Texaco/Havoline Team Finishes 11th in Rock & Roll 400
RICHMOND, Va., (September 9, 2006) --- Casey Mears, with the support of the Texaco/Havoline team, earned his best finish at the .75-mile track in Richmond on Saturday night when he drove the No. 42 Dodge Charger to an 11th-place finish.
“All in all that was a good night for me and the Texaco/Havoline team,” said Mears. “That was by far the best race I’ve run at Richmond. Donnie made a heck of a call to keep me on the lead lap with about 150 laps remaining in the race. I have to thank all the guys that worked on our short track program; these are the best cars we’ve ever had. The good news is the car came home in one piece so we can take it to Loudon with us this weekend.”
Mears started the 400-lap event from the 13th position. He told crew chief Donnie Wingo that the car was way too loose in and off the corners. Wingo assured Mears the team would make a chassis adjustment during the team’s first pit stop which came after the caution on lap 34. The Texaco/Havoline team jumped pit wall to put on fresh tires and go down two rounds on the trackbar. Despite a quick stop, Mears was blocked in his pit stall by the No. 12 car. Racing resumed on lap 40 with the No. 42 Dodge Charger in 18th.
Mears slipped back to 21st when the second caution flag was displayed on lap 80. He was still really loose in and off the corners, but was now really tight in the center. Wingo called for a wedge adjustment, air pressure adjustment and tires. Mears was sitting 23rd for the restart on lap 86. It appeared the team started to make progress on the handling of the Texaco/Havoline Dodge, and the team made another wedge adjustment during the pit stop on lap 121. The crew picked up four spots on the stop, and Mears also began to gain spots on the track.
Mears passed the No. 24 car on lap 155 to take over the 17th position. He remained in 17th at the mid-point of the race. The caution flag waved for debris on lap 219 and Wingo called Mears down pit road for an air pressure adjustment, tires and fuel. He held onto the 17th spot for the restart on lap 228.
Mears maneuvered the Texaco/Havoline Dodge around the No. 7 car on lap 233 and the No. 66 car on lap 235 to get back into the top 15. He moved up to 14th on lap 239 when he passed the No. 12 car. The caution flag waved on lap 251 with just 25 cars on the lead lap. Wingo knew that it would only be a matter of time in traffic during a long run before the leaders would catch Mears, so he told him to remain on the track as the leaders pitted. As a result, the No. 42 Dodge started second when the green flag waved on lap 262.
Despite older tires, Mears was able to remain in the top 10 through lap 300. He slipped to 11th on lap 306 with just 20 cars remaining on the lead lap. When the caution flag waved with 80 laps remaining in the Rock & Roll 400, Mears was sitting 13th. Mears made his final pit stop of the night on lap 323 for fresh tires, another wedge adjustment and fuel. The quick stop by the Texaco/Havoline crew moved Mears up to 11th for the restart on lap 327.
Mears battled his way around the No. 18 car on lap 340 to move into the top 10. He remained 10th until the car got loose on lap 382, allowing the No. 10 car to get around him. He held on over the closing laps to bring home an 11th-place effort and his first finish on the lead lap at Richmond.
The top-15 finish kept Mears and the team 15th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings, just 13 points out of 14th. His teammates Reed Sorenson and David Stremme finished 14th and 26th respectively.
The Texaco/Havoline team heads up north to New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend for the 26th race of the season.
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