CARQUEST/KELLOGG’S TEAM FINISHES SIXTH IN SHOOTOUT - ALL FOUR HENDRICK TEAMS FINISH IN THE TOP SIX

Gatorade Duel 1 Daytona International Speedway Feb. 14th, Time: 2 pm Radio/TV: SPEED / MRN

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2008) – Casey Mears and the No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team began the 2008 Sprint Cup Season with a strong sixth-place finish in the Shootout, a non-points exhibition race.

Hendrick Motorsports continued to flex its muscle with newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. earning his first victory for the team. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished third and fourth, respectively, placing all four of Hendrick’s teams in the top six positions.

"I’m just really happy with everyone on our CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet team,” Mears said following the race. “We had speed. We had a good a good race. We were just in the wrong place in the wrong time a few times in the race. Guys got in the fence, guys checked up and we got dropped all the way to the back. We came back up to sixth so that’s good. I think we learned a lot for the race next Sunday."

Mears, who had been suffering from the flu earlier in the week, was unable to attend the Shootout Draw Party, where each driver draws a number for his starting position. Crew chief Alan Gustafson drew the 16th starting position in Mears’ absence. After a few days of rest and medication, Mears was feeling much better on race day.

After the green-flag dropped Saturday evening, Mears immediately moved to the outside lane and took the 15th position. He remained on the high side throughout the opening 15 laps until the caution flag waved.

During the caution, Mears reported to the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s team that the Chevrolet was just slightly too tight. Gustafson opted not to enter pit road and waited for the 10-minute intermission on Lap 20.

Mears was in 12th place when the intermission began. The team changed four tires, added fuel and made minor wedge and trackbar adjustments. Gustafson and Mears discussed strategy for the final 50-lap shootout before the race went back to green.

Mears opted for the high side of the track once again. After moving into the top 10, Mears made contact with the No. 11 when the No. 26 spun directly in front of them. After using binoculars to survey the damage, Gustafson found none and made the call for Mears to remain on the track.

Following the Lap 28 restart, Mears dove to the bottom lane. Within two laps he was in fifth place. The top seven cars rode single file until Lap 33 when Earnhardt Jr. broke away to the high side. Mears jumped up as well and fell in line with his teammate. Four laps later, Gordon joined the duo and by Lap 38, all four of the Hendrick Motorsports teams were in line on the high side.

On Lap 47, Earnhardt and Mears broke away from the pack and moved to the first and second positions. With pit stops approaching, Mears reported that the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet was still a tick too tight.

The caution flag waved on Lap 48, allowing the field to pit together. The crew again changed four tires and added fuel with a small wedge adjustment. Mears rejoined the field in third place, behind the No. 22 which opted for right-side tires only.

On the restart, Mears got stuck in the bottom lane of the track. He dropped to the 10th position while waiting for a hole to open up on the high side. On Lap 60, he was shuffled to the middle lane with no drafting help. He again dropped to 14th place, but was able to move back into the top 10 when the caution flag waved again on Lap 63.

Gustafson made the call for Mears to remain on the track. The race restarted double-file, with the top lane consisting of Earnhardt Jr., Johnson and Mears. Mears again was shuffled out of the draft as the leaders began to fight for position. On the final lap, Mears gained three positions to finish sixth. Mears also turned the fastest lap of the shootout with a speed of 188.017 miles per hour.

During post-race inspection, NASCAR officials determined that the CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet was too low on the left rear. After further inspection, NASCAR officials cleared the car and no penalties will be assessed.

Mears and the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team will compete in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 17. The race will air live on FOX beginning at 2 p.m., ET. Gatorade Duels, which will determine the starting positions for the prestigious race will air live on SPEED Channel at 2 p.m., ET on Thursday.