Syracuse Dave Blaney Preview

'BUCKEYE BULLET' DAVE BLANEY AT SYRACUSE TWICE IN OCTOBER WEEDSPORT, NY...Super DIRT Week XXVII marks the return of Dave Blaney to the New York State Fairgrounds for another shot at winning the world's richest modified event - Eckerd 300. The 'Buckeye Bullet' will be aboard the '98 Team Goewey/TEO Pro car prepared especially for Blaney by owner Bryan Goewey of Clifton Park, N.Y. "We'll actually be debuting the car at Syracuse in the rescheduled Labor Day race," said Goewey, who finished fifth in the 1988 Eckerd 300 to capture Rookie of the Race honors. "It will be the first time out for both Dave and the car. But we're confident he'll still be a contender. Dave's a straight shooter that will tell you to make only a couple of chassis changes and then adapt to everything else. And he knows the things that need to be done to make the car go fast at Syracuse," Goewey added. Power should not be a problem as Kevin Enders has freshened up the Tony Feil motor used last year by former car owner Dan Madsen. Two-time Eckerd 300 champion Jack Johnson timed sixth-fastest in Madsen's no. 87 Dutchess Overhead Door entry a year ago while the same engine carried Jimmy Horton to the prestigious 300-kilometer victory in 1994. Blaney, 35, currently a NASCAR Grand National rookie, has competed in seven previous Eckerd 300s and finished second in 1995, '94 and '89. His only two triumphs at the New York State Fairgrounds were registered in 1993 and '87 sprint car races, when the World of Outlaws performed on the Moody Mile during Super DIRT Week. Blaney and Goewey are hoping to win the 49th Labor Day Classic on Oct. 4 not only to collect the $7,500 first-place prize, but to guarantee them the seventh starting position in the Eckerd 300 that goes with it. "We're also getting ready Jody Tornabene's no. 2J big-block car for the make-up race at Rolling Wheels," Goewey added. "If Dave finishes first or second at Syracuse then he automatically starts in the front row the same night at The Wheels. We'll have some pit stop practice but other than that Dave won't be back in our car until Wednesday." Top Lebanon Valley Speedway sportsman driver, K.C. Goewey, will serve as Blaney's crew chief throughout Super DIRT Week. TEO Chassis builder Bobby Hearn, who also recently designed Syracuse specials for Pat Ward, Bud Christmann, Steve Bottcher and brother Brett Hearn, may only be in radio contact with the Cortland, Ohio native during the main event on Sunday. "About all we have left is to decide on a car number," Goewey said. "All we know right now is the color...red, black and white. We're already excited no matter what the choice." Source: www.dirtmotorsports.com