- MEARS FINISHES 11TH IN PHOENIX –

FUEL GAMBLE PAYS OFF FOR KELLOGG’S/CARQUEST TEAM

AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 12, 2008) – Casey Mears and the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team focused on fuel mileage for the final 40 laps of Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Using every drop of fuel to remain on track, Mears crossed the finish line in 11th place and improved to 25th in the driver standings.

“We knew we were going to be really close,” Mears said following the race. “It was a gamble worth taking. We needed the points. So, good job by the engine guys, and a good job by the guys who worked on the car. We saved a bunch of fuel and came home with a decent finish.”

After posting a top-five speed in Thursday’s practice session, the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet became loose during its qualifying run. The handling issue affected the Chevy’s speed, and Mears earned a 30th-place starting position.

Throughout Friday’s practice sessions, the handling of the Chevrolet improved. The team posted the 11th-fastest speed in the first session and followed it with the fifth-fastest during happy hour.

When the green flag dropped on Saturday, Mears immediately began to move forward, advancing five positions in the first two laps. Hoping for an early caution, crew chief Alan Gustafson was relieved when the yellow flag waved for debris on Lap 10.

The CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team stopped for tires and made a slight air pressure adjustment to aid the Chevy’s handling through the center of the turns. Mears rejoined the field in 29th place.

Again, under green flag conditions, Mears worked his way through the field. When he pitted for the second time, he was just one position shy of breaking the top 20. During the stop, Gustafson made the call for the team to revert to the initial set up of the car. Mears restarted in the 22nd position.

Throughout the following 67-lap green-flag run, the handling of the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevy prompted Mears to race more conservatively in the corners. The team slipped to 31st place before falling a lap down to then-leader and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.

When green-flag pit stops began on Lap 109, Gustafson advised the team that it would pit five laps later. The crew prepared for his stop, and just as Mears headed for pit road, the caution flag waved. The perfect timing of the stop and the caution meant a “Lucky Dog” pass for the No. 5 Chevrolet. After his team made a severe wedge adjustment, Mears rejoined the field in 19th place and on the lead lap.

Six laps after the restart, Mears skillfully maneuvered his No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet toward the infield grass to avoid the aftermath of a spin in front of him. The debris left on the track resulted in the race’s sole red-flag period. After the delay for cleanup, Mears pitted so his team could remove the grass from the Chevy’s brake ducts and grill.

When the race resumed, Mears was 14th. The CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet again turned to the loose side, causing Mears to fall to 19th place before the team’s final pit stop on Lap 230.

The CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team quickly calculated the Chevy’s fuel mileage. Making it to the end of the race would be extremely close and not every team likely could do it. But with 40 laps remaining and no caution in sight, Gustafson advised Mears to conserve fuel.

“Easy on the gas now, buddy,” Gustafson said, coaching Mears during the final laps. “Easy on and easy off.”

Mears was running 16th on Lap 297 when many of the leaders were forced to stop for fuel. As they entered pit road, the No. 5 kept climbing the scoring tower.

“Real nice and smooth, Casey,” Gustafson said. “Do not worry out there. Just save, save, save.”

Mears advanced as high as seventh place before the cars with fuel and fresh tires returned. Still, Mears held on and when the checkered flag waved, he took 11th place, just one position shy of recording his second top-10 finish of the season. Mears improved to 25th place in the driver standings.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will enjoy an off-weekend next week, April 18-20. The season will resume at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Sunday, April 27. The race will air live on FOX at 1:30 p.m., ET.