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Two Spins Later, Texaco/Havoline Dodge Crosses Finish Line in Top 10
MARTINSVILLE, VA (October 22, 2006) --- In a race filled with highs and lows, Casey Mears and the Texaco/Havoline team battled back from being spun out twice and falling a lap down, to finish sixth in the Subway 500 at Martinsville. The top-10 finish moved Mears up to 14th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings with four races remaining in the season.
Casey Mears spins during the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
"At the end of the day it was a good day for the Texaco/Havoline team," said Mears. "I guess I experienced all of Martinsville. I got mad; I got happy, the whole deal. We had a car that could have finished in the top three for sure."
Mears took the green flag from the 19th position, and during the caution period on lap 3 told crew chief Donnie Wingo "the car was a little tight, but when the air pressures came up he thought it was going to be good." Racing resumed on lap 10 with the Texaco/Havoline Dodge in 15th, and Mears methodically worked his way up through the field. He battled up to 11th on lap 47 and set his sights on the No. 12 car that was sitting 10th.
Mears ran behind the No. 12 car for several laps before nudging him out of the way on lap 64. On lap 65, the No. 12 car spun out Mears, bringing out the caution flag. Wingo called Mears down pit road on lap 67 for right side tires and to have the fenders pulled out, and left side tires on lap 69 to ensure the team wouldn't fall down a lap while making repairs. NASCAR penalized the driver of the No. 12 car for rough driving and sent him to the back of the pack for the restart on lap 72.
Mears now found himself marred in traffic in the 29th position. He moved up to 25th on lap 92, but by lap 104 there were only 26 cars on the lead lap. The race leader was in Mears' rear-view mirror by lap 120 and finally got around the No. 42 Dodge Charger on lap 131. The yellow flag was finally displayed on lap 154, but Mears was the second car one lap down. Mears brought the car down pit road for service on lap 157. The Texaco/Havoline crew changed four tires and packed the car full of fuel. The green flag waved on lap 161 with Mears in 24th.
Mears was unable to get himself in position for NASCAR's free pass back on the lead lap until a multi-car incident brought out the yellow on lap 231. Wingo told Mears to remain on the track and in position to get back on the lead lap if the caution waved. However, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was so quick, that Mears was able to pass the leader on lap 240 just before the caution flag waved on lap 242.
Now back on the lead lap but sitting 22nd, Wingo told Mears he would make a call later in the race to gain track position. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge would run around the 18th position over the next 100 laps before Wingo made the call of the race. On lap 356, the No. 06 car spun and brought out the caution. The team was now within its fuel window to make it to the end of the race. Wingo called Mears down pit road for the final time on lap 357 for four tires and fuel. Only two other cars pitted with Mears, and three more pitted on lap 363.
Mears told Wingo the car was tight back there in traffic on lap 388, but when the caution waved on lap 399 Wingo's pit strategy fell into place. The remainder of the field pitted on lap 401, putting Mears in second for the restart on lap 406. The No. 48 car, which led the most laps and was the eventual race winner, raced around Mears on lap 437 and dropped him to third. Mears was able to hold onto the third spot through the caution period on lap 447.
On lap 460 the No. 38 car, which was several laps down, got into the back of Mears sending the No. 42 Dodge Charger spinning for the second time of the race. Mears was able to gather up the car, but lost two spots on the track. Wingo told him to remain on the track. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was fifth for the restart on lap 467. Three additional caution flags waved over the closing 33 laps, and Mears only lost one spot before the checkered flag waved.
The sixth-place finish was the first top-10 finish for Mears at Martinsville and his seventh of the season. He now sits 14th in the NEXTEL Cup standings, only 79 points out of 13th. His Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates David Stremme and Reed Sorenson finished 15th and 35th respectively.
The Texaco/Havoline team heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend for the Bass Pro Shops 500.
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