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Pit Call Turns Weekend Around for Texaco/Havoline Team
DAYTONA, CA. (July 2, 2006) --- Crew chief Donnie Wingo made the decision to remain on the track when the leaders all came down pit road for fresh tires with 13 laps to go in the Pepsi 400. Casey Mears drove as if he was on fresh tires and drafted his back-up No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge to a seventh-place finish at Daytona International Speedway.
"We were really tight the whole race," said Mears. "We could run with the pack for about 15 laps and then it was so tight we couldn't stay with them. We stayed out and got track position and that was the key. The Texaco/Havoline team got it for us tonight. We wrecked our primary car, and this one was further off than we thought it was going to be. Donnie made the call to stay out and got us track position and a good finish. I'm glad we got some decent points and got back in the mix of things. Going to Chicago is a really good track for me. I hope we have a good car like we had at Michigan and get another good top 10 there."
Casey Mears drives the no. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
It appeared the team was in for a disappointing weekend after the primary car, which was fifth quickest in the first practice, was damaged beyond repair in the second session on Thursday. Mears was drafting behind the No. 31 car when it blew a tire. Mears was unable to avoid contact with the No. 31 car and brought the No. 42 Dodge behind the wall. The Texaco/Havoline team was able to get the back-up car out and get Mears on the track for three laps before practice ended. The lack of practice resulted in a 41st-place qualifying effort on Friday.
An appearance from Vice President Dick Cheney, who attended the race to help celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with the NASCAR fans, kicked off the 160-lap event. Wingo called Mears down pit road after the first caution flag waved on lap 7 to check the tire wear since the team didn't get any drafting practice in this chassis. Racing resumed on lap 11, but Mears once again found himself in an incident with the orange and black No. 31 car on lap 15.
Mears brought the car down pit road to have the damage assessed and the team discovered a large hole in the right side of the front bumper. The team taped up the damage on lap 17, but would need to make additional repairs on lap 18 while adding fuel. When the green-flag waved on lap 20, Mears was sitting 39th. He told Wingo the car was extremely tight this run, but was able to work his way up to 31s when green-flag pit stops began on lap 52.
Mears made his stop on lap 54 for an air pressure adjustment and fuel, but lost the lead draft as the 43-car field was spread out around the 2.5-mile track. Without drafting help, Mears was back in 39th with the lead pack gaining a second on him each lap. The second round of green-flag stops began on lap 78 and Wingo called for right-side tires to try and put some distance between Mears and the leaders. Mears was the last car on the lead lap thanks to the two-tire call just before the caution flag waved on lap 87.
The Texaco/Havoline crew had prepared a new piece of fiberglass for the front bumper which they fastened to the car during a pit stop on lap 89. Mears brought the car back in for tires and fuel one lap later. Racing resumed on lap 92 with the No. 42 Dodge Charger in 31st. Mears was up to 23rd on lap 115, but was still struggling with a tight handling car. He had to roll out of the gas on lap 119 when the No. 60 car cut him off. Mears found himself back in 34th as green-flag stops began on lap 123.
Mears drove down pit road on lap 126 for tires and fuel, but once again lost the lead draft. He was part of a two-man draft back in the 35th position. The yellow flag was finally displayed on lap 146 for a two-car tangle. With just 16 laps remaining in the Pepsi 400, Wingo told Mears to remain on the track if the leaders pitted. All but one car in front of Mears pitted for tires and he lined up second for the restart on lap 151.
A multi-car incident once again brought out the caution flag on lap 153 setting up a three-lap shootout when the green flag waved on lap 157. Mears was fourth for the restart, but had lost radio contact with spotter Tab Boyd. The race finished under caution for a multi-car wreck shortly after the white flag waved. Mears held on to finish seventh, his second top-10 finish at Daytona this year.
The Texaco/Havoline team remains 15th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings, but gained 43 points on 10th place. The team now sits 145 points out of 10th with nine races remaining before "The Chase to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup."
Mears' Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates David Stremme and Reed Sorenson finished 16th and 34th respectively.
The Texaco/Havoline team heads to Chicagoland Speedway next weekend where Mears will compete in both the NASCAR Busch and Cup Series' races.
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