-KELLOGG’S/CARQUEST TEAM RALLIES BACK 
TO 13TH-PLACE FINISH-
TEAM MOVES TO 34TH IN STANDINGS

LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2008) – Casey Mears and the No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team fell off the lead lap early in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but rebounded as a late-race “Lucky Dog” recipient to earn a 13th-place finish.

“This is a prime example of what this team is capable of,” Mears said following the race. “No one gave up. We fell a lap down really early, and there were a few times that I thought we would get it back. But it just didn’t happen that way. If we would have gotten it back sooner, we might have been looking at a top five, but I think at this point, we’re all pretty happy with 13th.”

Mears started 11th, but fell two positions on the initial start. He reported to crew chief Alan Gustafson that the Pop-Tarts/CARQUEST Chevrolet was tight in heavy traffic and lacked rear grip. A pit stop on Lap 10 allowed the team to change right-side tires and add fuel. The stop dropped the team to 20th because many teams opted to remain on the track.

The right-side only pit stop greatly affected the handling of the No. 5 Chevy. The amount of rear grip continued to decrease, causing the car to be extremely loose throughout the turns. Mears continued to fall through the field, dropping to 26th place.

Mears and his team hoped for a caution, but when that didn’t happen, they opted to make a green-flag pit stop on Lap 57 for four tires, fuel and air pressure and track-bar adjustments. Mears gained two positions during the stop, but fell off the lead lap.

The Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team spent the majority of the race trying to get back onto the lead lap. During the next three pit stops, the team continued to make adjustments. The handling of the Pop-Tarts/CARQUEST Chevrolet greatly improved, and Mears moved into 21st place, within striking distance of earning the “Lucky Dog” pass.

Following a restart on Lap 150, Mears reported that the front of the No.5 Chevy suddenly lost all grip. The team feared a flat front tire or worse -- a broken shock or bump stop. Taking advantage of a caution flag on Lap 16, the team changed the tires and inspected the car. The No. 5 Chevrolet appeared fine during the stop, and Mears rejoined the field in 27th place with four fresh tires. At the time, he was the fifth car running one lap down to the leaders.

The team gambled on the next stop, taking fuel only and hoping for a quick caution so the No. 5 Chevy could get the free pass. But Mears, surrounded by cars with newer tires, could only reach the 23rd position, and he once again missed the “lucky dog.”

Two cautions later, Mears’ luck changed. On Lap 232, he was the first car a lap down, and he earned the free pass to join the leaders. His team put on four fresh tires, and Mears resumed the race in 22nd place.

In the 18 laps between that caution and the next, Mears gained seven positions to take over 15th place. One car ahead of the Chevy entered pit road, but the No. 5 team chose to stay on track and assume the 14th spot. Mears gained two more positions when Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth spun in front of him. Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet made contact with the inside retaining wall and suffered heavy damage, forcing NASCAR officials to red-flag the event.

When the race resumed, the leaders were set to battle for the win in a green-white-checkered finish. Mears spun the tires on the restart and slipped two positions to 14th. He managed to gain one position back to finish 13th.

The Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team entered Sunday’s race 42nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings. Following the top-15 finish, the team improved eight positions to 34th.

The No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy next will compete at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 9. The race will air live on FOX at 1:30 p.m., ET.