Two-Win Weekend ends early for Team Target

For Immediate Release

LONG POND, Penn. (July 27, 2003) ---After a strong qualifying run and two ARCA wins earlier in the weekend, Team Target overcame some early struggles in the Pennsylvania 500 to lead seven laps and run with the leaders. In the end, that was not enough as Casey Mears and the Target Dodge had a late race crash that ended their day early at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

After qualifying 10th, Mears reported early in the race that the car was running tight and he was having trouble turning the car. Team Target used several pit stops to make adjustments and the car seemed to be working well for Mears. The break Mears needed though came on lap 67 when a caution came out and the team decided to stay out for track position. When the race restarted on lap 72, Mears was out in first position and held on to the lead for an additional seven laps.

The seven laps led by Casey Mears are worth $175 for Target House and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Team Target is proud to donate $5,000 for each win, $1,000 for each pole and $25 for each lap led to the worthwhile organization.

Team Target's strategy kept Mears running strong until lap 165. After a quick pit stop, Mears was exiting pit road and ended up getting into the fence.

"We thought it was going to be a pretty good day," Mears said. "About halfway through the race we really lost the handling of the car. It was really loose and hard to keep underneath me. It would have taken a miracle, I think, to have a win but we could have had a solid finish. I came out of the pits and I was driving real hard trying to get up to speed and I just got real loose, lost it and got up into the fence. I feel bad for everybody involved, Target, and everybody involved with the team. They've really worked hard this weekend and I drove real hard and just made a mistake."

Team Target races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend. The Brickyard 400 will be broadcast live on NBC television and IMS radio on Sunday, August 3rd.