Solid finish for Mears and Team Target at Michigan

Contact: Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, nhamilton@ganassi.com <mailto:nhamilton@ganassi.com>, work: (704) 662-9642, cell: (704) 500-6068

For Immediate Release

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 16, 2003) --- Casey Mears had quite a weekend. He started it off by setting a qualifying record for the ARCA race, and then he went on to win the race by six seconds over his next competitor. It was his first stock car win and the first stock car win for Team Target. Sunday's Winston Cup main event was a solid finish for Mears for the weekend.

Mears started his No. 41 Target Dodge in 22nd position and raced in the top-25 for the majority of the event. During a caution period on lap 70, Team Target pitted with the leaders and made their only mistake of the day. The team failed to fill the fuel tank and had to come in for a second time to fill it up. This put Mears at the back of the line on the lead lap in 31st position.

Team Target made up for their mistake by giving Mears a 13 second pit stop on lap 158. This put Mears out in 18th place for the restart. He held on to his loose car and took the checkered flag in 20th place.

"It was nice to get the win in the ARCA car, and the experience really helped me today," Mears said after the Winston Cup race. "We just had a little problem in the pits with fuel. We didn't get all of it and had to come back in and get some more. That put us at the tail end of the lead lap.

"It's just hard to pass here. Everybody is running in the top groove. Usually this place is really good for passing, but it was hard to get by guys today. Overall, I think we had a top-15 car."

Mears remains in 36th position in Winston Cup championship standings and third in Raybestos Rookie standings. Ganassi teammates Sterling Marlin and Jamie McMurray finished sixth and 14th respectively.

Team Target travels to Infineon Raceway this weekend for the Dodge / Save Mart 350. The race will be broadcast live on FOX television and MRN radio at 1:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, June 22.

XXX

Nealie Hamilton
Media Relations
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
office: (704) 662-9642 x1130
cell: (704) 500-6068
nhamilton@ganassi.com