Casey Mears, #41 Target Dodge, Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Advance
Casey Mears, #41 Target Dodge Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Advance RACE INFORMATION: EVENT: Samsung/Radio Shack 500 (race 7 of 36) TRACK: Texas Motor Speedway QUALIFYING: Friday, March 28, 3:00 p.m. CT RACE: Sunday, March 30, 12:00 p.m. CT BROADCAST: FOX television and PRN radio TARGET TEAM FACTS: * Chassis: Team Target will race chassis #306 at Texas. This is the same car that finished 23rd in Atlanta. * Mears is the only Raybestos Rookie to complete all 6 races this season without a DNF. * Mears is currently third in Raybestos Rookie point standings; behind McMurray and Biffle. * Mears and Jamie McMurray are the first teammate rookies to compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. * Mears became the first rookie to lead a lap and the only rookie to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY STATS: Casey Mears, Busch Series DATE RACE LOCATION START FINISH STATUS 4/6/02 O'Reilly 300 Texas Motor Speedway 29 38 Engine JIMMY ELLEDGE QUOTES: Target Crew Chief Do you think the Texas race will be more exciting this year? Many teams that tested there said the track is better. "I've heard a lot of things about that test session. I'm sure the track has lost a lot of grip. They usually do from a new pavement when they get the winter on them. I think the paved job they did on it last year was really good. When the track loses grip and you can start running in other grooves you get a better race." Do you think Texas will get a second date next year? "If you look at where the markets are you would certainly think the Dallas/Ft. Worth area would be one of the places we would want to race at a couple times. I would say that it's probably headed in that direction." Comments on Texas Motor Speedway... "They've done a really good job with that track since it opened. I remember when we went there and tested for the first time and it was a month away from going to the first race and we were thinking, 'Man, they've got a lot to do.' Looking at where the racetrack is at now versus then, they've done a ton of stuff. They've had some major problems that they've had to overcome with water seeping through the track and they've got a handle on that now. The facility itself is beautiful and I think it's a great area. I think the time of year that we run there could be a little more desirable because it always seems like were there when it rains but you can't really predict the rain." ROGER MEARS QUOTES: Casey's father and motorcoach driver What's it like for an open-wheel family to be involved in NASCAR? "It's really different. I think the biggest difference that first strikes me is the enthusiasm of the Winston Cup fans and how many fans there are and how many people are at these events. That's the biggest contrast that you see right up front." How did your family feel when Casey decided to become a stock car driver? "We were very excited. He had been struggling to get things to happen for him on the open-wheel side and then I came over to work at Ganassi and I started seeing the opportunities in NASCAR. I told Casey that he really needed to take a look at this. It just so happened that something got on his plate and it all happened from there." What's it like being employed by your kid? (Roger is Casey's motorcoach driver) "I struggled at first making the decision to do it. I knew that it was going to be fun and I wanted to be with Casey and the whole thing. But, from having a real job and being in positions I've been in before, this is really different. But, I've got to tell you; I'm having a ball. I'm really enjoying it. I stop and think about what I'd be doing if wasn't doing this and I can't even tell you because I'm so happy to be doing it." Is Casey a good boss? "He knows what he wants and he'll tell me what he wants, but he also shows the old man a little respect." TEAM TARGET CREW: Name Crew position Race shop duty Hometown Casey Mears Driver Driver Bakersfield, California Jimmy Elledge Crew Chief Crew Chief Redding, California Andy Graves Team Manager Team Manager Syracuse, New York Tony Glover Team Manager Team Manager Kingsport, Tennessee Al Shuford Team Trainer Team Trainer Shelby, North Carolina Darren Wolfe Front Tire Changer Front Mechanic Fletcher, North Carolina Marty Forcier Front Tire Carrier Paint Shop Superior, Wisconsin Randy Cox Rear Tire Changer Car Chief Trinity, North Carolina Heath Cherry Rear Tire Carrier Race Day Only Belmont, North Carolina Mark Jacobs Jack Man Race Day Only Ft. Walton Beach, Florida Les Huntley Gas Man Suspension Specialist Renwick, Iowa Todd Anderson Catch Can Man Chassis Setup Jewell, Iowa Doug Spees Windshield Tire Specialist Toledo, Ohio Andy Graves Spotter Team Manager Syracuse, New York Russ Bales Engine Specialist Engine Specialist Sandy Springs, Georgia Chris Coxon Engineer Engineer Cheboygan, Michigan Paul Clapprood Pit Support Front Mechanic Stafford Springs, Connecticut Trevor Lynse Pit Support Test Team Fergus Falls, Minneapolis Dave Shano Pit Support Truck Driver El Cajon, California Bill Henderson Pit Support Rear Mechanic Brookfield, Massachusetts Roger Parkinson Pit Support Shocks San Diego, California Melissa Zeno Scorer Race Day Only Lynchburg, Virginia