2011 Year In Review: Dave Blaney's Penalties

Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR

Although Dave Blaney only had one top five and one top 10 finish during the 2011 Sprint Cup campaign, the season would have to be considered a success for he and his Tommy Baldwin Racing team. Before the start of the season, it appeared as though Blaney and his team would go through 2011 on a race-to-race basis without major sponsor backing. Despite not finishing the Daytona 500, Blaney had an impressive run leading three laps. The 36 team struggled in the early going but things turned around in the eighth race of the season at Talladega. Blaney led an astonishing 21 laps on the day and despite a 27th place finish, the small team's effort was enough to impress the folks at Golden Corral who put their name on the side of Blaney's Chevrolet for most of the duration of the 2011 season. Not surprisingly, Blaney's best finish of the year came at the second Talladega race in October where he finished third.

In spite of the success for Blaney and his team in 2011, they finished the year with the most penalties over every other driver/team combination that attempted all 36 Sprint Cup races and was not a start-and-park effort. Most of Blaney's penalties came as a result of having to pit early due to getting involved in incidents on track that required him to pit early. Blaney himself made seven errors this year while his pit crew made four. Even so, it was an impressive effort for an underfunded team to come through the season with only three penalties.

2011 Statistics For Dave Blaney

32nd in Sprint Cup points standings

35 starts

1 top 5

1 top 10

Best Finish: Third in the Good Sam Club 500

28 laps led

2011 Penalty Report For Dave Blaney

Race 4 - Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Engine
Race 5 - Pre-Race to the rear, tail end
Race 6 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field; Intentionally causing a caution, Held 2 laps; Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 10 - Removing equipment from assigned pit area, Tail of Field
Race 12 - Pitting before pit road is open Tail of Field; Pitting before pit road is open Tail of Field; Pitting before pit road is open Tail of Field; Pitting before pit road is open Tail of Field
Race 15 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 18 - Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Transmission; Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
Race 20 - Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
Race 21 - Speed-Exiting pits, pass thru 43; Speed-Exiting pits, stop and go
Race 23 - Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Pass Thru; Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 24 - Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
Race 27 - Pitting out of order, Tail of Field
Race 28 - Removing equipment from assigned pit area, stop and go
Race 31 - Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
Race 33 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 36 - Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap

Most Penalized Drivers In 2011 - Pit Road Closed Penalties

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The fourth and final category featured on this blog is undoubtedly the most straight forward and simple categories. It is also the best indicator of what drivers and teams have had the most problems in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The Pits Closed Penalty lists drivers who have had to pit before the pits are open due to damaged sustained in a wreck, or a part failure that's forced them to go to the pits or the garage area. This category does not include penalties for drivers who are laps down and enter the pits when the pits are open only for the leaders as that is considered to be a driver penalty.

David Gilliland lead all drivers in 2011 with 16 penalties in this category. Bobby Labonte was second with 14 penalties while Brian Vickers, Juan Pablo Montoya and Trevor Bayne tied for third with 10. It should be noted that the highest finishing driver in the points among those listed here was Montoya who finished 21st. There was only one driver who attempted to start all 36 events and was not a start and park team. That driver was the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Tony Stewart. Stewart's title rival, Carl Edwards tied Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton with only three penalties.

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Pits Closed Penalties
38, 34	David Gilliland	16
47	Bobby Labonte	14
83	Brian Vickers	10
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	10
21	Trevor Bayne	10
6	David Ragan	9
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	9
78	Regan Smith	9
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	8
48	Jimmie Johnson	8
13	Casey Mears	7
7	Robby Gordon	7
16	Greg Biffle	7
22	Kurt Busch	7
18	Kyle Busch	7
9	Marcos Ambrose	7
24	Jeff Gordon	7
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	6
00	David Reutimann	6
20	Joey Logano	6
27	Paul Menard	6
1	Jamie McMurray	6
4	Kasey Kahne	6
71, 77	Andy Lally	5
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	5
32, 71	Mike Bliss	5
32, 38	Terry Labonte	5
11	Denny Hamlin	5
17	Matt Kenseth	5
33	Clint Bowyer	5
39	Ryan Newman	5
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	4
2	Brad Keselowski	4
43	A.J. Allmendinger	4
5	Mark Martin	4
31	Jeff Burton	3
29	Kevin Harvick	3
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	3
60, 36, 37	Mike Skinner	3
99	Carl Edwards	3
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	2
09, 46	Bill Elliott	2
87	Joe Nemechek	2
32	Ken Schrader	1
30	David Stremme	1
7	Reed Sorenson	1
95	David Starr	1
15	Michael Waltrip	1
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	1
37	Tony Raines	1
84	Cole Whitt	1
92	Dennis Setzer	1
66, 18	Michael McDowell	0
14	Tony Stewart	0
71	Hermie Sadler	0
46	Scott Speed	0
32	Andrew Ranger	0
77	Steve Wallace	0

Most Penalized Drivers In 2011 - Pit Crew Penalties

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The third category of penalties we feature here is the penalties that are earned by a driver's pit crew. Like the penalties a driver can get in a race, these penalties can prevent a team from winning a race or getting a good finish. This category also is an indication of what teams have the best pit crews in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series. Some of the penalties that fall into this category include too many crew members over the wall, crew members going over the wall too early, crew members losing contact with equipment and lug nuts not installed.

In all, five drivers and their teams led all the rest in receiving penalties in this category in 2011. It's probably not surprising that the underfunded teams of Dave Blaney, David Gilliland and Casey Mears are among the leaders but they are joined by two of Michael Waltrip Racing's drivers, Martin Truex, Jr. and David Reutimann. In fact, it was not a good season to be on any of the crews for MWR as Bobby Labonte's team earned only one less penalty in this category in 2011. Greg Biffle's team also had three penalties in the season, a likely indication as to why he missed the Chase field and didn't run well this season. Jimmie Johnson's Lowe's team also had three penalties as well.

Several teams were able to have a clean 2011 in the pits. While Kurt Busch had a total of 10 penalties due to mistakes on his own behalf, his pit crew did not have a mistake this year. Andy Lally's underfunded team also managed not to cost their driver in the pits as they too did not have a penalty all year. The teams for the two championship contenders of Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards were on their game in 2011 and also were able to avoid making any costly penalties for their drivers.

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Crew Penalties
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	4
38, 34	David Gilliland	4
13	Casey Mears	4
00	David Reutimann	4
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	4
47	Bobby Labonte	3
83	Brian Vickers	3
6	David Ragan	3
16	Greg Biffle	3
48	Jimmie Johnson	3
20	Joey Logano	3
1	Jamie McMurray	3
7	Robby Gordon	2
27	Paul Menard	2
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	1
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	1
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	1
21	Trevor Bayne	1
78	Regan Smith	1
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	1
9	Marcos Ambrose	1
24	Jeff Gordon	1
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	1
31	Jeff Burton	1
32	Ken Schrader	1
39	Ryan Newman	1
87	Joe Nemechek	1
22	Kurt Busch	0
18	Kyle Busch	0
71, 77	Andy Lally	0
32, 71	Mike Bliss	0
4	Kasey Kahne	0
32, 38	Terry Labonte	0
11	Denny Hamlin	0
2	Brad Keselowski	0
43	A.J. Allmendinger	0
17	Matt Kenseth	0
33	Clint Bowyer	0
29	Kevin Harvick	0
5	Mark Martin	0
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	0
60, 36, 37	Mike Skinner	0
66, 18	Michael McDowell	0
14	Tony Stewart	0
99	Carl Edwards	0
09, 46	Bill Elliott	0
30	David Stremme	0
71	Hermie Sadler	0
7	Reed Sorenson	0
46	Scott Speed	0
95	David Starr	0
15	Michael Waltrip	0
32	Andrew Ranger	0
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	0
37	Tony Raines	0
77	Steve Wallace	0
84	Cole Whitt	0
92	Dennis Setzer	0

Most Penalized Drivers In 2011 - Driver Penalties

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Our second of four penalty categories is driver penalties. Drivers earn this designation in numerous ways including speeding in or out of the pits, passing on the wrong side before the green flag or jumping a restart, purposefully bring out a yellow flag and much more. These penalties are far more severe than the pre-race penalties. A driver making a mistake by speeding in the pits or passing before the green flag can take their team out of a chance at winning or getting a good finish due to the track position that's lost by serving these penalties.

Dave Blaney was the most penalized driver in this category for the 2011 Sprint Cup season. Blaney earned 12 penalties in 36 races, an average of one penalty for every three races. Casey Mears and Travis Kvapil were Blaney's closest competition in the category with 11 penalties each. The biggest surprise was Kurt Busch who received 10 of these penalties this year. Ryan Newman was the only driver who attempted to start all 36 events and wasn't a start and park car that did not earn a single penalty in this category. NASCAR's two title rivals for the Sprint Cup, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards had five of these penalties total, four by Stewart and one by Edwards which came late in the season.

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Driver Penalties
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	12
13	Casey Mears	11
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	11
22	Kurt Busch	10
71, 77	Andy Lally	9
47	Bobby Labonte	7
83	Brian Vickers	7
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	7
00	David Reutimann	6
16	Greg Biffle	5
27	Paul Menard	5
32, 71	Mike Bliss	5
32, 38	Terry Labonte	5
38, 34	David Gilliland	4
6	David Ragan	4
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	4
48	Jimmie Johnson	4
18	Kyle Busch	4
4	Kasey Kahne	4
2	Brad Keselowski	4
14	Tony Stewart	4
7	Robby Gordon	3
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	3
1	Jamie McMurray	3
9	Marcos Ambrose	3
24	Jeff Gordon	3
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	3
43	A.J. Allmendinger	3
31	Jeff Burton	3
29	Kevin Harvick	3
71	Hermie Sadler	3
21	Trevor Bayne	2
20	Joey Logano	2
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	2
17	Matt Kenseth	2
32	Ken Schrader	2
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	2
66, 18	Michael McDowell	2
46	Scott Speed	2
78	Regan Smith	1
11	Denny Hamlin	1
33	Clint Bowyer	1
5	Mark Martin	1
99	Carl Edwards	1
09, 46	Bill Elliott	1
30	David Stremme	1
95	David Starr	1
32	Andrew Ranger	1
77	Steve Wallace	1
39	Ryan Newman	0
60, 36, 37	Mike Skinner	0
87	Joe Nemechek	0
7	Reed Sorenson	0
15	Michael Waltrip	0
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	0
37	Tony Raines	0
84	Cole Whitt	0
92	Dennis Setzer	0

Most Penalized Drivers In 2011 - Pre-Race Penalties

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With the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season ending this past weekend at Homestead, we're going to take a look at the four penalty categories that are featured on this blog. Up first is the pre-race penalty category. This category is for drivers and teams that have had problems prior to the race every week. The various scenarios of getting this penalty include having to change an engine or transmission, having to go to a back-up car, making unapproved adjustments missing the driver's meeting or driver introductions or having a qualifying lap disqualified.

Two drivers/teams shared the distinction of having earned this penalty more than any other, Dave Blaney and Robby Gordon. One would venture to guess that this penalty would feature drivers/teams that struggle from race to race due to low sponsorship funding and the inability to get the freshest and best parts but that theory was debunked by David Reutimann, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Those three Toyota drivers along with another Toyota campaigner, Michael McDowell had to start at the rear of the field three times during the 36-race season though it should be noted that one of McDowell's penalties came late in the season at Phoenix when he served as a replacement for the suspended Kyle Busch.

There were many drivers who did not have an infraction this season, most notably 2011 Sprint Cup champion, Tony Stewart and series runner-up, Carl Edwards.

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Pre-Race Penalties
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	5
7	Robby Gordon	5
00	David Reutimann	3
18	Kyle Busch	3
11	Denny Hamlin	3
66, 18	Michael McDowell	3
13	Casey Mears	2
16	Greg Biffle	2
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	2
20	Joey Logano	2
78	Regan Smith	2
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	2
32	Ken Schrader	2
60, 36, 37	Mike Skinner	2
47	Bobby Labonte	1
38, 34	David Gilliland	1
6	David Ragan	1
21	Trevor Bayne	1
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	1
32, 71	Mike Bliss	1
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	1
43	A.J. Allmendinger	1
33	Clint Bowyer	1
09, 46	Bill Elliott	1
30	David Stremme	1
7	Reed Sorenson	1
83	Brian Vickers	0
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	0
22	Kurt Busch	0
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	0
48	Jimmie Johnson	0
71, 77	Andy Lally	0
27	Paul Menard	0
1	Jamie McMurray	0
9	Marcos Ambrose	0
24	Jeff Gordon	0
4	Kasey Kahne	0
32, 38	Terry Labonte	0
2	Brad Keselowski	0
17	Matt Kenseth	0
31	Jeff Burton	0
29	Kevin Harvick	0
39	Ryan Newman	0
5	Mark Martin	0
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	0
14	Tony Stewart	0
99	Carl Edwards	0
71	Hermie Sadler	0
87	Joe Nemechek	0
46	Scott Speed	0
95	David Starr	0
15	Michael Waltrip	0
32	Andrew Ranger	0
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	0
37	Tony Raines	0
77	Steve Wallace	0
84	Cole Whitt	0
92	Dennis Setzer	0

Most Penalized Drivers (After 36 Races)

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The title of most penalized driver of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season goes to Dave Blaney. Unfortunately for Blaney, he and his team earned 16 total driver and pit crew penalties for the season. Blaney also leads all drivers when the penalties for starting at the rear of the field and pitting before pit road is open are added up. Four drivers tied for having the least amount of penalties during the season. Keep in mind these drivers attempted to start all 36 races in 2011 and attempted to run the full distance in each event. The least penalized drivers are Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer.

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Driver Penalties	Crew Penalties	Total Penalties
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	12	4	16
13	Casey Mears	11	4	15
47	Bobby Labonte	7	4	11
22	Kurt Busch	10	0	10
83	Brian Vickers	7	3	10
00	David Reutimann	6	4	10
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	9	1	10
16	Greg Biffle	6	3	9
38, 34	David Gilliland	5	4	9
71, 77	Andy Lally	9	0	9
48	Jimmie Johnson	5	3	8
6	David Ragan	4	3	7
27	Paul Menard	5	2	7
1	Jamie McMurray	3	3	6
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	2	4	6
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	5	1	6
7	Robby Gordon	3	2	5
20	Joey Logano	2	3	5
32, 71	Mike Bliss	5	0	5
32, 38	Terry Labonte	5	0	5
2	Brad Keselowski	4	0	4
4	Kasey Kahne	4	0	4
9	Marcos Ambrose	3	1	4
14	Tony Stewart	4	0	4
18	Kyle Busch	4	0	4
24	Jeff Gordon	3	1	4
31	Jeff Burton	3	1	4
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	4	0	4
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	3	1	4
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	3	1	4
21	Trevor Bayne	2	1	3
29	Kevin Harvick	3	0	3
32	Ken Schrader	2	1	3
43	A.J. Allmendinger	3	0	3
71	Hermie Sadler	3	0	3
17	Matt Kenseth	2	0	2
46	Scott Speed	2	0	2
66	Michael McDowell	2	0	2
78	Regan Smith	1	1	2
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	2	0	2
5	Mark Martin	1	0	1
11	Denny Hamlin	1	0	1
30	David Stremme	1	0	1
32	Andrew Ranger	1	0	1
33	Clint Bowyer	1	0	1
77	Steve Wallace	1	0	1
87	Joe Nemechek	0	1	1
95	David Starr	1	0	1
99	Carl Edwards	1	0	1
09, 46	Bill Elliott	1	0	1
7	Reed Sorenson	0	0	0
15	Michael Waltrip	0	0	0
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	0	0	0
37	Tony Raines	0	0	0
39	Ryan Newman	0	0	0
60	Mike Skinner	0	0	0
84	Cole Whitt	0	0	0
92	Dennis Setzer	0	0	0

Driver Number(s)	Driver Name	Pre-Race Penalties	Driver Penalties	Crew Penalties	Pits Closed Penalties	Total Penalties
36, 60, 35	Dave Blaney	5	12	4	6	27
47	Bobby Labonte	1	7	3	14	25
38, 34	David Gilliland	1	4	4	16	25
13	Casey Mears	2	11	4	7	24
83	Brian Vickers	0	7	3	10	20
34, 38	Travis Kvapil	0	11	1	8	20
00	David Reutimann	3	6	4	6	19
6	David Ragan	1	4	3	9	17
7	Robby Gordon	5	3	2	7	17
16	Greg Biffle	2	5	3	7	17
22	Kurt Busch	0	10	0	7	17
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	0	4	1	10	15
48	Jimmie Johnson	0	4	3	8	15
09, 60, 51	Landon Cassill	2	3	1	9	15
18	Kyle Busch	3	4	0	7	14
21	Trevor Bayne	1	2	1	10	14
71, 77	Andy Lally	0	9	0	5	14
20	Joey Logano	2	2	3	6	13
27	Paul Menard	0	5	2	6	13
78	Regan Smith	2	1	1	9	13
1	Jamie McMurray	0	3	3	6	12
56	Martin Truex, Jr.	1	2	4	5	12
46, 38	J.J. Yeley	2	7	1	2	12
9	Marcos Ambrose	0	3	1	7	11
24	Jeff Gordon	0	3	1	7	11
32, 71	Mike Bliss	1	5	0	5	11
4	Kasey Kahne	0	4	0	6	10
32, 38	Terry Labonte	0	5	0	5	10
11	Denny Hamlin	3	1	0	5	9
88	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	1	3	1	4	9
2	Brad Keselowski	0	4	0	4	8
43	A.J. Allmendinger	1	3	0	4	8
17	Matt Kenseth	0	2	0	5	7
31	Jeff Burton	0	3	1	3	7
33	Clint Bowyer	1	1	0	5	7
29	Kevin Harvick	0	3	0	3	6
32	Ken Schrader	2	2	1	1	6
39	Ryan Newman	0	0	1	5	6
5	Mark Martin	0	1	0	4	5
35, 36	Geoffrey Bodine	0	2	0	3	5
60, 36, 37	Mike Skinner	2	0	0	3	5
66, 18	Michael McDowell	3	2	0	0	5
14	Tony Stewart	0	4	0	0	4
99	Carl Edwards	0	1	0	3	4
09, 46	Bill Elliott	1	1	0	2	4
30	David Stremme	1	1	0	1	3
71	Hermie Sadler	0	3	0	0	3
87	Joe Nemechek	0	0	1	2	3
7	Reed Sorenson	1	0	0	1	2
46	Scott Speed	0	2	0	0	2
95	David Starr	0	1	0	1	2
15	Michael Waltrip	0	0	0	1	1
32	Andrew Ranger	0	1	0	0	1
37	Robert Richardson, Jr.	0	0	0	1	1
37	Tony Raines	0	0	0	1	1
77	Steve Wallace	0	1	0	0	1
84	Cole Whitt	0	0	0	1	1
92	Dennis Setzer	0	0	0	1	1