Blaney drove the Caterpillar Camry back into the top 10 by lap 107 of the 500-lap event and remained near that spot until he encountered handling trouble around the 163-lap mark. The handling problems caused Blaney to fall to 24th. Leader Tony Stewart put Blaney down one lap on the 214th circuit. A yellow flag shortly thereafter enabled the team to make a track bar adjustment during a pit stop on lap 230. Unfortunately the change did not help, and Blaney fell another lap down on lap 269 while running 29th. This prompted Hamlin to make additional changes during the next pit stop.
Blaney ducked down pit road during a caution period with just over 200 laps remaining, and upon the restart, he communicated to the team that the car was much better. Blaney returned to the top 25 and advanced as high as 21st. NASCAR officials penalized Blaney for speeding down pit road during the final pit stop on lap 489, and he started at the end of the longest line in 26th position. Blaney fought his way into the 23rd spot before the checkered flag finally waved. He picked up two positions in the owners’ point standings and now stands in 37th place heading into next weekend’s race at Martinsville (Va. ) Speedway.
The Caterpillar Racing team sticks close to home as it heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Orange Crush 500 next weekend. Qualifying will be held Friday afternoon, and Sunday afternoon’s race is scheduled for a 2 p. m. ET start.
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