Casey Mears

Casey Mears came from an open-wheel orientation into stock cars at the end of the 2001 season, making a couple of eye-opening starts for Welliver-Jesel Motorsports.

In 2002, Mears opened more eyes when he finished fifth at the Aaron's 312 at Talladega in April. Mears added a 10th-place effort at Nashville in June on the way to a 21st-place finish in the season standings.

The performance brought Mears a Cup ride for Chip Ganassi Racing in the No. 41 Dodge.

Mears ended his sophomore season (2004) 13 positions higher in NASCAR Cup points than in his rookie year after he posted nine top-10s and back-to-back poles at Pocono and Indianapolis.

Mears, the son of former Indy car and off-road driver Roger Mears and the nephew of Hall of Fame Indy car star Rick Mears, scored a top-10 finish in his first stock car start, in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Talladega. He then moved to the Busch Series finale for Welliver-Jesel, where he qualified 21st and finished 28th.

In 2005, Mears finished 22nd in the standings for the second consecutive season that was highlighted with a fourth-place finish, which tied his career-best effort.

Mears will move from the No. 41 to the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in 2006.

Mears previously competed in the Dayton Indy Lights Series, where he won at the Grand Prix of Houston in 2000. He became just the fourth driver in Indy Lights history to complete every lap in a season on his way to finishing second in the 1999 standings. Mears competed in five CART races from 2000 through 2001, posting a fourth-place finish in his series debut at California Speedway in 2000.