Dave Blaney posted six top-20 finishes in 16 starts during the '04 season. Credit: Autostock

Conversation: Blaney

Driver of the new Jack Daniel's Chevy grasps the responsibility

Dave Blaney is a family man and a veteran NASCAR racer who has seen the sport from just about every angle possible.

Blaney, 42, will get yet another perspective next week when he conducts his first test of the newest Richard Childress Racing Nextel Cup Series Chevrolet.

Last Friday, Blaney was announced as the driver of the No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevy. Blaney competed in eight mid-summer races this season for RCR while the owner determined his organization's future direction.

Blaney on Monday laid down his grinder and took a break from constructing a Quarter Midget for his son Ryan to talk about the impact of racing at RCR with one of NASCAR's first hard liquor sponsorships, working with Nextel Cup teammates Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton and the Blaney family's holiday plans.

Richard Childress signs off on his newest sponsor. Credit: Courtesy Richard Childress Racing

Q: Do you feel at all like you're in a fishbowl, first, to be driving for such a high-profile team that's in a rebuilding process, and then to be on the ground floor of spirits sponsorship in NASCAR?

Dave Blaney: I don't know (laughing). I just feel like I've got a real good shot, here. I've got a great chance with Richard Childress and Jack Daniel's and you couldn't ask for a better organization to put this all together.

If we just do our jobs, we're going to be in good shape.

Q: As a father and a guy who's been a pretty good role model throughout your career, what is the biggest concern -- or goal -- you have with the Jack Daniel's program?

Blaney: Well, throughout Jack Daniel's history they've been more proactive in all their ads and campaigns to promote responsible drinking, than any of their competitors.

So that's a big thing for them, to keep that going and now, especially with NASCAR and all the visibility we're going to have we think if we put the right message out there we're going to be able to get it to a lot more people, with all the visibility that NASCAR's got these days.

That's going to be a big responsibility and I think it's in the minds of (the folks from) Jack Daniel's a lot and it's going to be part of everyday living for us, from now on.

Q: You've had a long career and, going back to the start on the short tracks, are these the kinds of issues you ever thought you'd have to deal with, or is it something where you said, 'man, I wish I had that problem.'

Blaney: Yeah (laughing) -- yeah, I guess so. You think now, 'man, that's a lot of responsibility,' but you're thinking that years ago you were wishing that you had that chance and that responsibility.

AUDIO Dave Blaney Veteran talks about his best shot for winning.

No, (it's not a problem). I'm looking forward to it, really. I'm looking forward to being a part of all their responsible campaigns and just looking forward to running for this race team, as well.

The little bit that I've been around all the Jack Daniel's people, they're just so excited to be in (Nextel Cup racing). They want to come into it first class and to do the right thing and I'm really looking forward to it.

Q: With racing at any level being so much about chemistry, how important is it for you to get hooked up with crew chief Philippe Lopez, who you had a history with at Bill Davis Racing?

Blaney: We have got a pretty good history and it was just an opportunity we had to put this together and it worked out. It's really going to be (something else) over there at Childress' (because) they are so strong, from the top to the bottom of that organization.

They did struggle just a little bit this year -- they didn't win any races and they were struggling more than they're used to, but I saw a lot of improvement in the last third of the year. I watched more races than I wanted to (laughing) so I got to watch them a lot.

I think Jeff Burton really helped things when he came over and it's going to be good.

Q: It seems like getting together with Philippe had a few twists and turns to it, so how much can you say about how close it might have come to not happening? Or what other opportunities might have been there?

Blaney: I think (Philippe) was just over the test team at Gibbs' and I know he wanted to be a crew chief if he had the right opportunity and it just kind of worked out. He had a lot of opportunities, actually, and we were lucky to snag him and have him over here at Childress'.

You know, (RCR) had good guys in place last year. Chris Andrews did a real good job with Robby Gordon and they got another deal going and that was fine. But we're going to be good.

Dave Blaney, left, and Richard Childress Credit: Courtesy Richard Childress Racing

I think everybody's pleased to have Philippe in place -- not only me, but also Kevin Hamlin and Todd Berrier (Burton and Kevin Harvick's crew chiefs). I think they're excited to work with him and I think all of the drivers are really looking forward to working together as well.

So if you can get all the guys in the mix to buy into working together then that's going to help -- if you can keep it going.

Q: Did your limited program last summer with RCR only whet your appetite to get back there, and potentially is this the best opportunity you've had?

Blaney: Yeah, the little bit I ran with them did show me what they had over there and what they were capable of and how quick they can change what they were doing and bring out another car or another style body (if they had to).

It's just lots of resources and lots of people. I think they got comfortable with me a little bit and got to know me a little bit (in the summer) running those few races so it was good because it laid a little groundwork and we knew what could come out of it (if we got together).

Yet, for sure it's got to be my best shot for running up front and winning races, at least from a standpoint of equipment and support all the way down the line. For sure it's my best shot.

Q: You had some downtime from driving late in the summer and into the fall. How did you make good use of it, or did you have any problems figuring out just what the heck you were going to do, not going to the racetracks every week?

Blaney: Well (laughing) I don't remember being bored too much. I found something to do (laughing), but mainly it was just staying focused on trying to get '05 wrapped up and having a job and a good job -- and looking forward to that.

There was a lot of relief, there when we finally got signed up with Richard and everything was all 'go.'

Q: You had an opportunity to look at it from a seat you didn't want to be occupying, but what was your take on the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup? Do you think it's a positive format for Nextel Cup racing and do you really look forward to getting your teeth into it in 2005?

Blaney: I don't know. There's got to be an upside and a downside to it, no doubt. You know, Jeff Gordon could have said he'd have won it in the old format and for (Kurt) Busch; it was great (because) he wouldn't have come close in the old format and yet he won it, now.

So I think it was good for the fans. It had to be -- (the way) it turned out to be really exciting in the last couple weeks. It could have gone the other way and it could have been over with a week or two to go, as well, but overall I've got to believe it was good.

I think after you go through it one time I think everybody is going to agree that it was good. A lot of times, change isn't that bad and yeah, hopefully we're in the middle of it (in 2005, because) that's what everybody is shooting for and we're no different.

We'd like to see three of those Childress cars in the middle of it.

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Q: Tony Stewart, whose motorsports involvement is about as diverse as your own, recently joined the ranks of track operators. Did you and he have any conversations before he picked up Eldora Speedway?

Blaney: No, not really. I knew he was looking at getting it and I knew (previous Eldora owner) Earl Baltes was wanting out, so I knew they were in discussions, but I really didn't talk to him about it any.

He knows what he's getting into (laughing) and what's there so he doesn't need any advice from me. But I think it's great (because) that's a historic place over there. He'll keep it going, probably bigger and better than it has been and it's got quite a following over there and quite a fan base and I'm happy to see it.

Q: What would be the best advice you'd give him, in terms of balancing that short track ownership with conducting a competitive driving career, as you've done the last few years with your family up at Sharon Speedway?

Blaney: It's just the people you've got taking care of the racetrack. My family, between my mother and father, my brother and my sister in law pretty much take care of the racetrack day to day and do everything (at Sharon).

Now, I'll get in the middle of it in the winter, with scheduling and making some decisions, but they run it. We trust them and they do a great job. As long as you've got somebody that you can be careful laying all that responsibility on, you're good.

Q: What's on the horizon for Sharon in 2005? Are you and Tony going to be able to squeak in some match races as you've done in the past?

Blaney: It's pretty much business as usual (laughing). We've got some World of Outlaws Sprint Car races and Late Model races -- kind of a variety of everything (including) the same things we've had in the past.

We haven't gotten into completing our schedule yet and knowing if we can get Tony or some other guys to come in for some different things. We've had that in the past and it's been pretty popular, so I would say we're going to work on something (to get them there).

Whether it's Tony or maybe a few other good guys over, to have some fun (we'll see).

Q: What's the next time you'll be in a racecar, how antsy does that make you looking forward to it and what do you do -- or can you do -- to scratch the itch through the winter weeks?

Blaney: I drove eight hours up to Ohio to build my son a Quarter Midget (laughing). I had two and a half or three days where I didn't have anything to do so we made something to do.

RCR members welcome the stable's latest title hopeful. Credit: Courtesy Richard Childress Racing

I do know (RCR) has got a test at Kentucky next week. I don't know for sure what we're testing, but we're going to go and see if the weather cooperates.

I don't get too antsy in the wintertime. I've been doing this long enough that I know what to expect and when to expect it and I am looking forward to Daytona because that's going to be a fun couple of weeks.

Q: Looking beyond Speedweeks 2005, have you had any opportunity to test any of the configurations we're going to see in 2005, which include cutting back the rear spoiler height and rev limiters? What's your feeling on the new package?

Blaney: I did go to Homestead while everybody was testing there, a couple weeks before that (season finale) race. We did have an RCR car there in '05 trim with a short spoiler and some of those things.

It was a little bit of a handful and it was different. It did not have near the downforce and (it was) slip-sliding around, but I know they're going to have a different tire to match up with it and maybe have a little more grip in the tires and we didn't have those.

So as far as the whole package, I really don't know for sure, but it's going to be a little bit more of a challenge next year, which is good.

Q: What do you and Lisa and the kids have planned for the holidays? Are there any special Blaney family traditions you're going to carry on?

Blaney: Aaahh -- we got no traditions really (laughing). I think we're going to take a trip. Last year, we took the kids on a cruise over Christmas and I think maybe we're going to go to Jamaica or something this winter.

Lately, here, the last couple of years, instead of a bunch of Christmas presents for the kids, we just all take a trip somewhere together and that's Christmas. They seem to like it (and) mom and dad really seem to like it so maybe that will be our tradition.