Bill Davis Racing News
Dave Blaney, Mike Skinner News
#22 |
Dave Blaney - Driver of CAT Toyota |
#27 |
Mike Skinner - Driver of the Bad Boy Mowers Toyota |
June 25, 2007
Bill Davis Racing submits modifications to qualifying: Mike Brown, general manager at Bill Davis Racing, recently submitted a plan to NASCAR to change qualifying. Instead of guaranteeing the top 35 in points a starting spot each week, Brown's plan would put more emphasis on qualifying. The top 31 in speed make the field. The final 12 spots would go to the highest remaining cars in car owner points not already in the field. The only champion's provisional would go to the defending champion. (News-Record)
June 23, 2007
Bill Davis Racing hopes to re-sign CAT: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing, says that Caterpillar's sponsorship ends after the season and the team is in talks with the company to continue that partnership. (Roanoke Times)
June 22, 2007
Mayfield out; Leitzinger in #36: There will be two Cat/BDR entries at the road course this weekend. Dave Blaney will be joined this weekend at Bill Davis Racing by road racer Butch Leitzinger who will drive the No. 23 Caterpillar Racing entry at Infineon Raceway. Jeremy Mayfield will return to his regular ride in the No. 36 360 OTC Toyota next week at New Hampshire International Speedway. (JeremyMayfield.com)
May 25, 2006:
Bill Lester visits area Michigan school and MIS: Bill Lester may count racing as his occupation, but there's little doubt he can captivate a crowd and teach a lesson with his voice as well.With the June race weekend at Michigan International Speedway approaching, Lester spoke to a group of Cornerstone Schools students in Detroit on Wednesday,. Before a group of approximately 200 fifth through eighth graders and school administration personnel, including Penske Corporation Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Cornerstone Schools Board of Directors Walt Czarnecki, Lester talked about his career path, showed off his Nextel Cup car and provided valuable advice to the enthusiastic group of students. Lester, an accomplished student himself by virtue of his electrical engineering and computer science degree from the University of California, spoke to the students about following their passions. Though he entered a job at Hewlett-Packard following college, he wasted no time in beginning a racing career, and he discussed chasing his dream of competing in NASCAR. "It wasn't like I woke up one day and decided I wanted to be a race car driver," Lester said. "My road here was very long, very hard, and filled with many obstacles. At the time, I was the only African-American out of a class of 700 engineering students. Lester also spoke to the students about his preparations for running the Craftsman Truck Series and Nextel Cup races in the same weekend. (MIS PR)
March 29, 2006:
Lester and Wife has second son: Barely a week after the excitement of racing in his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bill Lester and his wife Cheryl had another major event to celebrate ... the birth of their second son, Austin Richard Lester, who arrived on the starting grid at 1:56PM on Tuesday, March 28, at 9lb Ooz and 20.5” tall. Following the introduction ceremony and command to start your engines, he immediately posted competitive nap times. Mom, dad, baby and brother Alex are doing fine. (Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)
March 20, 2006:
Crowd favorite Lester: Lester drew a big cheer during Sunday's introductions and spent much of the morning surrounded by photographers and well-wishers. "This is really exciting," said Lester, a regular in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. "I can hardly wait to get started racing." (News-Record)
March 17, 2006:
Kahne wins Pole, Lester makes field: - Bill Lester stole the show from pole-winner Kasey Kahne on Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning a spot in the Golden Corral 500 to become the first black driver to qualify for a race in NASCAR's top series in nearly 20 years. Driving a Dodge fielded by Bill Davis Racing and facing enormous pressure, Lester put up a lap of 190.502 mph early in the Nextel Cup series qualifying session on the 1.5-mile oval. Lester still had to wait for more than an hour to see if he would make it into the 43-car field for Sunday's race. "I'm just glad I was able to realize my dream and get this opportunity," said Lester, who qualified 19th overall. The top 35 cars from last season's owners points are guaranteed starting spots at every race, leaving only eight places to the other entries like the 45-year-old Lester, trying to make a Cup race for the first time. (Washington Post - Starting Line up)
Lester & BDR plans several 2006 races and full 2007 Cup schedule: Bill Lester’s #23 Waste Management Team is scheduled to compete at Atlanta Motor Speedway, at Michigan Speedway in June and at California Speedway in September. More races are expected to be added to the 2006 schedule as additional sponsorship and Lester’s commitments in the Craftsman Truck Series permits, with an eye on the entire NEXTEL Cup schedule in 2007. Atlanta’s Championship Group handles program management and business development, and is expected to announce additional program details over the coming months. Other companies followed (in addition to Waste Management, Championship Group and BDR) as Precision Tune Auto Care, SponsorTRAK.com, Valvoline lubricants, Race Day on Fox Sports Radio, and AJCcars.com have all added their support to Lester’s debut in the Golden Corral 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19th, and Championship Group’s phone lines continue to ring with inquiries for future races. Bill Lester, as you might imagine, is ecstatic. “Ever since I joined Bill Davis Racing to drive in the Truck Series I had hoped we would move up to the NEXTEL Cup Series together,” commented Lester. “Working with the folks at Waste Management and getting to know their employees and values has made me feel like a part of their family too. When BDR and Championship Group told me they were putting together a program focusing on racing in NEXTEL Cup, I never imagined Waste Management would make the jump with me. To say I am proud and honored to have this company behind me is an understatement. We are all committed to bringing out the best in this program, and I can’t wait to flip the starter switch and hit the race track in a Waste Management NEXTEL Cup race car.” (In part from Bill Davis Racing)
March 14, 2006:
Lester to attempt NEXTEL Cup start: Racing never has been about race for Bill Lester. "I've always said I don't consider myself, nor do I want to be considered, a black race car driver," he said. "I want to be a race car driver who happens to be black." He concedes, though, the focus on him Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be much more about history than horsepower. Lester will attempt to qualify for Sunday's Nextel Cup Golden Corral 500 in a Bill Davis Racing car sponsored by Waste Management. At stake is a chance to become the first African-American in NASCAR's premier series since Willy T. Ribbs finished 37th at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, 1986. Despite huge growth in attendance and TV ratings the last two decades, NASCAR has lagged in attracting minority fans and competitors. Lester believes he could help change that. "I've been given a very significant opportunity to be a catalyst for change," Lester said. "If NASCAR wants to be America's sport, it has to be more inclusive of color and more reflective of the shade of people across the country. For me to be front and center on the greatest stage NASCAR has will be significant. There are a lot of people of color who don't follow this sport because there's nobody they can identify with." (More at USAToday.com)
March 12, 2006:
Lester to make Cup debut: Bill Lester is expected to announce at a Tuesday news conference that he'll attempt to make the Cup race next weekend at Atlanta in a Bill Davis Racing car. If Lester makes the race, he would become the first African-American to compete in a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986. (Roanoke.com)
Mar. 2, 2006:
Bill Davis Racing files motion against ruling: 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. (NASCAR Scene Daily)
Feb. 19, 2006:
Lester couple Cup attempts in 2006? Car owner Bill Davis said his team might have a sponsor in place to give Bill Lester a ride in selected Cup races this season. Lester could make his first career Cup start at Atlanta next month. If so, he would become the first African American to start a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs started three races in 1986. (News-Record)
Feb. 11, 2006:
BDR release on Daimler-Chrysler suit, plans to appeal: 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)
Feb. 10, 2006:
Daimler-Chrysler wins suit against Bill Davis: 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)
Jan. 18, 2006:
Dodge vs. BDR heads to court today: 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)
Jan. 12, 2006:
Bill Davis Racing-Dodge suit update: 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. (Salem-Journal)
Jan. 9, 2006:
Bill Davis 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)
Dec.. 7, 2005:.
Finley to serve as Waltrip's Crew Chief
Dec. 1, 2005:
Blaney signs w/BDR officially: 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)
Nov. 29, 2005:
BDR's Blaney testing at Kentucky Speedway: Veteran NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Dave Blaney will put his new car and team through their paces during a one-day test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Blaney will drive the Bill Davis Racing No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge in 2006. He posted two top-10 finishes and closed out the season 26th in the 2005 series standings in the Richard Childress Racing No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet. He has earned nearly $14 million in 199 career series starts. Fans can view testing for free in the designated area outside the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center. Testing usually begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Test times will vary based on team objectives. (BDR)ime for the racing season, which is scheduled to start in September. (WOI-TV)
Nov. 21, 2005:
Blaney to BDR's #22: Dave Blaney will drive the #22 for Bill Davis Racing next season, replacing Scott Wimmer. Blaney says a decision has not been made on a crew chief, but he's content to have Derrick Finley remain in that position. (Sporting News)
Nov. 19, 2005:
Blaney in 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)
Nov. 2, 2005:
No driver signed yet for # 22: 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)
Nov. 1, 2005:
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)
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