Mike Bliss

**Michael D. Bliss** is an American professional stock car racing driver. He lasted competed part-time in the NASCAR Pepsi Cup Series, driving the no.33 Circle Spot Chevorlet in 2015.

Bliss only ran three full seasons in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

## Career

### 2000: Rookie Year

In 2000, Bliss signed to drive the No. 14 Conseco-sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix owned by A.J. Foyt Racing in a bid for NASCAR Pepsi Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors.

Bliss started 2000, 33rd in the Daytona 500. However the following six races saw Bliss suffer bad finishes with a highest finish of 28th in the 2000 DirecTV 500 at Texas. Bliss was released after Texas. Bliss then moved over to Eel Racing to drive their no.27 Pontiac for the year. Bliss started his run with Eel River 35th at Martinsville. Bliss closed out the year with his first top ten after finishing 9th at Talladega in the fall and one top twenty at New Hampshire. Bliss finished 39th in the final standings. Bliss was let go from Eel River Racing after the season.

### 2001-2004: Part-Time

In 2001, Bliss returned to Eel River for only three races at Daytona, Chicagoland, and New Hampshire. He finished 40th at Daytona, 46th at Chicagoland, and 44th at New Hampshire. Bliss wouldn't make any more starts in 2001.

The following year in 2002, Bliss only participated in one race which was the 2002 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville in Chip Ganassi's no.39 R&D Dodge, where he finished 14th after Jamie McMurray was unable to compete that weekend.

In 2003, Bliss raced in two races, driving the no.80 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs at Daytona in July, and Talladega in October. Bliss finished 26th at Daytona and 47th at Talladega.

Bliss continued his two race deal with JGR in 2004, this time at Chicagoland and Richmond. Bliss finished 38th at Chicagoland after a crash. But at Richmond Bliss was very competitive and ended up finishing 4th for his first top five in the Pepsi Cup.

Nine weeks later, Bliss then was announced to drive the no.0 Chevorlet for Haas CNC Racing in the final two races of 2004, replacing Ward Burton, while Burton took over Bobby Spencer Racing's no.74 Chevorlet. Bliss finished 10th at Darlington, and 47th at Homestead.

### 2005: Haas CNC Racing

Bliss signed with Haas CNC and the no.0 team, full-time in 2005, making '05 his first full season in five years since his rookie year in 2000.

Bliss began in 2005, 18th in the Daytona 500. He followed with three top twenties in the following three races, before finished 37th in the Food City 500 at Bristol. After Bristol, Bliss finished 36th at Martinsville after overheating took him and the no.0 out after 410 laps. Bliss then scored eleven more top twenties with two tens with a best finish of 7th in the Sharpie 500. Bliss finished 2005, 28th in points.

Bliss however was released in exchange of Jeff Green after Green was let go from Wood Brothers Racing. Bliss was offered to drive a second entry, but Bliss declined after he received an offer for a full season for MB2 Motorsports.

### 2006: MB2 Motorsports/Ginn Racing

In 2006, Bliss joined MB2 Motorsports to drive the team's no.14 Waste Management Chevorlet. Bliss however struggled, with only one top ten at Richmond , and only five top twenties. Bliss was released after the season with a 36th points place finish.