver the gas to the individual gas cans are being analyzed. He said the underground tank is the least likely source because there is an alarm system located that can detect the slightest amount of contamination. Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected for anyone to have been singled out.(ESPN.com)(10-30-2007)

Latest on Bill Davis Team Sale: UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve has apparently completed a buy-in of Bill Davis' High Point-based Toyota operation, according to sources close to the team, and Villeneuve will have at least a majority interest in the operation, perhaps even full ownership. Last Sunday, when asked about the report of a planned Villeneuve buy-in, Davis said he wasn't in a position to give a specific answer but did say he was considering a number of options. It is unclear what a purchase price might be. It is also unclear why Villeneuve, who lives in Montreal, would want to buy a NASCAR team, or if Villeneuve might move the team from High Point, where Davis has operated for more than 15 years.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-27-2007)
UPDATE: What Villeneuve might be doing in NASCAR is still a subject of debate. According to some familiar with the situation, Villeneuve may be coming into the sport for a short-time run as a driver but as a long-term run as an investor/owner. Just what role NASCAR executives might have in this is unclear, though obviously NASCAR is the big winner in the deal, which enhances their new Canadian venture. Last year, Villeneuve and Pollack began talking about setting up their own NASCAR operation and talked with Ford's Jack Roush and Geoff Smith about a deal for cars, engines and start-up stuff. But it never got very far. Roush said that Villeneuve wanted to take the quickest road to the Cup tour, while Roush suggested he spend more time in Busch to learn the sport.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-29-2007)

Pollack talks about interest of buying BDR: Jacques Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock says he is interested in buying a Nextel Cup team while admitting he has held talks with Bill Davis Racing, the team for which his driver is currently competing in NASCAR. The former Formula One team principal and Champ Car team owner said in an interview with Le Journal de Montreal that he has held talks with a number of Nextel Cup teams, evaluating different options to become involved as a team owner. Pollock is understood to be in serious talks with Bill Davis to buy equity in his NASCAR squad, which currently fields two cars in Cup and three in the Craftsman Truck Series. Jacques Villeneuve is expected to race for the team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup next year."I'm interested in having an active participation in a NASCAR team, preferably the one where Jacques drives," said Pollock. "It's the best way to make sure that my driver has access to the best equipment available." It had been reported during the weekend at Martinsville and on Canadian radio that Jacques Villeneuve was the one actually buying BDR, something that Pollock categorically denies. "Jacques has never spoken with a team with the intention to invest in it," he added. Bill Davis would not confirm that he has already sold his team to Pollock, but has admitted openly that he is looking for the right partner to buy into his team in a time when funded investors have shown massive interest for getting involved in NASCAR.(Autosport.com)(10-23-2007)

Villeneuve buys Bill Davis Racing? UPDATE 3: Auto123.com's contributor Bertrand Godin has learned earlier today a rumour indicating that Jacques Villeneuve and Craig Pollock have purchased the Bill Davis Racing Team [#22, #27 and #36 in Cup, #5, #22, #23, #27 in Truck]. According to a reliable source, Villeneuve and his business manager since 1992, Craig Pollock, have recently purchased Bill and Gail Davis' stock-car racing team. This is the team that currently runs Villeneuve in the Craftsman Trucks series and in the Nextel Cup. The new team, based in High Point, North Carolina will apparently continue to field the current drivers, as well as a Sprint Cup car for Villeneuve.(Auto123.com)(10-19-2007)
UPDATE: Team owner Bill Davis insisted on Saturday that he has not sold his organization as published reports indicated. That doesn't mean he won't. The owner of Bill Davis Racing said several parties have expressed an interest in purchasing his company that includes two Nextel Cup cars driven by Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield, who will be replaced by Formula One star Jacques Villeneuve next season. "Like any team our size, we have to be realistic and look at all of our options with what's going on in the sport right now," he said before practice at Martinsville Speedway. "We've had a lot of interest, a lot of very interested people, and a lot of things that are for real. We just have to do our due diligence and make a smart, logical choice."(ESPN.com)(10-20-2007)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis sees all that is going on around him in Nextel Cup racing and is not ashamed to say that his operation needs help. So he has hung out the "For Sale" shingle at Bill Davis Racing. Part of it? All of it? Even Davis doesn't seem to be sure yet. But he's willing to listen to all offers, and indeed is in the process of doing precisely that. Jacques Villeneuve indicated that he is not interested in owning BDR -- but didn't rule out the fact that his business manager, Craig Pollock, might have some interest. Davis said he would like to retain at least part-ownership in the team that bears his name.(NASCAR.com)(10-21-2007)
UPDATE 3: Bill Davis said reports that he’s selling his High Point NASCAR team may be premature, but he won’t flat-out deny reports he may be selling part of his team to Jacques Villeneuve, perhaps a very significant part. Davis has signed Villeneuve to run his Toyotas next season on the Nextel Cup tour, as teammate with Dave Blaney. And Villeneuve is spending this fall running NASCAR Trucks, to warm up for 2008. Now comes word that there is much more to the Davis-Villeneuve deal than the two are letting on. Davis hedged when pressed on the situation. “We’re not in position to make any comment right now,” Davis said.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-22-2007)

Special scheme for Blaney at LMS: The #22 Toyota of Dave Blaney will sport a new paint scheme this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, which will feature Catused.com. CatUsed.com is the official online source for finding Caterpillar used equipment, used Cat parts, engines and attachments. Available from the best Dealer network in the industry, literally thousands of used Cat machines and parts are at customers' fingertips, straight from Cat Dealers who stand behind the equipment. Through easy search options on the home page, customers are able to view actual inventory, informative equipment evaluations and photos of the product, making buying used Cat equipment easy and efficient.(BDR PR), see an image of the car on the #22 Team Schemes page.(10-11-2007)

Blaney re-ups at BDR: on ESPN2's NASCAR Now, Marty Smith said Bill Davis Racing has picked up an option to keep Dave Blaney, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Toyota to drive the car in 2008 and there are provisions to keep Blaney longer. Caterpiller had already re-upped with the team.(9-27-2007)

CAT back to BDR? Blaney close UPDATE 2: hearing that #22 Bill Davis Racing sponsor, Caterpillar will return to the team in 2008 and the driver Dave Blaney is close to re-signing with Davis for next season.(8-14-2007)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing has signed a contract extension with sponsor Caterpillar and expects to re-sign Dave Blaney to continue driving the team's #22 Toyota.(SceneDaily.com)(8-18-2007)
UPDATE 2: Caterpillar, Inc., has been making motorsports sponsorship news on a couple of fronts this week with the renewal of its Nextel Cup contract with Bill Davis Racing and the announcement of a new 2008 sponsorship, along with dealer groups, of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster. The contract with BDR is a multi-year deal, said Caterpillar director of racing operations Greg Towles. He would not be more specific as to the length of the agreement. Towles said the company decided to continue the relationship, even though the team has struggled in recent years, because of two main factors - the team's improved performance in recent weeks and the promise of future success with Toyota. "We've been real encouraged with the way the team has been running lately - we've had a couple of top 10s in the last few races," said Towles, "and we think Toyota is going to bring a lot to NASCAR Nextel Cup." Towles also said the team's driver, Dave Blaney, will be signed to an extension. "He and (crew chief) Tommy Baldwin are really starting to click and they've been really qualifying well and running well so we have high expectations for the remainder of this season and into next year," Towles said.(Peoria Journal Star)(8-31-2007)

CAT and BDR still discussing future:: Discussions between Caterpillar, Inc., and Bill Davis Racing regarding an extension of their sponsorship contract are on-going, Greg Towles, Caterpillar director of racing operations, said Tuesday. "We're just having discussions. We really haven't made a decision yet," said Towles, whose company has sponsored the #22 BDR car since 1999. The current contract with the team is up after this season. "There's no real set timetable," he said. "We have had our discussions and we'll see where it goes." Towles said it was nice to see the team's driver, Dave Blaney, win the pole for last Sunday's race at New Hampshire, though the car eventually finished 29th. "I think, certainly, we'd like to be within the top 35 (in owner points, which guarantees a spot in the race)," Towles said. "The competition has been really tough this year and it's been really hard on all the Toyota teams. So I guess I would say we're disappointed in not being in the top 35 yet. I'd just say at this point that our conversations with them are pretty private and we just haven't set a timetable on it, but when we do, we'll be glad to share it with everybody."(Peoria Journal Star)(7-5-2007)

Start #250 for Blaney: #22-Dave Blaney hopes to make his 250th career Nextel Cup Series start when the green flag waves Sunday afternoon. He made his first career Cup Series start in October 1992 at [Rockingham] North Carolina Speedway and finished 40th after qualifying 34th for his first Cup Series start in Loudon in 1999. Like this weekend, Blaney was aboard a Bill Davis Racing-owned machine. The Caterpillar Racing team will test two cars at Thompson Speedway Wednesday and will choose between COT 17 and COT 19 as Dave Blaney’s primary car for Loudon once the test is complete.(BDR PR)(6-27-2007)

BDR hopes to re-sign CAT: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing [#22,#23,#36], says that Caterpillar's sponsorship ends [of #22-Dave Blaney] after the season and the team is in talks with the company to continue that partnership.(Roanoke Times)(6-23-2007)

Cat M-Series scheme for Blaney at MIS in June UPDATE: #22-Dave Blaney is scheduled to run a brand new special paint scheme at Michigan in June, featuring the CAT logo on the hood and the M-Series motor grader on the rear decklid & quarter panels. See an image of the scheme on my #22 Team Schemes page.(4-28-2007)
UPDATE: The #22 Camry of Dave Blaney will have a new look this weekend, as it will carry Cat M-Series Motor Grader graphics on its deck lid and rear quarter panels. As the leader in motor graders since 1931, Caterpillar is introducing the M-Series Motor Grader, the first update since 1996. The new seven-model lineup features a pair of joysticks - the first ever total joystick control motor grader - that replace as many as 15 levers and a steering wheel. This revolutionizes the way this type of equipment is operated, and opens up the visibility in the cab. In terms of engine power, the M-Series feature horsepower ranging from 138 hp to 533 hp, depending upon the model - with three of the models also featuring an All-Wheel Drive option. More than 100 new patents have been applied for in the development of this new generation of motor grader.(BDR PR)(6-13-2007)

Crew Chief change for Blaney and the #22: Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced that Tommy Baldwin Jr. has assumed the role of crew chief for the #22 Caterpillar Racing team and driver Dave Blaney. Baldwin takes over those duties from Kevin Hamlin, who is no longer with the team. The move will be a reunion of sorts as Baldwin returns to the top of the Caterpillar pit box after leading that team to victory in four events, including the 2001 Southern 500 and '02 Daytona 500. "Kevin Hamlin was an important part of the organization and we appreciate everything he has done for us for the past year and a half, but we feel like the Caterpillar Racing team is not living up to its full potential," said team owner Bill Davis. "As competitive as this sport has become, we owe it to our sponsors and everyone involved with Bill Davis Racing to make this team as strong as possible and in this case we felt a change was the best way to do that. We are fortunate to have someone like Tommy Baldwin, who has had so much success as a crew chief to fill that position. Some of our proudest moments at Bill Davis Racing came with Tommy leading the Caterpillar team." During this time, Baldwin will also continue to serve as Competition Director for all of Bill Davis Racing's Nextel Cup teams and assuring BDR's growth as an organization.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-3-2007)

Wimmer suing Davis: Scott Wimmer filed a lawsuit earlier this week against Bill Davis Racing, claiming he is owed $1.2 million in salary for the 2006 season because the team did not follow the procedure in the contract to fire him. In the suit filed Monday in North Carolina Superior Court in Greensboro, N.C., Wimmer alleges BDR did not tell him until Oct. 24, 2005, that he would not be the driver in 2006. He claims that violated a clause in the contract which states that if the driver is not in the top 25 in the standings by Sept, 1, "team shall have the right to issue a written notice that driver is being placed on a 30-day notice stating that performance level must be improved to the satisfaction of sponsor and team by September 30th of current year or team may issued [sic] a written notice of termination of driver agreement at the end of current Nextel Cup season." Wimmer claims he received no written notice, that the team told the media around Oct. 8 that he would return in 2006 but then sent him a termination letter Oct. 24. According to the lawsuit, Wimmer was being paid $600,000 for the 2004 season, $900,000 for 2005 and $1.2 million for 2006. He also received 45% of prize money as well as 33.3 percent of royalties from team merchandise. Wimmer drove in Nextel Cup for Morgan-McClure Motorsports for much of the 2006 season. He is driving for Richard Childress Racing in select Busch and Nextel Cup Series events this year.(SceneDaily.com)(5-3-2007)

Special CAT scheme for Blaney at Atlanta: The #22 Caterpillar Toyota Dave Blaney drives will be adorned with a new paint scheme this weekend at Atlanta featuring the new D6T and D6K Track-Type Tractors. The Cat D6T and D6K Track-Type Tractors are the new line of mid-size machines built for applications ranging from site preparation to finish grading. Each machine is quipped with ACERT Engine Technology, which optimizes engine performance while meeting emission regulations for off-road applications. The AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System is a high technology earthmoving tool that allows dozer operators to grade and fill with increased accuracy without the use of traditional stakes or grade checkers. The SystemOne Undercarriage will deliver the longest life and greatest reliability of any undercarriage system available.(Bill Davis Racing)(3-14-2007)

Congrats: Jason Kivette, who handles catch can duties for the #22 Cat Racing team, and his wife Kristin welcomed new addition Justice Marie to the Bill Davis Racing family last week.(BDR)(3-14-2007)

So..what happened to Blaney? #22-Dave Blaney and the team ran into misfortune on lap 185 of the 200-lap Daytona 500, as Blaney drive down pit road to avoid an accident on the frontstretch. With a flat right-front tire, he was unable to avoid making contact with several cars as he exited pit road. After making a lap around the track, he headed back to pit road for four fresh tires and to give the Caterpillar team the opportunity to review any damage the contact may have made. Unfortunately, NASCAR officials were none too pleased with the speed the Caterpillar Toyota reached on pit lane while trying to avoid the accident, and after first assessing the team a five lap penalty, they then decided to send the #22 to the garage for the remainder of the race. Blaney was credited with a 34th-place finish.(BDR PR)(2-19-2007)

Archtitecture Firm Partners with Blaney: Lorenz Architecture, one of the fastest growing architectural firms in the Charlotte [NC] region, recently announced a new partnership with #22-Dave Blaney. The collaboration is expected to enhance Lorenz's market share within the racing industry. However, Lorenz Architecture is no stranger to the world of racing. The firm has worked with NASCAR driver Robby Gordon on his new race shop and has worked with the famed Wood Brothers on their team's facility. In addition, Lorenz Architecture is currently developing designs for Dave Blaney's new sprint car race shop which will open in late 2007. "Joining Dave Blaney's team is a huge deal for us," says Paul Lorenz, Principal/Owner. "It's a key piece of strategy to build the Lorenz Architecture brand within the motor sports market." Dave Blaney also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership. "I'm excited to have Lorenz Architecture on board for 2007," said Blaney. "Paul and his staff do a great job and I'm eager to have their support." While the partnership was initially developed to increase Lorenz's visibility within the racing industry, don't expect it to end there. "You have to understand this is not a one-dimensional opportunity," says Scott Mickle, marketing consultant to Lorenz Architecture. "Dave and NASCAR have great appeal to our other markets and we plan to leverage this in 2007. You will see a lot of Dave Blaney and the # 22 Caterpillar Toyota Camry in our marketing and business development efforts." Based in Concord, North Carolina, Lorenz Architecture specializes in the design of motor sports facilities, commercial offices, churches, retail centers, and custom homes. Lorenz's primary focus is to provide clients with extraordinary customer service and creative and responsive solutions to their design and construction needs.(PR)(2-15-2007)

Blaney testing COT: #22-Dave Blaney is scheduled to test the Car of Tomorrow [COT} on Monday & Tuesday [2/12, 2/13] at USA Speedway in Lakeland, FL.(Sirius Satelitte Radio NASCAR Channel)(2-10-2007)

Santos to Drive Busch Races for Bill Davis: Bill Davis Racing announced that Bobby Santos III will run a combination of 15 ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series events in 2007. Santos is scheduled to compete in 10 ARCA Re/Max races in the #02 machine, in addition to five Busch Series races.(SceneDaily.com)(12-7-2006)

Dodge/BDR Settle: A settlement has been reached in the 2003 lawsuit by Dodge against car owner Bill Davis. In February, Dodge won a $6.5 million settlement against Davis, who campaigned Dodges in the Cup series when he began developing Toyota’s Tundra NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Davis has dropped his appeal of the judgment and all parties involved apparently agreed to settle and put the issue behind them.(SpeedTV.com)(11-11-2006)

Sad News - #55 Jackman passes: Bill Davis Racing statement on the passing ofr Steve Spahr, #55 NAPA Team Jackman: "Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family," said Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing. "Steve was an important part of the Bill Davis Racing family for many, many years. He was a quiet mentor to his peers and was both respected and well-liked by everyone on our race team and many others within the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage. He will be missed and remembered fondly by everyone associated with our team." Spahr, 48, worked both at the shop and at the track performing a wide range of tasks from engine tuning to suspension work in the shop and in the past had served as the jackman for the #22 team. Most recently, Spahr was the jackman for the #55 NAPA Racing team. A long-time employee of Bill Davis Racing, Spahr had recently been hospitalized with a tear of the aorta and had undergone surgery in the Greensboro, N.C. area. Spahr was recovering at home with his family when he passed away suddenly Friday evening.(BDR PR)(10-26-2006)

Special Scheme for #22 at RIR: Dave Daney's #22 car will sport a new paint scheme for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond. The paint scheme highlights Cat Engines with ACERT Technology. Cat engines with ACERT Technology open a new era in diesel engine design. Using highly advanced combustion technology to optimize performance, these revolutionary engines meet today's most stringent emissions reduction standards. And they're poised to take on tomorrow's challenges. ACERT combines proven systems with innovative new technologies to precisely shape the combustion process. It maintains engine performance, efficiency and durability while dramatically reducing emissions. Looking ahead, ACERT is the only diesel emissions reduction technology currently available with a clear path to Tier 4/Stage IIIb compliance. Only Cat engines have ACERT Technology.(BDR PR), see a image of the scheme on the #22 Team Schemes page.(9-6-2006)

Cat Salutes the Troops Caterpillar is one of several sponsors this weekend that has worked with California Speedway on its Salute to the Troops project. Caterpillar has purchased 100 tickets to Sunday’s event that the track will distribute to active duty service people.(Bill Davis Racing)(8-31-2006)

Bill Davis Racing announced 2007 lineup; Mayfield in #36; Blaney back in #22: Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced today [8/24] that Jeremy Mayfield will join the organization to drive the #36 Toyota Camry the team will field in 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition. Additionally, Dave Blaney, current driver of the #22 Bill Davis Racing entry, will remain in the Caterpillar car for the '07 season. "We're happy to have Dave back in the Caterpillar car next year, and we're just as excited that Jeremy has decided to join our team," said Team Owner Bill Davis. "Both of these men are very talented and capable drivers who are veterans of the sport and yet still hungry to win. Both Jeremy and Dave are extremely knowledgeable and will play an important part in taking our race team to the next level." 360 OTC joins Bill Davis Racing to serve as the primary sponsor of the #36 Toyota machine beginning with the '07 Daytona 500. Headquartered in Athens, Ga., Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Inc. is the developer of 360 OTC, a brand of FDA-approved Over-the-Counter (OTC) pain relief medicines. Included in the 360 OTC family are 360 OTC Relief, which relieves symptoms of headache, fatigue, heartburn, upset stomach and generalized aches and pains associated with a hangover, and 360 OTC Lite Relief, a caffeine-free version of 360 OTC. Other products include 360 OTC Ignite, a fast-acting alertness aid that safely helps restore mental alertness during times of drowsiness and fatigue, and 360 OTC Hangover Relief, which relieves generalized aches and pains associated with a hangover.
"We have done an incredible amount of research to find the perfect combination of ownership, team chemistry, driver performance and manufacturers support," said Michelle Shearer, CEO of Rockford-Montgomery Labs. "There is no question that we have found the best business partner in NASCAR to entrust the value of our brand. " Having Bill and Gail Davis, Tommy Baldwin, Jeremy Mayfield and Toyota behind our brand on the track every week is a direct reflection of our commitment to NASCAR fans, our retailers and our shareholders. We need to get the 360 OTC #36 Toyota Camry in victory lane, and we are very fortunate to have this winning combination at BDR to accomplish that goal."
"We feel like we've put together a winning combination," Davis said. "Rockford-Montgomery Labs, Inc. is a solid company which has learned in the short time they have been involved in the sport just how big a marketing tool NASCAR can be. They were interested in finding a spokesperson that can get their #36 Toyota to victory lane as well as appeal to the people in their market. Everyone agrees that Jeremy is that guy. He's a proven winner and is obviously a talented and consistent driver, as well as a smart businessman. He brings with him Chase experience and a great deal of excitement, and we feel fortunate to welcome both he and 360 OTC to our family."
Mayfield most recently competed for Evernham Motorsports. The 37-year-old driver, who hails from Owensboro, Ky., has made 402 starts at NASCAR's highest level and was a contender in the Chase for the Championship during both the 2004 and 2005 seasons. "I'm very, very excited about the opportunity to be a part of Bill Davis Racing," Mayfield said. "I've always thought a lot of and had a lot of respect for Bill and Gail, and I'm thrilled to be a part of their organization. Obviously, I'm looking forward to working with Toyota, Todd Holbert [General Manager of Triad Racing Development, Inc.], Tommy Baldwin and everyone involved with the Toyota program, and I'm looking forward to being a part of Toyota's entrance into NEXTEL Cup racing as well as working with them for a long time to come. Rockford-Montgomery Labs and 360 OTC has also given me a great opportunity, and I'm happy to have the chance to represent their company, their people and their products. From what I've seen at Bill Davis Racing, they have the resources in place and the desire to do whatever it takes to be competitive, and those are the kinds of people and the type of place that I want to be involved with."
Mayfield made his first Cup Series start in 1993 before teaming with Cale Yarborough the following season. He remained with that team through most of the 1996 season, before uniting with car owner Michael Kranefuss, who eventually joined forces with Roger Penske in 1997. Mayfield spent the next four seasons with the Penske organization. He scored his first career victory at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in 1998, and went on to finish seventh in the championship standings that year. Mayfield earned two more victories in 2000. He joined Evernham Motorsports beginning with the 2002 season, where he continued to prove his talent by winning races in 2004 and 2005. Mayfield has five NEXTEL Cup victories under his belt, has started from the pole position nine times and has posted 96 top-10 finishes throughout his career.
Blaney, a Hartford, Ohio, native, has been behind the wheel of the Caterpillar car the entire 2006 season. His first partnership with Bill and Gail Davis came back in 1998, when Blaney drove part-time in the NASCAR Busch Series. He joined the Cup Series in 2000 and remained with Bill Davis Racing through 2001. After departing to race for Jasper Motorsports in 2003, he returned to BDR to drive part-time in the Cup Series in 2004. In 2005, Blaney was invited drive for Richard Childress Racing, where he posted two top-10 finishes. In all, Blaney has made 222 starts in NASCAR's premiere series and has captured one pole position and 19 top-10 finishes during his tenure.
"It's certainly nice to know with half the season left where I'll be next year, and I'm glad it will be back with Bill Davis Racing," Blaney stated. "This is the place I have always considered home, and though we've struggled a bit more than anyone thought we would this year, we all think the future is bright for BDR. I'm excited about the opportunity to be a part of Toyota's entrance into the Cup Series, and I'm looking forward to working with Jeremy next year. I think next season has the possibility to be the best one Bill Davis Racing has ever seen."(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-24-2006)

Bill Davis Racing to announce Cup drivers at Bristol UPDATE: on Speed Channel's NASCAR Live Friday, Bob Dillner reported that Bill Davis Racing will make his driver announcements for 2007 at Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend, as reported Dave Blaney will return to the Caterpillar car in 2007, it has been rumored that Jeremy Mayfield will drive the 2nd Toyota, no word on a sponsor and no word on Bill Lester's plans as he was rumored as having a shot at the 2nd BDR Cup ride in 2007.(Speed Channel's NASCAR Live)(8-19-2006)
UPDATE - Mayfield signs with BDR: Jeremy Mayfield has signed a 3-year contract with options with Bill Davis Racing. BDR will make the formal announcement during a press conference Friday [at Bristol] when the organization will map out it's plans for 2007 and beyond. Team General Manager Mike Brown says Mayfield "Is everything we've been looking for. He's the kind of driver that was available that was marketable. Obviously he's had success the last couple of years winning races and being in the chase. It's exactly what we needed to facilitate a multi-year deal with a new and exciting sponsor." Brown likes the Mayfield-Tommy Baldwin driver/crew chief combo saying "Tommy's spent a couple of years with him at Evernham so he knows what he likes in cars. From that standpoint we've got a bonus there." Mayfield may not race competitively the rest of this season however he is expected to test beginning next week at Kentucky and Nashville.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(8-20-2006)

Blaney back with BDR in 2007 UPDATE with CAT: Bill Davis Racing Competition Director Tommy Baldwin confirmed that Dave Blaney will drive one of the two [#22, #23] BDR entries in 2007, and said an announcement should come soon regarding the other seat.(NASCAR.com)(8-5-2006)
UPDATE: Dave Blaney will be back in the Caterpillar Inc. car for the 2007, team owner Bill Davis said Sunday morning. "(Caterpillar director of racing operations) Greg Towles has indicated to us all along that Dave Blaney has done a good job in the car and done a good job with the sponsors and he'd be perfectly happy to have him back (in the car) and so would we," Davis said as preparations for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard were under way. "I guess it's as close to (being) official as you can say." Davis was a little more guarded about recent rumors that Jeremy Mayfield will join his operation in a second Toyota Camry for 2007. "We're not in a position to announce anything, but certainly we've talked to Jeremy a lot and we have an understanding," Davis said of the current Evernham Motorsports driver. "Nothing's ever official until it's official so we don't talk about it, but certainly, like a lot of people in this garage, we'd like to see him come to our team." Davis said he has a letter of intent for a sponsor for the second team. Better things, finally, are happening with Blaney's car. Starting with the race at Chicagoland Speedway last month, Blaney finished 17th, 13th and 16th before faltering a little in Sunday's race with a 29th-place finish. "It's been a lot of little things, no one big blaring obvious deal," Davis said of the upturn. "Certainly the Michael (Waltrip) deal was an enormous distraction at the first of the year. He came in and struggled and really disrupted the shop and had us changing our cars and doing crazy stuff. Five or six weeks ago, I took the stance that I didn't know what else we could do to help him - he'd had several different combinations of cars and bodies and chassis and crew chiefs - and we needed to get back to basics and do the things we'd always done and do what works (for Blaney's car). And that's what we've done." Davis also is looking forward to putting the team's Dodge days in the past. BDR has been without factory support from Dodge for three years and has been involved in continued legal battles with the company. "It has been a struggle and a distraction and a financial burden, which has been huge, and now to have all that basically behind us and have Toyota poised and ready to come in here, it's a huge relief for us," Davis said. "For everybody that has stuck with us and been loyal to us, from employees to associates to sponsors, we certainly appreciate those people and look forward to getting back on track and back to where we were."(Peoria Journal Star)(8-7-2006)

Baldwin back to Davis Racing? yes...:Baldwin supposedly is headed back to Bill Davis Racing (nothing about Ward Burton) and Labbe is looking at options.
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced today that Tommy Baldwin Jr. will join the organization serving as Competition Director for its Nextel Cup Series multi-car efforts, effective August 1, 2006. Baldwin returns to the team after having spent four seasons with the organization from 1999-2002. Included in Baldwin’s responsibilities as competition director will be overseeing Bill Davis Racing’s conversion to Toyota for the 2007 Nextel Cup season. Baldwin will work closely with leaders from Toyota Racing Development, Inc. (TRD) and Triad Racing Development, Inc. (a technical partner to TRD) to ensure a smooth transition and will also work with existing Bill Davis Racing crew chiefs to guarantee an efficient and effective transformation to Toyota.(BDR/NASCAR PR)(7-31-2006)

Special CAT scheme at Indy: The gleaming silver and black #22 CAT Financial Dodge driven by Dave Blaney plans to make its mark in the 2006 Brickyard 400 at Indy. See an image of the scheme on my #22 Team Schemes page.(7-5-2006)

Backhoe scheme on #22 CAT car at LMS: Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar #22 car will sport a special paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. It will feature the new Caterpillar E-Series Backhoe Loaders. Three models from the Backhoe Loader Line have been updated, including the 416E, 420E and 430E. The newly styled Cat 416E Backhoe Loader has been worked into the design of Bill Davis's #22 car for the Sunday night race. To learn more about all the features of the new Caterpillar E-Series Backhoe Loaders, visit www.CAT.com.(BDR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #22 Team Schemes page.(5-25-2006)

Mayfield to Davis? Waltrip? #19-Jeremy Mayfield is also in middle of a lot of Toyota talk, perhaps leaving Ray Evernham to take a Toyota ride next season with [#22/23] Bill Davis, perhaps even taking a third Toyota ride with Waltrip, who indicated last week that he had a third major sponsor in the works.(Winston Salem Journal), but Mayfield re-upped with Evernham last year and is supposedly signed thru 2008.(5-21-2006)

Davis files motions to change Dodge verdict: Bill Davis Racing has filed three motions in U.S. District Court in Michigan in response to a verdict of $6.5 million in damages it has been ordered to pay DaimlerChrysler. A jury awarded the damages to Dodge on Feb. 9 after a four-week trial in Detroit. The jury found that BDR gave confidential Dodge information to Toyota and also violated its Cup agreement with Dodge when it signed a contract with General Motors to race in the Busch Series and up to seven Cup events. BDR has filed three motions: one requesting a new trial, another to request a reduction in damages and another for a judgment that it did not violate its Dodge agreement by signing the GM contract. Among the arguments are improper jury instructions and issues dealing with the way Dodge compiled its amount of damages. If Judge George Caram Steeh upholds the verdict, BDR has announced plans to appeal. Dodge terminated its contract with BDR in May 2003 after it discovered BDR's work with Toyota's truck program. The six-year, $18.425-million contract was scheduled to end in 2005. BDR's work on the truck was ruled legal by Steeh, but he left it up to the jury to decide whether BDR gave confidential Dodge information to Toyota.(SceneDaily.com)(3-2-2006)

Davis Sticking with it: Bill Davis said a recent $6.5 million judgment against his Bill Davis Racing #22,#23,#55 in Cup] team will not force him out of business. Dodge sued BDR for breach of contract and the jury awarded the judgment Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court in Michigan. The jury decided that BDR had given confidential Dodge information to Toyota while the team was developing a truck for Toyota. Dodge terminated its Cup contract with BDR in May 2003 after it discovered BDR's building of Toyota trucks and promptly filed suit. Davis plans to appeal the verdict, but said Feb. 17 that if it stands, his race team will not fold. He fields three full-time trucks for Toyota and one full-time and one part-time team in Cup. He plans to run two full-time Cup teams for Toyota in 2007.(NASCAR Scene)(2-18-2006)

Davis loses Dodge lawsuit UPDATE 2: hearing the breach of contract lawsuit between DaimlerChrysler and Bill Davis Racing has been won by DaimlerChrysler/Dodge.(2-9-2006)
UPDATE: DaimlerChrysler won a $6.5 million judgment Thursday against Bill Davis Racing in a breach of contract dispute in U.S. District Court in Detroit. A 7-member jury deliberated 4 hours after a 17-day trial before awarding the judgment to the Auburn Hills carmaker, which alleged that the North Carolina-based race team violated a six-year contract in 2003 by passing confidential Dodge Motorsports technology, parts and information to Toyota. The automaker said Bill Davis Racing helped Toyota develop a prototype Tundra racing truck for NASCAR.s Craftsman Truck series at the same time Davis was under contract to prepare DaimlerChrysler stock cars for the Winston Cup Series, now the Nextel Cup Series. After terminating its contract and suing Davis in federal court, DaimlerChrysler said it learned that Davis had signed a contract in February 2003 to provide a car to General Motors for the Winston Cup Series. DaimlerChrysler said both competitors used the information to develop engines for the Craftsman, Nextel Cup and Busch racing series. Bill Davis Racing denied the charges, countersued and sought $8.5 million to $9.8 million from DaimlerChrysler for breach of contract. The jury gave DaimlerChrysler what it asked for, $6.5 million. U.S. District Judge George Steeh gave Bill Davis Racing three weeks to file post-trial legal briefs, which could include a request to set aside the verdict. The company.s lawyer declined to comment on the verdict.(Detroit Free Press)(2-9-2006)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis Racing is disappointed with the decision of a federal court jury in Detroit that Bill Davis Racing breached its Motorsports Agreement with DaimlerChrysler’s Dodge division to race vehicles in NASCAR’s Cup Series. Bill Davis, President of Bill Davis Racing, stated, “We disagree with the jury verdict. We fully intend to exercise the opportunity extended by US District Court Judge George Steeh and ask the Court to set aside this verdict. If necessary, we intend to appeal the verdict to the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Our racing sponsors and business partners have remained supportive during the legal process and our full effort remains focused on bringing success to their NASCAR programs.” Bill Davis Racing will not have any comment on this issue as the appeal process moves forward.(BDR)(2-1-2006)

Allied Steel Bldgs to Bill Davis Racing: Allied Steel Buildings Inc is taking a next step in their NASCAR involvement by joining Bill Davis Racing Teams during this year’s events. Allied is expanding its NASCAR involvement after serving as a part-time associate and primary sponsor of the #50 Arnold Motorsports car during the 2005 season. “Allied Steel is still fairly new to this sport, so it is an honor the company has chosen to come on board with us. It’s also an honor to get to carry the Allied Steel banner. It is a great company with great standards,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president. “We are really thrilled to be a part of NASCAR as a full-time sponsor for the new 2006 season,” said Allied’s President, Michael Lassner. “It’s such an honor to be affiliated with Bill Davis and his racing teams. They plan to be one of the best on the race track this year and we will do everything that we can to help them make that happen,” said Lassner.(eMediaWire), no word on which of BDR's teams it will be a sponsor for or at what level, primary or as an associate.(1-31-2006)

Special CAT schemes: the #22 Caterpillar Dodge will run two special schemes with Dave Blaney, Ground Engineering Tools scheme at Michigan in June and E-Series Backhoe scheme at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. See the schemes on my #22 Team Schemes page.(1-31-2006)

Toyota Team Images:
2007 #22 Team Schemes Page
2007 #55 Team Schemes Page
2007 #83 Team Schemes Page

Three Teams to field Camry's in 2007 Cup Series UPDATE: hearing that Bill Davis Racing [#22,23], Michael Waltrip Racing [#55] and Team Red Bull will run the Toyota Camry in 2007 when Toyota enters the series. In addition to Red Bull, other sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, NC, and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt [Penske] will serve as the team's general manager. Who will drive for Red Bull? how many teams/cars? not sure, Robby Gordon, who owns his own team has been sponsored by Red Bull. And have heard that Kevin Harvick, who drivers the #29 RCR Chevy, could be one of the drivers for Red Bull team. Expect these teams, but doubt the Red Bull drivers, in part to be announced at Toyota's Press Conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway tonight.(1-24-2006)
UPDATE: One veteran race team with close to 20 years of stock car experience, another with an owner who has been driving race cars for more than 20 years, and a third totally new team will all be running the Toyota Camry in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull will all utilize the "Most Popular Car in America" when the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season kicks-off next February with the Daytona 500, Toyota and teams announced.
Bill Davis Racing has been a regular competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1993, while Michael Waltrip Racing has primarily been involved in the Busch Series. Team Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, although the company has been heavily involved in worldwide motorsports. In addition to Red Bull, other primary sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Caterpillar has been associated with Bill Davis Racing for nine years and NAPA has had a relationship with Michael Waltrip for five years.
"Based on our motorsports experience, we know the importance of working with experienced teams and partners," said Jim Aust, vice president of Toyota Motorsports and president and CEO of TRD, U.S.A. "We have developed excellent relationships with Bill Davis and the Waltrip family --- and look forward to developing a similar relationship with the Red Bull team as Toyota joins one of the world's most competitive racing series."
"Next year -- 2007 -- marks Toyota's 50th anniversary in America and seeing a Toyota Camry -- America's best-selling car -- in the NEXTEL Cup Series will be a great way to celebrate this milestone," said Kim McCullough, TMS corporate manager, marketing communications. "The response to Toyota's involvement in the Craftsman Truck Series has been very positive, and we look forward to building on that acceptance at the next levels -- in both NEXTEL Cup and Busch racing."
The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in America for four straight years and eight of the past nine years. Assembled at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky. plant, more than six million Camry models have been sold in the United States since its debut 23 years ago. The all-new 2007 Camry, a complete redesign from previous models, was recently introduced at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.
Bill Davis has been involved in NASCAR competition for 18 years. During his tenure as a NASCAR team owner, the Arkansas-native has worked with some of the sport's top drivers and claimed numerous honors, including the 1991 Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year award with driver Jeff Gordon, and a 2002 Daytona 500 win with driver Ward Burton. Bill Davis Racing has 18 victories, 38 poles, 104 top-five finishes and 257 top-10 finishes as a NASCAR team owner. In 2004, Bill Davis Racing partnered with Toyota to field three Tundras in the Craftsman Truck Series. In two seasons participating in the NCTS, the Bill Davis Racing drivers have combined for two wins, 11 poles, 22 top-five finishes and 41 top-10 finishes. The team will again field three Tundras in the series in 2006.
Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, formed his own race team nearly a decade ago in Sherrills Ford, N.C. Established primarily as a Busch Series team -- where Waltrip would collect four wins and six poles -- the organization began fielding cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on a limited basis over the past few years. In order to better prepare for the expansion of his team, Waltrip announced plans last August to develop, design and create 'Waltrip Racing World' -- an interactive, high-tech race shop that will feature more than 125,000 square-feet of shop space, buildings and housing when completed.
Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, N.C., and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt will serve as the team's general manager. Although Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition, the world's leading energy drink company has been increasingly involved in global motorsports over the last decade. Red Bull owns and operates two Formula One teams -- Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso -- plus is an active supporter of action and adventure sports, music and culture, along with motorsports.
In 2004, Toyota became a regular competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) -the first new manufacturer in elite NASCAR competition in more than 50 years. In its inaugural NCTS season, a Toyota Tundra recorded four wins, five pole positions and 25 top-five finishes. During last year's Craftsman Truck Series campaign, four Toyota drivers -- Todd Bodine (five), Mike Skinner (two), David Reutimann (two) and Brandon Whitt (one) -- combined for nine Tundra wins and Toyota drivers recorded 13 poles. This season, Toyota will again field five teams and nine drivers in the NCTS, including defending series champion Ted Musgrave. Toyota made its initial move into the NASCAR ranks in 2000 with the introduction of a V6-powered Celica in the Goody's Dash Series. In three years in the Dash Series, Robert Huffman won 10 races and earned Toyota it's first-ever NASCAR championship when he claimed the 2003 driver's title.
Powering all of Toyota's American racing programs is TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, Calif., and High Point, N.C. A subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., TRD serves as the North American racing arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota's factory racing engines. In addition, TRD is also the source of high-performance aftermarket products for both street performance and grassroots racing Toyotas. From the race track to the aftermarket product segment, TRD plays a key role in providing Toyota with an enhanced performance image.(Toyota Motorsports Site)(1-25-2006)

Dodge and Bill Davis Racing lock horns in lawsuit: A multimillion-dollar breach of contract lawsuit between DaimlerChrysler and Bill Davis Racing is expected to get under way today in U.S. District Court in Detroit. DaimlerChrysler says Bill Davis Racing, based in North Carolina, violated the terms of a six-year contract in 2003 by passing confidential information to Toyota. The suit says Davis was helping the Japanese automaker develop a prototype Tundra truck for NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. At the time, Davis was under contract to prepare DaimlerChrysler vehicles for the NASCAR Winston Cup series, now the Nextel Cup series. After terminating the contract and suing Davis, DaimlerChrysler says it learned that Davis had signed a contract in February 2003 to provide a car to General Motors for the Winston Cup series. DaimerChrysler is seeking $6.5 million in damages and an injunction to prevent Davis from divulging confidential automotive data acquired from DaimlerChrysler. Davis has denied the charges, countersued and is seeking $8.5 million to $9.8 million from DaimlerChrysler for breach of contract. Davis intends to run two Dodges in the Nextel Cup series this year with drivers Michael Waltrip and Dave Blaney. In the truck series, he will run three Toyota Tundras with drivers Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner and Bill Lester. U.S. District Judge George Steeh will preside over the trial, which is expected to last 2-3 weeks.(Detroit Free Press)(1-18-2006)

Dodge-Davis Lawsuit: The Bill Davis-Dodge lawsuit is to go to jury trial in federal court in Michigan next week and could last two weeks. The long-running legal battle is over Dodge's decision two years ago to withdraw financial sponsorship of Davis' NASCAR team because of his racing ties with Toyota. Davis has Toyota truck teams and is expected to have one of Toyota's lead teams when Toyota steps up to the Nextel Cup tour in 2007.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-12-2006)

BDR to have three teams at Daytona: Bill Davis Racing will field three teams at Daytona; Mike Skinner will pull double duty between trucks and the #23 Cup car. Former Penske South [#2] crew chief Larry Carter has been retained as a consultant and will primarily assist Skinner's team through Speedweeks. Dave Blaney returns to BDR in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge and will be reunited with former Richard Childress Racing crew chief Kevin Hamlin. Michael Waltrip will make his debut for the organization in the #55 NAPA Dodge in February--the #22 and #55 will test next week, but former Winston West driver and current rear tire changer Tom Hubert will sub for Waltrip. Tony Anderson, a six-year BDR veteran who was the chief mechanic for the 22, has been promoted to car chief.(Sporting News)(1-9-2006)

Carter to Bill Davis Racing: although it was announced at Penske Racing that former #2 crew chief Larry Carter was staying there in another capacity, saw this reported on FoxSports.com in a Darrell Waltip article: "With my brother Michael being over at Bill Davis Racing, he's bringing NAPA and some resources. Davis brought back Dave Blaney, who is one of those consistent guys. If you put Blaney in a good car next year, Michael and Blaney could work well together next year. They brought in Larry Carter from the #2 car to help them. That's going to be a big plus. Derrick Finley has a few years under his belt as a crew chief. I see good things happening at Bill Davis Racing. But Michael has to stay out of trouble and finish races — that's got to be his number 1 priority.(FoxSports)(12-28-2005)

Hamlin leaves RCR for BDR? UPDATE Official - Blaney and Hamlin: hearing [or have learned] that crew chief Kevin Hamlin has left Richard Childress Racing and will be the new crew chief at Bill Davis Racing for Dave Blaney and the #22 Caterpillar Dodge with former #22 crew chief Derrick Finley moving over to the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge that Michael Waltrip will drive in 2006.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio show/Sporting News)(11-29-2005)
UPDATE: Blaney Rejoins BDR, Hamlin Assumes Crew Chief Duties: Bill Davis Racing confirmed its future plans for the #22 team Thursday, announcing that Dave Blaney has returned to the racing organization to drive the #22 Caterpillar car in the Nextel Cup Series, with Kevin Hamlin joining him as crew chief.
“In the last couple of years, we just haven’t seen the performance we know the #22 CAT Racing team is capable of, so change was not a choice—it was a necessity,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president of Bill Davis Racing. “Dave is not only a talented and consistent driver, but he is someone I respect and have always enjoyed working with in the past. This will be my first time working with Kevin Hamlin, but I have long admired his work and accomplishments in this sport.”
Blaney, a Hartford, Ohio, native, first drove for Bill Davis in 1998 and 1999, when he piloted the #93 Pontiac in the NASCAR Busch Series. After running a part-time NASCAR Cup schedule in 1999, the team decided to turn its focus to running full-time in the Cup Series in 2000 and continued the effort through 2001. Sponsorship changes and the development of other opportunities led to Blaney’s first departure from BDR in 2002. “I have always understood Dave’s need to pursue other avenues in this business, but it also was understood there were never any bridges burned between us,” Davis said. Blaney returned to Davis’ High Point operation in 2004 to drive part-time in the Nextel Cup Series, along with a Craftsman Truck Series start at Dover in early June. However, the partnership was interrupted once again in late June 2004 when Blaney received an offer to drive full time for Richard Childress Racing, which also marked the first time he drove under the direction of Hamlin. Later that same year, Blaney was named the driver of Childress’ #07 Nextel Cup team for the 2005 season.
“I have been very fortunate to have driven for and with some of the best in this business,” Blaney said. “I enjoyed racing for the Davis’. Bill and Gail have not only been business partners, but they’ve been good friends to me. I’ve spent the majority of my NASCAR career as a BDR driver, so it’s always nice to be able to return to your roots.”
Hamlin joins BDR following a long and successful career at Richard Childress Racing, where he served as crew chief for various drivers including Mike Skinner, Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Jeff Burton, and most recently, Blaney, after RCR revised its crew chief assignments in early November.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(12-1-2005)

Wimmer expects to run Busch/Cup in 2006: Scott Wimmer, who lost his Nextel Cup ride with Bill Davis Racing [#22] after two seasons, expects to race in both the Busch Series and Nextel Cup next year even though most of the best seats are full. "I used to be at the top of the line, but now I'm behind everybody," conceded Wimmer, whose prospects depend on the decisions of other drivers. "If I've got to take a ride with a team that's not right up there. . . and can just stick it out, maybe one of these guys that's getting into these Cup cars next year won't do so well and I'll have a shot."(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-25-2005)

Testing at Kentucky confirms driver changes? Dave Blaney is scheduled to test the #22 Caterpillar Dodge for Bill Davis Racing at Kentucky Speedway on Wed November 30th and Jeff Green is scheduled to test the #0 NetZero Chevy for Haas CNC Racing on Dec 7-8, 2005. Fans can watch from the Turn 3 Fan Center at no charge. Schedule subject to change daily. Test times vary.(Kentucky Speedway site)(11-23-2005)

Blaney to the #22 car? Bill Davis Racing is expected to announce soon it has signed Dave Blaney to replace Scott Wimmer for next season [in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge]. Mike Brown, general manager at Bill Davis Racing, said the team has made its selection and expects to make an announcement in about 10 days. Brown wouldn't confirm Blaney as the choice, but acknowledged Blaney would make a good fit for the High Point-based team. "It would be a welcome sight for the guys at the shop," Brown said of Blaney returning. Blaney drove for the team from 1999-2001. He also drove six Cup races for Davis in 2004 before joining Richard Childress Racing for this season.(Roanoke Times)(11-19-2005)

#55 for Mikey? UPDATE 2 Skinner NOT to the #22? BDR still looking: hearing Michael Waltrip will run the #55 in the NAPA Bill Davis Racing Dodge. DEI chose to keep the #15.(10-28-2005)
UPDATE - Skinner to the #22? Forget those Ward Burton returns stories for Bill Davis Racing next season. Mike Skinner will drive the Caterpillar Dodge #22 in 2006, teaming with Michael Waltrip in the NAPA #55.(RacingOne)(11-1-2005)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis Racing reiterated and confirmed today, contrary to recent rumors, a new driver has not been signed to pilot the #22 Caterpillar Dodge in 2006. “We are still finalizing the details around the CAT Racing program for next year,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president. “Of course, we have our eye on what the ideal fit would be and are hoping everything works out that way.” Recent rumors have developed around Davis’ Toyota Racing driver, Mike Skinner, as being the next one to fill the seat of the #22, but Davis stated that is not part of the game plan. “I don’t know how stuff like this gets started, but none of that is true,” Davis said. “Skinner is a great driver and is doing a great job for us and Toyota in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. We’re all happy with that entire program and how it is progressing. We’re hoping it will be even more successful in 2006. I cannot stress this enough, but we are not going to do anything to distract from that. Skinner is the fulltime driver of the #5 Toyota Tundra and there are no plans, nor were there ever, to put him in the #22 car.” Davis is asking for everyone’s patience in this matter and wants to remind everyone that until BDR officially announces its plans, everything else is hearsay and pure speculation. “People don’t realize when they concoct stuff like this, how it can truly be detrimental to the business side of this sport,” Davis said. “I am working hard to get everything nailed down for next year and as soon as that is done I will be very eager to let everyone else know about it. Hopefully, we will be able to announce the future plans for the #22 team in the near future.”(Bill Davis Racing)(11-2-2005)

It's in the mail for Wimmer: For Scott Wimmer, the news he wouldn't be back in Bill Davis' #22 Caterpillar Dodge came in the mail, two weeks after he'd been told his job was safe. "I'm kind of shell-shocked over that," he said. "Two weeks ago I was in the car, then I got a letter in the mail saying I'm out," he said. "But we'll move on and hopefully find something better."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-29-2005)

Wimmer/BDR part ways after 2005: Bill Davis Racing announced today Scott Wimmer will finish the 2005 season as the driver of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, but will not be returning behind the wheel of the #22 car in 2006. This will mark the conclusion of a four-year relationship in which car owner Bill Davis and Wimmer started in 2001, when Davis signed the young driver to a multi-year deal to drive for him in the NASCAR Busch Series. “Scott is a good driver and person. I know I speak on behalf of everyone at Bill Davis Racing and our sponsors when I say we wish him well,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president. “This is the part of this business I don’t like. Change isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it is usually the best thing for everyone. I know it is what has made this sport grow and everyone grow who works in it. Scott is going to be successful and he most definitely still has a promising career ahead of him as a race car driver.” While racing together in the NASCAR Busch Series, Davis and Wimmer captured five wins, 17 top-five finishes and 37 top-10 finishes in 104 series starts. In 2002, Wimmer clinched four of the five wins in the last eight races of the season. “We had some exceptional success so quickly, when we got Scott in the Busch car,” Davis said. “We knew we had found a special person with a lot of talent, and just did the next natural thing by putting him in the Caterpillar car.” In late 2003, Davis called Wimmer up to replace Ward Burton as the full-time driver of the #22 Caterpillar car in the elite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. A few months later in February 2004, Wimmer went on to finish third in his first Daytona 500 run. “Scott has gone above and beyond in representing Caterpillar and assisting with the sponsorship program,” Davis said. “It’s strong qualities like that, that are going to be only to his advantage as he moves on.”
There will be two full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup teams housed at BDR’s High Point, N.C. shop next year. Davis announced in September, he had entered into a partnership with Michael Waltrip and NAPA AUTO PARTS to field a second car in 2006. BDR is still working to confirm its final plans for the #22 Caterpillar team’s 2006 season. “We are still working to find a replacement, which has not been designated at this time,” Davis said. “There are some very talented drivers out there right now without full-time rides for next year. Hopefully, we can get someone locked in very soon.”(Bill Davis Racing)(10-26-2005)

Davis beats Dodge again: Bill Davis Racing has won another round in court against Dodge, which sued BDR over its building of Toyota Trucks and giving info to them. A judge rejected Dodge's request that the judge reconsider his July ruling that BDR didn't violate terms of their agreement by building trucks in 2003. The only matter to be disputed is if BDR gave confidential information to Toyota and is scheduled to go to trial in Decemebr at Michigan.(NASCAR Scene Magazine)(10-22-2005)

Wimmer staying at BDR in 2006: General Manager Mike Brown said Friday that Scott Wimmer will remain with Bill Davis Racing next season. Wimmer's contract goes through next season. There had been speculation that Wimmer, 33rd in the point standings, might not remain with the team after this season.(Roanoke Times)(10-8-2005)

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