Pit Call Makes Difference for Casey Mears and Jack Daniel’s Team in Loudon

Race/Date: Sylvania 300 - September 20, 2009 - Venue: New Hampshire Motor Speedway – 
Loudon, NH - Start: 19th - Finish: 13th - Points: 20th (no change)

Loudon, NH – Casey Mears and the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Impala SS team took advantage of strong pit strategy en route to a 13th-place finish in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Richard Childress Racing team's ninth top-15 finish of the season allowed them to maintain 20th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings.

Friday’s practice session showed the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet 22nd on the speed charts. Mears bettered that effort during his qualifying run, pacing the 1.058-mile speedway in 29.055 seconds, registering 19th on the scoring pylon to start the race inside row 10.

Once the initial green flew for Sunday’s main event, Mears quickly gained two positions climbing to 17th by lap two. Soon after, the battle of having trouble turning through the middle of the corners began, which the Jack Daniel’s team would face throughout the first half of the 300-mile event.

By the time the first caution flag flew on lap 66 for oil on the track due to a competitor’s engine failure, the No. 07 Chevrolet was listed in the 24th position. Crew chief Todd Berrier called Mears to pit road for four tires and fuel, along with air pressure and a chassis adjustment to help tackle the handling issue.

After changing right-side tires on the Jack Daniel’s machine, rear-tire changer Clint Pittman was attempting to make his way to the left side of the car. While doing so, he was struck in the leg by the No. 11 car of Denny Hamlin as he exited his pit stall, located immediately behind the 07 team. Pittman picked himself up from the asphalt and completed the pit stop before turning himself over to the attention of the medics, who soon arrived to care for his injured foot. He was then taken to the infield care center, released and directed to have x-rays taken upon his return home.

With Pittman in good hands, the focus of Mears and the Jack Daniel’s team returned to picking up positions on the track.

After running midpack for the first half of the 300-mile race, crew chief Todd Berrier made a bold call to leave the black and white Chevrolet on the track following a caution on lap 193. Listed in 25th position at the time, Berrier knew track position was critical at Loudon so, with less than 20 green-flag laps on the tires, he called for Mears to stay out. That decision was key as the Bakersfield, Calif., native moved up to the sixth on the leader board for the restart on lap 197.

With one more planned pit stop to finish the 300-lap race, the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s team hoped it remained caution free to play right into their pit strategy.

That final pit stop was made on lap 251, while still under green flag conditions, and Mr. Jack’s Crew held their collective breaths as the leaders began to pit about 15 laps later. As the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s machine climbed up the board, while others took their turn to hit pit road, the caution flew for debris on lap 276 with the No. 07 Chevy listed in the 14th position.

With just over 20 laps remaining in the race, Berrier once again called for Mears to stay out and maintain position. Throughout the remaining laps, tight battles ensued and numerous competitors were caught up in wrecks. However, Mears was able to avoid the mishaps and bring the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet to the checkered flag in 13th place.

Fellow RCR teammate Clint Bowyer finished 10th, while Jeff Burton claimed the 16th position and Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag 32nd after battling brake issues.

Mark Martin edged out Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya for the win in Round One of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five finishers.

Mears and company return to Dover (Del.) International Speedway next weekend for the AAA 400. The race will take the green flag at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, September 27 and be broadcast live on ABC-TV and radio coverage on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Radio Ch. 128. Qualifying is slated for Friday, September 25 at 3 p.m. on SPEED with radio coverage on MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 128.

Casey Mears quotes –

"We hung in there all race and it was a long day. Todd (Berrier) made a great call about mid-race to stay out and gain track position, which really worked out well. Track position is so important at Loudon.

"We were able to keep the Jack Daniel's Chevy in the front pack from there and come away with a top 15. I'm proud of the entire team for all their hard work. I know our rear tire carrier Clint Pittman was injured on a pit stop (hit on the first stop by the No. 11) and I hope he is going to be okay."