The Winston Open provides Team Target with a head start on the Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. (May 17, 2003) --- Casey Mears and Team Target used Saturday's non-points race to get ready for the real deal on May 25.  Mears' 12th place finish in The Winston Open does not do justice to the amount of work Team Target accomplished this weekend to prepare for the Coca-Cola 600 next weekend.

"I'm real proud of the guys," Mears said after the race.  "We were horrible yesterday in practice, I mean absolutely horrible. Jimmy Elledge (crew chief) made some great calls.  We started that race and we had different front springs, different rear springs, different track bar, and different truck arms.  We changed everything on the car.  We could have been either real, real bad or real good and we were a lot better than we were.  We weren't good but we were a lot better so I'm real happy that they did such a good job."  

The Winston Open consisted of two segments.  Mears, a Raybestos Rookie candidate, started the first 20-lap segment in 19th position and moved up to finish it in 10th place and move on to the next 10-lap segment where he finished 12th.  Although Mears' did not win the race and move on to The Winston, he is confident that Team Target is more prepared for the Coca-Cola 600.

"The car is much better and we have something to work with for the 600," Mears said.  " We stayed out of trouble.  This is one of our better cars and we wanted to do that and keep her good for the 600.  That was our main focus."  

Team Target will race this Sunday, May 25 in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.  The race will be broadcast live on FOX television and PRN radio at 5:30 p.m. ET.