Career Highlights
Named driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet in August 2008 for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season
Finished the 2008 season 20th in points following one top-five, six top-10 and 17 top-20 finishes driving Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet
Earned one win, one pole, five top fives and 10 top 10s, rolling to a 15th-place finish in the 2007 Sprint Cup Series point standings driving Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 25 Chevrolet
Recorded first career Sprint Cup Series win May 27, 2007, in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 156th career start
Logged a pair of top fives in 2006, including second-place finishes in the Daytona 500 and the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. Earned a career-best 14th-place showing in the final Sprint Cup point standings following two top-five, eight top-10 and 19 top-20 efforts driving Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42
Notched first career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory July 8, 2006, at Chicagoland Speedway in 69th career start driving Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42
Named driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 25 Chevy in June 2006 for the 2007 season
First full-time NASCAR driver to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona with overall victory in 2006
Earned three top fives and nine top 10s in 2005 driving Chip Ganassi’s No. 41. Closed out the season with two top-five and five top-10 finishes in the final nine races, including a fifth-place effort in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Won back-to-back pole positions in 2004, including the top starting spot for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Scored first career Sprint Cup Series top-five finish Aug. 15, 2004, at Watkins Glen International in 58th career start, ending sophomore campaign 22nd in points
Won first ARCA/REMAX Series race June 14, 2003 at Michigan International Speedway driving for Chip Ganassi Racing
Earned three ARCA/REMAX Series victories in 2003
Made Sprint Cup Series debut Feb. 16, 2003, at Daytona International Speedway. Started 29th and finished 27th driving Chip Ganassi’s No. 41
Ran a full Nationwide Series schedule for Welliver-Jessel Motorsports in 2002. Finished 21st in points following one top-five, two top-10 and 12 top-20 efforts
Made Nationwide Series debut Nov. 10, 2001, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Started 21st and finished 28th driving the No. 66 Chevrolet for Cicci-Welliver Racing
Finished 2001 CART season with Mo Nunn Racing, filling in for the injured Alex Zanardi Made IRL Indy Car debut March 18, 2001 at Phoenix International Raceway. Started 25th and finished 20th for Galles Racing
Made CART debut Oct. 29, 2000, at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. Started 15th, led 10 laps and finished fourth driving for Team Rahal
Earned first career Indy Lights victory Oct. 1, 2000, at the Grand Prix of Houston driving for Dorricott Racing
Finished second in 1999 Indy Lights championship. Became the fourth driver in series history to complete every lap in a single season. Notched four podium finishes, including runners-up at The Milwaukee Mile and Michigan International Speedway
Made Indy Lights debut June 30, 1996, at the Cleveland Grand Prix. Started 18th and finished eighth for Team Mears
1995 Jim Russell USAC Triple Crown Champion
Transitioned to go-karts in 1991 and moved up to the SuperLites Off-Road Series a year later
Began racing BMX and ATVs in his native Bakersfield at age four
Son of championship off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Rick Mears