- KELLOGG’S/CARQUEST TEAM FINISHES 36TH AFTER LATE-RACE ACCIDENT –

MEARS AND TEAM ADVANCE ONE POSITION IN POINT STANDINGS

RICHMOND, Va. (May 3, 2008) – Casey Mears kept his No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet in the top 15 for much of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. But an accident on Lap 355 ended the strong showing, and the team finished 36th, as there was not enough time left in the 400-lap event to make the necessary repairs.

“It’s tough,” Mears said. “Our Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet was so good tonight. There was one point in the race where it was close to perfect. (Crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) and I are really getting on the same page as to what I need from the car and what adjustments to make. That really showed tonight I think. It’s unfortunate that the night ended in the garage, but this team is still making great strides.”

The disappointing finish didn’t hurt Mears’ position in the driver standings. He improved one spot to take 23rd, while team owner Rick Hendrick advanced one spot to 24th.

Mears and his team started the 400-lap, impound event on a strong note, qualifying 16th. Sixty-five laps into the event, during the first caution period, Mears reported to the crew that the Chevy was tight in the center of the turns, but even looser while exiting them. Knowing that the looseness was more severe than the tight-handling condition, Gustafson called for a track bar adjustment and the removal of a right-rear spring rubber during the team’s first pit stop. The lengthy adjustments caused the team to lose a few positions, but the adjustments were effective.

By the time the second caution came out on Lap 127, Mears had advanced five positions into 22nd. The loose conditions exiting the turns had subsided slightly, and tightness in the turns was becoming more of an issue so Gustafson called for big adjustments. This time, the crew added a wedge and an air pressure adjustment to the track bar change. Gustafson contemplated replacing the right-rear rubber that was earlier removed, but he did not want to lose more track position. Mears rejoined the field again in 22nd place.

During the ensuing long green-flag run, the improvements to the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy shined. Mears advanced 10 positions in just 45 laps to move into the top-15 for the first time.

“We are definitely better,” Mears radioed to Gustafson.

“You’re doing a great job out there, Casey,” the crew chief replied. “Keep getting after it.”

Following the team’s fourth pit stop, just past the race’s halfway point, the Chevy’s handling grew too loose. The team took advantage of a caution eight laps later to readjust the Chevy’s set-up to where it was earlier in the race.

On Lap 230, Mears successfully avoided an 11-car wreck on the backstretch. The accident prompted a red flag so officials could fully clean the track’s surface.

When the race resumed, the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy still suffered from a loose-handling condition, but it was not as severe as before. A long, green-flag run following the team’s final pit stop on Lap 262 gave the team little opportunity to make further adjustments.

As the green-flag run wore on, the Chevy grew tighter in the turns, making it difficult for Mears to turn the car. With the big picture -- that is the points’ race -- in mind, Mears raced more conservatively. He was waiting for another caution so his team could make the necessary adjustments, when contact was made between his No. 5 Chevrolet and the No. 55 of Michael Waltrip with 45 laps remaining in the race.

Both cars had to go to the garage, and the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST crew members worked arduously to get the Chevy back onto the track. But the laps wore down too quickly. With seven laps remaining, the team realized it would not be able to get back in to the race.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway this Saturday, May 10. The race will air live on FOX at 7 p.m., ET.