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 havent seen the performance we know the #22 CAT Racing team is capable of, so change was not a choiceit 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 Blaneys first departure from BDR in 2002. I have always understood Daves 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 theyve been good friends to me. Ive spent the majority of my NASCAR career as a BDR driver, so its 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)
