- MID-RACE ACCIDENT SENDS CARQUEST/KELLOGG’S TEAM TO GARAGE-
42ND-PLACE FINISH KEEPS MEARS IN TOP-35

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 16, 2008) – Casey Mears and the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team spent nearly 100 laps in the Bristol Motor Speedway garage on Sunday repairing extensive damage the No. 5 Chevrolet suffered in an accident on Lap 279.

“The CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet was great today,” Mears said. “We got tight for awhile, and that moved us back a little bit, but we had just gotten the handling back to where it needed to be.

“I don’t know how we keep getting caught up in these accidents that have nothing to do with us. This ‘bad luck’ or whatever it is has to go at some point.”

Persistent rain showers on Friday forced NASCAR officials to cancel NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying so the starting line-up was set by the 2007 owner standings.

Mears started Sunday’s 500-lap race from the fifth position. Although the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet was slightly tight in the center of the turns, Mears advanced one position to fourth prior to NASCAR’s competition caution on Lap 50. The No. 5 pit crew changed four tires and added fuel during its first pit stop of the race. Mears rejoined the field in fifth place.

As the race continued, a layer of rubber started to build up on the clean race track, causing the surface to become tighter. As that happened, the handling of the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet also grew tighter. The team was able to make adjustments during its second pit stop on Lap 96. With four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, Mears exited pit road in eighth place.

When the race restarted, Mears gained a position to move into eighth. By Lap 150, the Chevrolet again had grown incredibly tight. The handling issue made it difficult for the Chevy to hug the bottom of the race track in the turns. When the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevy slid up the track, its competitors were able to pass by.

Mears fell to 18th by Lap 185. Five laps later, a six-car accident directly in front him brought out the race’s fifth caution. The CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet suffered minor damage to its left front in the accident.

Mears pitted on Lap 193 for left side tires and repairs to the left front. Two laps later, he again pitted, this time for right side tires. The joint stops moved the team to 20th on the restart, and the No. 5 was the final car on the lead lap.

As Mears advanced through the field, picking up three positions, he also tried to outrun the leader and remain on the lead lap. On a short track like Bristol, however, the leaders catch up fast. Mears fell one lap down on Lap 273.

On Lap 279, the No. 40 spun directly in front of leader Denny Hamlin. As Hamlin and another lapped car attempted to dodge the accident, Hamlin’s car made contact with the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet, pushing it hard into the outside retaining wall.

Mears entered pit road for repairs. After spending several laps repairing the vehicle’s tow, Mears rejoined the field on Lap 290, six laps down to the leader. Shortly after, however, the problems with the car’s handling persisted, prompting the team to call Mears into the garage area.

With extensive repairs, Mears rejoined the field with little more than 100 laps remaining. He remained on the track and finished 42nd.

The Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team goes into the off-weekend 33rd in Sprint Cup driver standings.

After taking next weekend off to observe the Easter holiday, the Sprint Cup Series will resume at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 30.