Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Mike Bliss was focused on running full-time in NASCAR's Nationwide Series for 2011, without any expectations of running in NASCAR's premiere division, the Sprint Cup season. Plans changed after the 10th event of the year at Darlington as Bliss was called in to drive for Frank Stoddard's fledgling team.
Bliss started 18 Sprint Cup events in 2011, exactly half of the races on the series' docket. Bliss' first priority was to drive Mark Smith's #19 Nationwide car and Bliss did not drive Stoddard's #32 Ford in Sprint Cup races that conflicted with Nationwide races. Bliss' best finish driving the 32 car was 25th on two occasions, at Dover in the FedEx 400 and Chicagoland in the Geico 400. Bliss' best finish of 21st came in the season finale at Homestead in his only race of the season driving Kevin Buckler's TRG Motorsports Ford.
Bliss was black flagged four times in 2011 by NASCAR for speeding in pit road. He also received a penalty for a commitment line violation in the Brickyard 400. The 32 crew did a great job the times Bliss drove for them as they did not receive a penalty all year long.
2011 Statistics For Mike Bliss
Was Not Eligible To Score Points
0 top 5s
0 top 10s
Best Finish: 21st in the Ford 400
3 laps led
2011 Penalty Report For Mike Bliss
Race 14 - Speed-Exiting pits, Pass Thru
Race 18 - Speed-Entering pits, Pass Thru
Race 19 - Speed-Exiting pits, Tail of Field
Race 20 - Commitment Line Violation, pass thru; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 26 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 31 - Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field - Transmission
Race 36 - Speed-Entering pits, pass thru/tail end