[Mike24]

2008 Preview
#: 22
Driver: Dave Blaney
Sponsor: CAT
Make: Toyota Camry
Team: Bill Davis Racing
2008 Scheme:

Predictions for 2008: BDR goes from the powerhouse Toyota team to second string with Toyota's addition of JGR, which all of Toyota will benefit from. Blaney finished 2007 34th in owner's points and 31st in driver's points, despite missing 3 races. I expect the 22 team to do much better in 2008. Maybe a win for Blaney at New Hampshire, but I think this underrated program, which was underrated even in the years of Dodge and Pontiac with Ward, will finish consistently in the top 25 and finish around 21st-30th in points.

Please contibute your predictions and comments for this driver, but please remember to be respectful of other's opinions, and keep it clean.

Tomorrow: #24 Jeff Gordon

[Mike24]

Testing is over. These are drafting times. Hornish and Franchitti in the top 10, Regan Smith the highest Chevy. Jr. down in 19th.

Jan. 16 Session

Pos. No Name Make Best Time Best Speed

1 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 47.591 189.111
2 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 47.665 188.818
3 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 47.689 188.723
4 01A Regan Smith Chevrolet 47.703 188.667
5 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 47.724 188.584
6 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 47.836 188.143
7 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 47.845 188.107
8 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 47.857 188.060
9 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 47.877 187.982
10 6B David Ragan Ford 47.888 187.939
11 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 47.909 187.856
12 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 47.910 187.852
13 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 47.912 187.844
14 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 47.919 187.817
15 34B Derrike Cope Dodge 47.925 187.793
16 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 47.958 187.664
17 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 48.002 187.492
18 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 48.007 187.473
19 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.014 187.445
20 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 48.019 187.426
21 21B Bill Elliott Ford 48.042 187.336
22 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.052 187.297
23 38B David Gilliland Ford 48.065 187.246
24 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.082 187.180
25 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 48.101 187.106
26 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 48.141 186.951
27 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 48.147 186.928
28 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.179 186.803
29 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 48.429 185.839
30 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 48.456 185.736
31 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.493 185.594
32 08A Carl Long Dodge 48.611 185.143
33 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.636 185.048
34 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 48.679 184.885
35 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.780 184.502
36 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 48.780 184.502
37 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.872 184.155
38 34A Derrike Cope Dodge 48.928 183.944
39 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 48.979 183.752
40 21A Bill Elliott Ford 48.991 183.707
41 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 48.992 183.703
42 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.090 183.337
43 60B Boris Said Ford 49.225 182.834
44 6A David Ragan Ford 49.231 182.812
45 60A Boris Said Ford 49.347 182.382
46 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.421 182.109
47 66C Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.467 181.939
48 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.474 181.914
49 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.642 181.298
50 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.732 180.970
51 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.788 180.766
52 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.171 179.386

[Mike24]

These are the best cumulative speeds (Single car runs) from 2008 Daytona Testing

Best Lap By Each Driver - Single Car Runs

Pos Car# Driver Manu Time Speed When
1 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 48.434 185.820 Day5am
2 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 48.53 185.445 Day4pm
3 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.555 185.357 Day5am
4 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.57 185.307 Day4pm
5 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.57 185.292 Day4pm
6 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.62 185.094 Day4pm
7 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevy 48.706 184.782 Day1AM
8 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.72 184.737 Day4pm
9 5B Casey Mears Chevy 48.761 184.574 Day1AM
10 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.77 184.555 Day4pm
11 27B Jacques Villeneuve Toyota 48.792 184.456 Day2AM
12 28B Travis Kvapil Ford 48.875 184.143 Day2AM
13 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 48.896 184.064 Day1PM
14 84B A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 48.900 184.049 Day2AM
15 96B J.J. Yeley Toyota 48.951 183.857 Day2AM
16 38A David Gilliland Ford 48.96 183.835 Day4pm
17 24A Jeff Gordon Chevy 48.964 183.809 Day2AM
18 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.03 183.572 Day4pm
19 00A David Reutimann Toyota 49.043 183.512 Day1PM
20 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.07 183.408 Day4pm
21 1A Aric Almirola Chevy 49.082 183.367 Day1PM
22 87 Jeff Fuller Chevy 49.1 183.299 Day4pm
23 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.13 183.199 Day4pm
24 1A Martin Truex, Jr. Chevy 49.142 183.143 Day2AM
25 6B David Ragan Ford 49.160 183.076 Day5am
26 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.194 182.949 Day5am
27 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.196 182.942 Day5am
28 34A Eric McClure Dodge 49.23 182.823 Day4pm
29 42B Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 49.250 182.741 Day1PM
30 66H Scott Riggs Chevy 49.253 182.730 Day5am
31 17B Matt Kenseth Ford 49.265 182.685 Day2AM
32 60B Boris Said Ford 49.27 182.674 Day4pm
33 15A Paul Menard Chevy 49.28 182.645 Day4pm
34 70A Jeremy Mayfield Chevy 49.287 182.604 Day1PM
35 19A Elliott Sadler Dodge 49.292 182.585 Day1PM
36 01B Regan Smith Chevy 49.3 182.548 Day4pm
37 16B Greg Biffle Ford 49.316 182.497 Day2AM
38 78A Joe Nemechek Chevy 49.331 182.441 Day2AM
39 98A Jason Keller Dodge 49.337 182.419 Day2AM
40 8A Mark Martin Chevy 49.344 182.393 Day2AM
41 7A Robby Gordon Ford 49.344 182.393 Day2AM
42 07A Clint Bowyer Chevy 49.362 182.326 Day2AM
43 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 49.362 182.326 Day2AM
44 41A Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.380 182.260 Day2AM
45 99A Carl Edwards Ford 49.403 182.175 Day1PM
46 31A Jeff Burton Chevy 49.403 182.175 Day5am
47 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 49.408 182.157 Day1PM
48 50A Stanton Barrett Chevy 49.409 182.153 Day5am
49 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.430 182.076 Day5am
50 29A Kevin Harvick Chevy 49.47 181.939 Day4pm
51 33 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevy 49.551 181.631 Day1PM
52 26B Jaime McMurray Ford 49.607 181.426 Day4am
53 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.661 181.229 Day5am
54 09B Sterling Marlin Chevy 49.758 180.875 Day5am
55 08A Carl Long Dodge 50.410 178.536 Day5am
56 57A Norm Benning Chevy 50.89 176.856 Day4pm

[Mike24]

These are the best cumulative speeds (Drafting) from 2008 Daytona Testing

Preseason Thunder Practice Both Sessions - Best Drafting by Driver


Rank Car# Driver Manu Time Speed When
1 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 47.591 189.111 Day6
2 18B Kyle Busch Toyota 47.662 188.830 Day3pm
3 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 47.665 188.818 Day6
4 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 47.689 188.723 Day6
5 01A Regan Smith Chevy 47.703 188.667 Day6
6 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 47.724 188.584 Day6
7 17B Matt Kenseth Ford 47.747 188.494 Day3pm
8 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 47.836 188.143 Day6
9 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 47.845 188.107 Day6
10 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 47.857 188.060 Day6
11 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 47.877 187.982 Day6
12 6B David Ragan Ford 47.888 187.939 Day6
13 41B Reed Sorenson Dodge 47.894 187.915 Day3pm
14 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 47.909 187.856 Day6
15 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 47.910 187.852 Day6
16 15A Paul Menard Chevy 47.912 187.844 Day6
17 24B Jeff Gordon Chevy 47.914 187.837 Day3pm
18 1B Martin Truex, Jr. Chevy 47.922 187.805 Day3pm
19 84B A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 47.922 187.805 Day3pm
20 34B Derrike Cope Dodge 47.925 187.793 Day6
21 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 47.958 187.664 Day6
22 29B Kevin Harvick Chevy 47.992 187.531 Day5pm
23 66H Scott Riggs Chevy 48.007 187.473 Day6
24 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 48.014 187.445 Day6
25 31A Jeff Burton Chevy 48.019 187.426 Day6
26 96A J.J. Yeley Toyota 48.036 187.359 Day2pm
27 5B Casey Mears Chevy 48.040 187.344 Day3pm
28 21B Bill Elliott Ford 48.042 187.336 Day6
29 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 48.047 187.317 Day2pm
30 8A Mark Martin Chevy 48.049 187.309 Day3pm
31 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.052 187.297 Day6
32 38B David Gilliland Ford 48.065 187.246 Day6
33 16A Greg Biffle Ford 48.075 187.207 Day3am
34 99A Carl Edwards Ford 48.089 187.153 Day3pm
35 48B Jimmie Johnson Chevy 48.090 187.149 Day3am
36 78B Joe Nemechek Chevy 48.093 187.137 Day2pm
37 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.099 187.114 Day5pm
38 42B Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 48.107 187.083 Day3pm
39 00B David Reutimann Toyota 48.111 187.067 Day3pm
40 28A Travis Kvapil Ford 48.118 187.040 Day3pm
41 07B Clint Bowyer Chevy 48.157 186.889 Day3pm
42 7B Robby Gordon Ford 48.181 186.796 Day2pm
43 27A Jacques Villeneuve Toyota 48.295 186.355 Day3am
44 70A Jeremy Mayfield Chevy 48.299 186.339 Day3am
45 19A Elliott Sadler Dodge 48.332 186.212 Day2pm
46 09A Sterling Marlin Chevy 48.345 186.162 Day5pm
47 50A Stanton Barrett Chevy 48.429 185.839 Day6
48 34A Eric McClure Dodge 48.434 185.820 Day5pm
49 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 48.456 185.736 Day6
50 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 48.516 185.506 Day3pm
51 08A Carl Long Dodge 48.611 185.143 Day6
52 87 Jeff Fuller Chevy 48.969 183.790 Day5pm
53 1A Aric Almirola Chevy 49.082 183.367 Day1pm*
54 60B Boris Said Ford 49.225 182.834 Day6
55 33 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevy 49.304 182.541 Day3pm
56 98A Jason Keller Dodge 49.375 182.278 Day1pm*
57 57A Norm Benning Chevy 50.171 179.386 Day6

[nbaker9-91]

Woohoo Kahne!!!!!!
Blaney: I think we could see him doing some pretty good performances this year and keep the top 35

[Jason Roush]

No wins for Blaney in '08. Possibly a pole at a track like Atlanta. I see him finishing 30th in points.

[DaveyFan28]

If Toyota has some success this year, maybe Blaney can finally see the consistency he's shown potential to have. I wouldn't be surprised if he finished in the top 20 in points this year. BDR & Toyota might just be strong enough to do that.

--DF28

[Batman1138]

stays in top 35, maybe 4 top tens. I like Blaney, he's got the talent, he just needs to be in better equipment. He was at RCR before RCR got back to their winning ways.

[Mike24]

2008 Preview
#: 24
Driver: Jeff Gordon
Sponsor: DuPont
Make: Chevrolet Impala SS
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
2008 Scheme:

Predictions for 2008: Jeff Gordon had his best season of his career in 2007. 7 poles, 6 wins, 21 top 5's and a modern era record, 30 top 10's. The only disappointment on Jeff's year was finishing second in points, robbed of another title by the screwed up Chase system...but this isn't a discussion about the chase, so I digress. If Jeff's been gettng back to his old form over the last two years, and in 2008, he'll continue to run at this level, if not better, with a stronger core of teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, the strongest team in NASCAR. In 2008, Jeff win win between 4-8 races, moving into sole position of 3rd on the All-Time wins list, and he'll put up similar top 5 and top 10 numbers as he did in '07, with the COT running in every event. Final points position? Jeff Gordon will win the 2008 Sprint Cup Championship, winning outright on both the old system and the Chase system (Which, by the way, would be his 7th championship on the old system and 7 title in 14 years...so there will be no way to compare old system titles to new system titles...mostly because, they never took points away from Dale and Richard (outside of penalties), during the season).

Please contibute your predictions and comments for this driver, but please remember to be respectful of other's opinions, and keep it clean.

Tomorrow: #26 Jamie McMurray

[Batman1138]

Gordon I say 4 or 5 wins, top 5 in points, bunch of poles. Does finish ahead of Jimmie Johnson. And I will explain why I think so once we get to the #48. And since I all ready picked Kenseth as Cup Champ that means in my book Gordon finishes at least second.