NASCAR Sprint Cup: Darlington Preview

Casey Mears

May 07, 2008

NO. 5 TEAM AT DARLINGTON: Alan Gustafson has earned one top-10 finish—a seventh on May 13, 2006—in three NASCAR Sprint Cup events as the No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST crew chief at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

SIGNIFICANT VICTORY: One of Gustafson’s most cherished NASCAR memories happened in 2003 when he worked as the No. 5 team engineer and went to Darlington’s Victory Lane with the “Iceman” Terry Labonte. The victory was significant as it was the final Southern 500 held on Labor Day weekend at the track. The win was also the last of Labonte’s NASCAR career.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY: Casey Mears’ mother, Carol, will join other NASCAR moms in Saturday’s pre-race festivities. The mothers will be introduced with their sons during driver introductions. They also will give the command for their sons to start their engines and begin the 500-mile race. (Images of Mears with his mother are available upon request.)

HENDRICK AT DARLINGTON: Hendrick Motorsports has posted 12 wins, 33 top-five finishes and 56 top-10s in the 48 Cup races the team has started at Darlington Raceway.

STREAK INTACT: Hendrick Motorsports’ streak of top-10 finishes improved to 75 Sprint Cup races after last week’s event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway when Jeff Gordon took ninth. The last time a Hendrick driver wasn’t in the top 10 was April 9, 2006. Finishing 11th, Jimmie Johnson was Hendrick’s top performer that day at Texas Motor Speedway.

POINTS PROGRESS: Mears and the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team continue to advance through the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, improving one spot to take 23rd after last weekend’s event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Mears has gained 10 positions in the standings during the past six races.

ROAD COURSE TEST: The Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team will test next week at Virginia International Raceway to prepare for next month’s Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway. Mears has posted one top-five finish and two top-10s in 10 career road course races. Both top-10 finishes occurred in 2004.

DARLINGTON CHASSIS: Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 497 for Saturday’s race at Darlington. Chassis 497 has not been raced, but was tested at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway last week.

TESTING 1, 2, 3, 4: All four Hendrick Motorsports’ Sprint Cup teams spent April 29-30 testing at Nashville Superspeedway. The teams shared information throughout the two-day session at the 1.33-mile track.

CASEY MEARS, DRIVER, NO. 5 KELLOGG’S/CARQUEST CHEVROLET (ON DARLINGTON RACEWAY.): “Darlington is a special racetrack for me just because it’s so fun to race on. I know that a lot of people think purely of the history of the track and everything that’s happened here. But, for me, it’s just a really good race. It’s fun to drive, and I’m sure it’s fun for the fans to watch. This track is completely different than any other one we go to. It’s a great time.”

MEARS (ON THE NEW TRACK SURFACE.): “I went down to the tire test that Jeff (Gordon) did in March. I got a good look at the track then. I won’t really get an idea of how to drive it differently or anything until I get out there. But Jeff said that you actually drive the new surface pretty similarly to the old one. It’s just quicker and smoother now.”