2005 Dodge Charger NASCAR

Texaco/Havoline NASCAR History with Jamie McMurray

In 2003 Texaco/Havoline decided to make the move from Robert Yates Racing to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS), as primary sponsor for the No. 42 Dodge and rookie Jamie McMurray.

McMurray blazed onto the NASCAR Nextel Cup scene in 2002. McMurray raised eyebrows when he subbed for an injured Sterling Marlin and recorded his first win at Lowe's Motor Speedway in only his second start. After that impressive run, McMurray was selected to move from the Busch Series to the Cup series in 2003 and compete for Rookie of the Year honors.

Highlights in Texaco/Havoline Car:

2003
• Competed in his first full year in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, captured one pole at Homestead Miami Speedway along with five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes

• Became the third driver of the Texaco/Havoline car to earne Rookie of the Year honors

• Finished 13th in the final championship standings

2004


• Recorded nine top-five and 23 top-10 finishes en route to his 11th-place finish in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

• Earned the million dollar bonus for finishing 11th

2005


• Recorded four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes

• Finished 12th in the final championship standings

• Parted ways with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates to make the move to Roush Racing in 2006

Source - Texaco

Casey Mears Selected To Drive No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) and its sponsor Chevron Products Company announced today that they have selected Casey Mears to pilot the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge starting in 2006. In addition, CGRFS has agreed to release Jamie McMurray from his contract to drive for the organization through the ‘06 NEXTEL Cup Series season.
'We've been working hard to find a driver solution for Texaco/Havoline and we are fortunate that we could offer them Casey,' said team owner Chip Ganassi. 'Some recent positive developments have allowed us to make this move and we couldn't be happier with how things are shaping up for the 2006 season. Casey is a driver and a person that we think a lot of and have a lot of faith in.'




'I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to drive the Texaco/Havoline Dodge next season,' said Mears. 'Texaco/Havoline has been a sponsor in this sport for a long time and they've had an impressive list of drivers compete and win in their cars. I look forward to joining that group and taking them and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates back to Victory Lane.'

In 2006, Texaco/Havoline will embark on its 19th season as a NASCAR sponsor. Its honor roll of drivers includes Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Kenny Irwin, Ricky Rudd and Jamie McMurray, who combined have amassed a total of 27 victories in Texaco/Havoline cars. The addition of Mears is certain to carry on Texaco/Havoline's winning tradition and most importantly reinforce the quality and performance that the Texaco 'Star' symbolizes.



About Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, based in Concord, N.C., currently operates four race teams in two of NASCAR's national touring divisions; three in the NEXTEL Cup Series with drivers Sterling Marlin, Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears and one in the Busch Series with driver Reed Sorenson.

About Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading energy companies. With more than 47,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels, lubricants and other energy products. Chevron Global Lubricants is a division of Chevron Global Downstream LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Chevron Products Company is a division of Chevron Ú.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif.

Source - Chip Ganassi Racing

Meet Casey Mears

The first race for Casey Mears in a Texaco uniform was a win. Mears led the Chip Ganassi Racing team to victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona on January 29. Find out more about the son of a racing legend -- who's out to leave some big tire marks of his own.

Tradition and heritage are the two words that best describe Texaco/Havoline and the new pilot of the No. 42 Dodge Charger in 2006, Casey Mears. Mears grew up in racing, his father Roger Mears excelled in off-road racing and his uncle, Rick Mears, won the Indianapolis 500 four times. His last name and family history transcends any one racing series, much like that of the Texaco and Havoline brands.



'It's an honor for me to drive the Texaco/Havoline car,' said Mears. 'Having a sponsor like Texaco/Havoline that's been in racing for so many years is a privilege for someone who grew up in racing. So many talented drivers have driven this car on the NASCAR circuit -- Davey Allison, Kenny Irwin, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett. The list goes on and on.

'I grew up on the IndyCar side of racing, so my early memories of Texaco/Havoline were its relationship with Mario and Michael Andretti. It has a heritage and history of success, and that's something I'm looking to restore. I think the whole organization of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is going to continue to get better, and I want to get Texaco/Havoline back in the winner's circle this season.'



Mears's season-long strong performance in 2004 earned him his first career top-five finish at Watkins Glen International. Mears followed the path set by his uncle Rick, winning the pole position in track-record time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 6, 2004. He won his first career pole just one week earlier at Pocono, making him the first driver since 1964 to post his first two career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles in consecutive races.

While tallying one top-five and nine top-10 finishes in the NEXTEL Cup Series in 2004, Mears also competed in 17 NASCAR Busch Series races including the race at California Speedway. He captured the pole for the race and went on to earn a career-best finish of second in the Busch Series. In his 17 starts in a Busch car, Mears accumulated one top-five and six top-10 finishes.

In his rookie season in 2003, Mears competed in all 36 Cup Series races and ended with five top-20 finishes and placed 35th overall in the driver points standings. He also competed in 13 races in the Busch Series in the No. 19 Dodge as part of a partnership between Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and a single Busch Series team. He scored one pole and three top-10 finishes during those 13 races.

Mears also competed in four ARCA races during the 2003 season, winning three of them and giving him his first win in a stock car. The additional driving assignments helped Mears adjust to stock car racing after competing in open wheel racing in 2002.

An Early Start
Mears began his racing career in 1982 at the age of four. He started out racing BMX bicycles and then moved to racing ATVs at his hometown speedway in Bakersfield, Calif.

Mears moved on to racing go-karts in 1991 and jumped to the SuperLites Off-Road Series in 1992, where he notched a couple of top-three finishes. Soon after his successful SuperLites season, Mears stepped up to compete in the Jim Russell ÚSAC Triple Crown Championship and took home a victory at Mesa Marin Raceway. He eventually finished third in the series and continued his successful run the following year.

In 1995, Mears improved on the previous year and captured the Jim Russell ÚSAC Triple Crown Championship. He made his Indy Lights debut in 1996 at the Cleveland Grand Prix and finished eighth. By 1997, Mears was competing full time in the Indy Lights Championship Series and looking to challenge for a championship.

Mears had an impressive year in the Indy Lights Series in 1999. He became only the fourth driver at the time to complete every lap in a single season. He also scored 11 top-10 finishes, eight top-five finishes and four podium finishes, including second-place finishes at Milwaukee and Michigan. He placed second overall, only 14 points shy of the championship.

In 2000, Mears won the Grand Prix of Houston and began testing IndyCars for multiple teams. In October, he was offered a chance to drive a third entry for Team Rahal in the CART Series at California Speedway. He qualified 15th, led 10 laps and finished fourth in his CART debut.

Next, Mears ran three races in the Indy Racing League in 2001. He finished the season as a replacement for the injured Alex Zanardi, a former Chip Ganassi Racing driver, and the Morris Nunn CART team. In those four CART starts, Mears posted one top-10 finish.

A Key Decision
In 2002, Mears faced a difficult decision. After driving for a NASCAR affiliated team in the final ARCA stock car race of 2001, Mears had the opportunity to race in both stock and open wheel cars. He looked for advice about his future from his father and uncle, and decided that NASCAR held the best opportunities.

Mears competed in the NASCAR Busch Series full time in 2002 driving the No. 66 Dodge. He finished in the top five once, while also securing seven top-15 finishes during his first season driving a stock car.

The young driver proved to the NASCAR world that he was a legitimate threat for victories, as he carries the momentum from the 2005 season with him into the black and red Texaco/Havoline car to Daytona.

Source - Texaco