Defending Lowe's champion Mears to drive special chassis

CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2008) – The No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet won’t look any different than usual when Casey Mears lines up to compete in the 600-mile event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Sunday. But the defending race winner will be driving a noteworthy piece of Hendrick Motorsports’ history -- the company’s 500th chassis. The company started building chassis in 1990, and each team was using the in-house models by 1993. Hendrick Motorsports earned its first win in one of its own chassis in 1992 with Ricky Rudd at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. It’s appropriate that Mears, driver of the No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet, would run the special chassis because the No. 5 Chevy was the first one run by Hendrick Motorsports. When team owner Rick Hendrick founded the company in 1984, Geoff Bodine drove the No. 5 Chevrolet and earned three victories and three pole positions. “The No. 5 was Rick’s first car number, so I guess it’s fitting that this is the team that also gets to race Chassis No. 500,” Mears said. “I’m proud every weekend to race for Hendrick Motorsports, but this weekend, to be part of history with the team, is a big honor for me.” Mears’ crew chief, Alan Gustafson, who once helped build chassis at Hendrick Motorsports, understands the hard work that goes into building a chassis and the significance of the car’s debut. “I know all of the effort that so many people have put in over the years to get to this point,” Gustafson said. “The history of Hendrick Motorsports and what we’ve accomplished and the cars we’ve done it with. To get to the point that we’re at with the 500th car is incredible.” Mears will attempt to defend his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “It wasn’t just me and my team celebrating that night; it was everyone I had worked with over the past few years,” Mears said. “Everyone was celebrating with me, and it was just an incredible moment to realize that. To feel everyone’s support, I won’t forget that.”