Blaney and Bodine Switch Teams for the Remainder of the Season
Dave Blaney will drive the No. 35 Big Red Chevrolet and attempt to qualify for the AAA Texas 500. Geoffrey Bodine will pilot the No. 36 Luke & Associates Chevrolet and is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s 501-mile race. Both cars will compete for kids to eat free in Golden Corral’s “Racing for America’s Families" promotion, where kids eat free on Monday, November 7th if either car finishes in the top-10.
The teams will keep the switch for the final two events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season. Blaney will drive the No. 35 Golden Corral Chevrolet and attempt to qualify for both events at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bodine will stay in the No. 36 Luke & Associates Chevrolet and be guaranteed a spot in both events.
Also, both cars will run “Kids Eat Free" messaging on the TV panel as they compete for the “Racing for America's Families" promotion. If Blaney or Bodine finish in the top-10 in either race, kids eat free at Golden Corral the following Monday.
“With Dave’s experience qualifying these new cars the last few years, we felt like swapping teams was best for our partners and will give us the best opportunity to get both cars in the field," explained TBR Owner Tommy Baldwin. “We appreciate all that Dave has done this year to help the team meet our goal of finishing in the top-35 in owner points and that he has been a team player all year. Geoff hasn’t had a lot of seat time in these new Cup cars, which makes qualifying for these races even harder. I have faith in Geoff to get it done on Sunday and being able to focus on race day will reduce his learning curve."