Casey Mears, #41 Target Dodge, Chevrolet Rock & Roll 400 Advance
CONTACT: Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, (704) 662-9642, nhamilton@ganassi.com Casey Mears, #41 Target Dodge Chevrolet Rock & Roll 400 Advance RACE INFORMATION: EVENT: Chevrolet Rock & Roll 400 (race 26 of 36) TRACK: Richmond International Raceway QUALIFYING: Friday, September 5, 3:00 p.m. ET RACE: Saturday, September 5, 7:30 p.m. ET BROADCAST: TNT television and MRN radio TARGET TEAM FACTS: * Spring Richmond race: In the Pontiac Excitement 400 at RIR in the spring, Casey Mears had a strong car and was close to his first top-10 finish when he was caught in a wreck when a few cars checked up in front of him. The alignment of the car was hindered and the team finished in 28th place. * Good Car: Team Target is taking chassis # 106 to Richmond this weekend. This is one of the team's favorite cars. Mears had a good run in Richmond earlier this year with this same car and he finished 16th in Loudon with it as well. * Double Duty: Along with the Winston Cup race, Casey will be competing in Braun Racing's No. 19 Target Dodge in the Busch Series race at Richmond this weekend. * Raybestos Rookie Teammates: Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray are the first teammate rookies to compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. Mears currently sits in third place in rookie points while McMurray leads the points. * Leader: Mears became the first 2003 rookie to lead a lap and the only rookie to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. * Gravity Games: Casey Mears is scheduled to visit the Gravity Games in Cleveland on Thursday, September 11th. RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY STATS: Busch Series DATE RACE LOCATION START FINISH STATUS 5/3/2002 Hardee's 250 Richmond International 25 23 Running 9/6/2002 Funai 250 Richmond International 7 30 Accident Winston Cup Series DATE RACE LOCATION START FINISH STATUS 5/3/2003 Pontiac 400 Richmond International 11 28 Running 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/Spotter Team Manager Syracuse, New York Tony Glover Team Manager Team Manager Kingsport, Tennessee 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 Russ Bales Engine Specialist Engine Specialist Sandy Springs, Georgia Tim Smith Engineer Engineer Cope, South Carolina 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 Eric Hoyle Pit Support Rear Mechanic Asheville, North Carolina Roger Parkinson Pit Support Shocks San Diego, California Melissa Zeno Scorer/Cook Cook Lynchburg, Virginia XXX Nealie Hamilton Media Relations Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates office: (704) 662-9642 x1130 cell: (704) 500-6068 nhamilton@ganassi.com