Mears: The Next Generation Rises?

Originally Posted on February 2, 2006 on Foxsports.com.

Last weekend, Casey Mears was part of the Chip Ganassi Racing Team that won the Rolex 24 hours at Daytona.  Mears' teammates were fellow Ganassi racers - Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon and former IRL champ Scott Dixon. 

The Mears name is no stranger to victory lane:  Casey's Uncle Rick is a four time Indianapolis 500 winner, and former champion of the Champ Car World Series. Casey's father Roger also was a racer.  Casey definitely has the right racing pedigree.

In addition to the win, Casey became the first  full time Nextel Cup racer to win the race.  In his first attempt.  Quite a feat when you consider that Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Petty, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Rusty Wallace, and Matt Kenseth have all tried their hand at the Rolex 24 without success.  Stewart, in particular, admitted this week that he is green with envy over Mears' win.

Casey is entering his fourth season at the Nextel Cup level.  To date, he has not won a Cup race, but did sit on the pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 in 2004.  At the end of last season, Casey had a couple good finishes and led races.  But his highest finish last year was fourth.

This year, Casey has moved into Jamie McMurray's spot in the Ganassi stable.  Casey takes over the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge with Donnie Wingo as his crew chief. 

Hopefully, Casey can translate his success in the 24 hour race into success on the Cup circuit and bring the Mears name back to victory lane.