Blaney and team score 'moral victory' at Fontana (cont'd)

Henderson put that in perspective. He said he had to make a couple personnel changes earlier this year.

"We had some people who didn't quite carry their weight," Henderson said. "Someone was like, 'What do you mean I didn't carry my weight?' And I had to say, 'Well, you're 25 percent of the workforce.'

"You walk into any shop and there are 100 guys there. Grab 25 of 'em and tell them to stand in the middle of the shop and not to do anything. That's pretty big -- 25 people not moving. If one guy's not doing that for us, it's the same thing."

Blaney said Friday's strong qualifying run is evidence that his team has gotten progressively better since owner Phil Parsons, a former Cup driver himself, formed the team with modest expectations last season. They do what they can with what little they have, and maybe even just a bit more each time out, he said.

"We don't have much stuff," Blaney said. "We'll race once in a while this season when we get enough money put together and a little bit of sponsorship. We'll see. But equipment-wise, I think we've upgraded a lot; so when we do get a chance to race, we'll be better. That's the way I look at it."

Blaney ran eight laps during a morning practice session Saturday at Auto Club Speedway, posting a top lap speed of 177.074 mph that ranked 32nd-fastest of the 43 drivers on the speed chart. But when the final practice commenced, he stretched out on the couch in the hauler and the car stayed in its garage stall -- the team unwilling to risk damaging it for a race that it cannot afford to run.

The No. 66 car was the only one in the 43-car field that did not participate in Saturday's final practice.

"In [the earlier] practice we could run right with other guys, some of the best guys, even on old tires. We don't put new tires on it after qualifying," Blaney said. "This weekend, for us, we can't race. So qualifying well is a moral victory. Running well today in race trim is another moral victory. It's just stuff that we can build on, so when we can go race, we're ready."

Blaney added that he will do what he can to get out of the way of the real contenders for Sunday's victory. It might not be all that easier with him starting up front, but he has earned that right to feel like he belongs -- even if it's only for a few laps.

He laughed when he was asked if he's ever tempted to stay out longer than planned, to extend his weekend by just a few more precious laps.

"Actually, we don't really set it like we're going to come in on this certain lap," Blaney said. "If the car is really good, sure, yeah, we'll stay out a while and race. But if it's not any good, we're not going to jeopardize our car or anyone else's car -- since we're going to come in eventually anyway. That's the thing: you don't want to jeopardize anyone else in this thing, either. So yeah, it's a hard thing."

It's not like he currently sees himself with a whole lot of other options.

"In my situation, my other option is to sit at home. I still don't think that's a better option," Blaney said. "At least I'm here. I'm staying in the car and staying current, or whatever you want to call it.

"If we get some money to race on, I'm here. If something happens to somebody, I'm here. Like I said, I still think it's a better option than sitting at home."

He also knows he is not alone.

"There are only so many sponsored seats at the moment," said Blaney, 47. "And I'm old enough now that they're going to go the other way if it comes down to age. [Fellow driver] Casey Mears is out here doing the same thing -- and he drove for Hendrick and Childress the last few years.

"Man, it's tightened up here as far as good available rides -- and it seems like the only new stuff coming in are guys who can bring their own sponsor or their own money. That's the only way teams are staying alive."

Well, by that and, for the smallest of the small teams, by the type of grit and determination being displayed by Blaney's current close-knit group.

"It's really tough on the four of us -- because we're frustrated, and Dave included. You've got to have the sponsorship," Liptrat said. "All we can do is keep doing what we did here this weekend -- and sooner or later, somebody's got to notice."