Texaco/Havoline Team Finishes 28th after Late-Race Incident
Hampton, Ga. (October 29, 2006) --- Casey Mears and the Texaco/Havoline team were poised for a top-15 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway when an accident on lap 309 dropped them from the lead lap. The No. 42 Dodge Charger suffered extensive damage to the right-front fender that relegated it to a 28th-place finish. "That was disappointing," said Mears. "The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was loose all night, but the team was making the most of it. We were staying on the lead lap and going to get a decent finish, but two cars made contact in front of us and there was really no where to go." Qualifying was rained out on Friday and the field set by points, so Mears took the green flag from the 14th position. Mears had his first close call of the night on lap four when the No. 5 car spun and someone got into the back of the No. 42 Dodge. Racing resumed on lap seven and Mears was now sitting 12th. He slipped back to 16th on lap 22, but worked his way back up to 12th on lap 13 as the tires pressures came up. He passed the No. 29 car on lap 42 to take over 11th before green-flag pit stops began on lap 50. Crew chief Donnie Wingo called Mears down pit road on lap 55 for an air pressure adjustment, four tires and fuel. When pit stops cycled through on lap 66, Mears was sitting 12th with just 16 cars on the lead lap. He told Wingo the car was really loose and dropped back to 13th. The caution flag waved on lap 81 and Mears came down pit road for a wedge adjustment, tires and fuel. Racing resumed on lap 86 with the Texaco/Havoline Dodge in 11th. Mears raced three wide for three laps before being passed by the No. 9 car. He dropped back to 13th on lap 114 and remained there until the second round of green-flag stops began on lap 136. Mears brought the No. 42 Dodge Charger to pit road on lap 145 for an air pressure adjustment in the right rear tire, four fresh Goodyear's and fuel. He immediately complained of a vibration in the tires on lap 146. There were only 15 cars on lead lap by 147 with Mears sitting 14th. The leader was in his rear view mirror on lap 166, and eventually passed the No. 42 Dodge on lap 168. The caution fell on lap 169, and Mears was the recipient of NASCAR's free pass back onto the lead lap. He pitted for air pressure adjustments, a wedge adjustment, tires and fuel on lap 172. Racing resumed on lap 177 with Mears in 13th at the tail end of the longest line. The No. 24 car passed Mears on lap 181 and the caution waved on lap 196 for debris. The car was extremely loose, so the Texaco/Havoline team adjusted it back to the original set up from the start of the race. With just 15 cars on the lead lap, Mears took the green flag on lap 201 in 14th. He told Wingo the car still had no rear grip, and dropped back to 15th when the No. 01 car passed him on lap 205. The leader caught up to Mears again on lap 240, and he fell a lap down on lap 241. Luck was on the team's side once again as the caution flag waved on lap 242 giving the team the pass back onto the lead lap. Mears came down pit road on lap 245 for an air pressure adjustment, to have a rubber put in the left-rear spring and tires. The green flag waved on lap 247 with Mears in 15th. Mears' Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammate David Stremme was involved in an accident on lap 248 that brought the caution out again. He pitted for fresh tires on lap 250 and to have the fuel cell topped off on lap 252. Racing resumed on lap 254 with Mears now sitting 14th. He passed the No. 88 car on lap 256 for the 13th position and remained there until the caution waved on lap 291. The green flag dropped again on lap 295 for just 10 laps. Wingo called Mears down pit road for fresh tires on lap 306. Unfortunately, the team's luck would run out just three laps later following the restart. Two cars collided on lap 309 and collected the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge. The car suffered extensive right-front damage but Mears was able to drive it to pit road. The crew jumped the wall to put on right-side tires and fix the sheet metal damage on lap 311, and put on left-side tires on lap 312. While Mears was trying to stay on the lead lap, NASCAR determined he ran the paddle at the end of pit road and was issued a penalty. He fell a lap down to the leaders, but was still running 15th. The Texaco/Havoline team's hopes for a top-15 finish disappeared on lap 319 when the right-front tire blew out. Mears was able to keep the car off the wall, pitted for two tires and took the checkered flag in the 28th position. Mears' Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates Reed Sorenson and Stremme finished 29th and 39th respectively. The Texaco/Havoline team sits 14th in the standings with just three races remaining in the 2006 season. Mears and the team head to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend for the Texas 300.
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