Sources: Mears reaches deal with RCR
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"I'll be glad to talk to you about the fourth car next week at Bristol," team owner Richard Childress told The Associated Press when asked about who will become the team's fourth driver.
Mears, 30, made his debut with Chip Ganassi Racing at the season-opening Daytona 500 in 2003. He scored his first career pole the following August at Pocono and finished a career-best 14th in the point standings in 2006 before leaving for Hendrick Motorsports. In his 12th start for Rick Hendrick in the No. 25 Chevrolet, Mears won the Coca-Cola 600 — NASCAR's longest event. He also battled back from an early season deficit to finish 15th overall in points under the direction of crew chief Darian Grubb.
This season, Mears was transferred to the No. 5 Chevrolet after Kyle Busch's contract was not renewed. FOXSports.com first reported at Sonoma on June 20 that Mark Martin would replace Mears at HMS in 2009. Despite Hendrick's decision to take the No. 5 team in a different direction, Mears, who is considered one of the most popular drivers in the garage, has remained upbeat even though he currently sits 24th in the point standings.
Mears said late Friday that he had been courted by three teams and was nearing a decision.
Richard Childress announced earlier this season that General Mills had come on board to sponsor a fourth car in 2009. According to sources familiar with the agreement, General Mills required a driver that could contend for a top 12 position in the standings to fill the seat. Clint Bowyer, the current driver of the No. 07 RCR entry, fits such demands. While he is currently 13th in Sprint Cup points, he has maintained a top 12 presence for 16 of 22 weeks this season and also leads the Nationwide Series standings.
In 35 years of NASCAR Cup competition, Richard Childress Racing has six championships and 88 wins. Veterans Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick are currently fifth and 11th, respectively, in the point standings prior to Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway.
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