Mears Earns Career-Best Finish in Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 19, 2006)
--- Casey Mears and his new No. 42 Texaco/Havoline team officially started the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season together on Sunday, and earned a career-best finish for Mears. He crossed the finish line second in the 48th running of the historical Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
"I couldn't be happier," said Mears. "It's so hard to get good finishes in restrictor-plate races. So many people can affect the outcome. But the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running well and we were able to hold the bottom there in the end and fend a few people off. It was a good day for us. The biggest thing is that it starts us out right in the points this year."
Mears started the 200-lap event from the 14th position after finishing seventh in the Duels at Daytona on Thursday. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was strong at the beginning of the Daytona 500, but the sturdy winds and a steady mist seemed to tighten up the track significantly. The first caution of the race fell on lap 18 with the No. 42 Dodge Charger in 12th. Mears came down pit road for four fresh Goodyear's, an air pressure adjustment and fuel. The Texaco/Havoline crew's quick stop boosted Mears into the top 10.
Racing resumed on lap 20, but Mears was still struggling with a tight car. He drafted in the top 15 until the second caution flag waved on lap 47. The No. 42 crew made another air pressure adjustment and fitted the Texaco/Havoline Dodge with four fresh tires before returning Mears to the track in the 10th position. When Mears pulled off pit road, the crew noticed a tire weight had fallen off the car making the car extremely tight for him during the next run.
Mears struggled with the handling of the No. 42 Dodge until a multi-car incident brought out the yellow flag on lap 78. The team was able to put on fresh tires, make a chassis adjustment and pack the car full of fuel. When the green flag waved on lap 84, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was sitting 25th. Mears drafted his way back up to 12th when the yellow was displayed yet again.
This pit stop did not go the way the team hoped. Mears had sustained minor damage on pit road during the last stop, so the team took extra time to pull out the bent sheet metal while performing a routine stop. However, the car stalled as Mears was trying to leave pit road costing the team valuable time and positions. He was sitting 28th when racing resumed on lap 111.
The next 50 laps were extremely frustrating for Mears and the team. Most of the cars around Mears mid-pack seemed content to ride in the back of the pack. It wasn't until the caution flag on lap 154, and a quick stop by the No. 42 crew, that boosted the Texaco/Havoline Dodge back into the top 15 for the restart on lap 158. By lap 163, Mears had maneuvered his way up to 11th and showed no signs of slowing. He shot in three wide into the middle lane, and with drafting help was up to fourth.
The yellow flag waved on lap 176 and Mears brought the car down pit road for the final time. The crew made an air pressure adjustment, changed four tires and added fuel. Several cars elected for two-tire stops, so when racing resumed on lap 180 the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was in seventh. Mears quickly moved back up to fourth on lap 181 and took over the third position on lap 182 behind eventual race winner Jimmy Johnson and fellow Dodge driver Ryan Newman. Just as the racing began to get dicey, the caution flag waved again on lap 186. It took four laps for NASCAR to clean up the track and it appeared there would be a 10-lap shootout to determine the winner of the "Great American Race."
After just six laps of racing, the caution was displayed again setting up a green-white-checker finish. Mears lined up behind Johnson and Newman, with Elliott Sadler in his rear-view mirror. The four cars remained single-file until the white flag waved. Newman stepped out of line and went to the high side, but Mears remained down low to stop a charging Sadler. With a strong shot from Sadler, Mears was able to take the checkered flag inches ahead of Newman and finish second behind Johnson.
"It was pretty wild there at the end," said Mears. "I wanted to go with Newman as soon as he pulled out, the No. 38 had a big run on me and I had to block the bottom. It's just tough to figure out who to go with at the end, but congratulations to Jimmie (Johnson.)"
"This finish just feels really good. We kind of battled through the first part of the race. Our car was really tight at the beginning. Donnie (Wingo) made a lot of good calls and we got it freed up in the end. I got in the middle close to the end there and got a good shove from behind which helped us move to the front. Then we were able to hold it."
Mears now sits second in the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, the highest ranking of his 109-race career. His previous best points ranking (10th) came after Las Vegas in March 2004. He has scored top-five finishes in three of the last four races. He finished fourth at Texas and fifth at Homestead last fall.
His Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates David Stremme and Reed Sorenson finished 28th and 29th respectively.
The Texaco/Havoline team head to California Speedway next weekend for the Auto Club 500.
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Media Relations Contact Information
Heather Kincel
Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates
8500 Westmoreland Drive
Concord, NC 28027
Ph: (704) 662-9642
Fax: (704) 662-9643
Email: Heather Kincel
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