Mears Ends Season with 19th-Place Finish at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale at
Homestead-Miami Speedway also marked the final race of Jack Daniel's
involvement with Richard Childress Racing. Casey Mears was hoping to end the
five-year relationship on a high note, but changing track conditions
hindered his performance and resulted in a less-than-desired 19th-place
finish.
The No. 07 team finished off the 2009 season 21st in the championship point
standings with four top-10 and 19 top-20 finishes.
On Friday, the Doug Randolph-led team registered the 19th-fastest time in
the opening practice session before qualifying 15th later that afternoon.
During Saturday's dual practice sessions, the team improved to post the
eighth-fastest time in the latter session.
Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the 70,000 race fans on hand to
see 267 laps of racing, but as the sun faded, the track began to change
significantly. Mears gained three spots in the opening 15 laps, but faded to
19th by lap 116.
During that time, Mears made four separate visits to pit road, receiving
four tires and fuel each time. Additionally, Randolph ordered for a host of
chassis and air pressure adjustments on each stop to get the No. 07
Chevrolet handling better.
The Jack Daniel's team elected to stay out following a lap 117-caution and
restarted 11th as other competitors pitted. The adjustments made earlier
began to help Mears as he cracked the top 10 at the race's midway point.
The Bakersfield, Calif., native was a mainstay in the top 10 for the next 20
laps before making a pit stop, while under caution on lap 157. As racing
resumed and day turned to night, the 1.5 mile track temperatures began to
cool even more.
The 31 year-old driver continued to be affected by the ever-changing track
conditions, dropping to 21st before the final yellow flag was displayed on
lap 218. Racing resumed on lap 222 and, over the final 45 laps, Mears was
able to pick off two spots to take the checkered flag in 19th place.
Denny Hamlin earned the victory, beating Mears' teammate Jeff Burton to the
line by 2.632 seconds. RCR's Kevin Harvick finished third, Kurt Busch fourth
and Jimmie Johnson, who won his fourth-consecutive Cup Series title, rounded
out the top-five finishers.
Mears' fourth RCR teammate, Clint Bowyer, came home 11th.
Casey Mears:
"This was definitely not the way we wanted to close out the season, but I'm
proud of all the guys that have been apart of No. 07 program this year.
There have been a lot of changes, but these guys never quit. They put a lot
of hard work in this season and I have to thank all of them for their
efforts. And a big thank you to Jack Daniel's for all their support, not
only this season, but over the last five years."
-credit: rcr
