Casey Mears Quotes (37 Quotes)

It was a good day for us track position was so huge and right out there at the end we were running third, we had a big battle on the pit box on what we were going to do,

The best thing I've done when Tony was doing his interviews, I gave him a hug and put the watch up to his face. He's a good sport. He's a guy that's going to get one of these one day. Tony can get mad sometimes, so I gave him a little bit of ribbing and walked off.

We got some quick changes during the night that the other guys couldn't do. We spent the least time in the pits and that's what won us the race.

I think we're proving as a team and I'm proving as a driver that we can run up front. Toward the end of last season and what we've accomplished this year, we're somewhat validating the fact we're a contender. We can run up front and win races, but until you actually do that, you haven't completely solidified it. We need to go out and win some races this year. That's our main focus. ... And for me, a win at California would be the most perfect.

He's pretty amazing. Regardless what they do with the car to make it faster, his ability makes a big difference. He's pretty amazing.

I thought about going with Newman there for a little bit. As soon as he pulled out, (Elliott Sadler) had a big run on me. I had to stay at the bottom.

On Michigan... We had a great run going in June, ... I think we had the fastest car out there most of the race. Jimmy (Elledge) and this team have these 1.5 to 2.0-mile tracks figured out. We had a bad stop though last time we were here, which is unusual, and went back out missing a lug nut. We had to come back in and went a lap down. We rode around a lap down the rest of the day. We probably had the best car out there. It's a shame because I think we could have won the race. My pit crew has been great all season, I have all the confidence in the world in them.

It has been a great opportunity for us to come out here and learn about what these guys do. Sometimes we forget how hard Sailors work to protect our freedom. To be able to take time out and show some appreciation is great, plus we just enjoy it.

Last weekend we had a solid run going, but the bolt on the sway bar broke while we were running in the top 10. Hopefully this weekend we can start to put some good finishes together before the end of the season. It has been discouraging, but I believe in this team's abilities and we will get after it again this weekend.

It's not like I was going to a brand new team with a brand new crew chief and having to start from scratch. We've got some learning to do, but right out of the gate we had the chemistry. We knew each other and it was easy to make decisions.

The fact that they got caught earlier in the week (with a modified rear window) took every doubt out of my mind that they would actually do anything to possibly cheat in this race.

It was a bittersweet time, the highest of highs and lowest of lows. You feel so guilty even calling, trying to get that ride, but at the same time, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. I was starving for a job when Alex had his accident.

More than anything the 24-hour race and everything leading up to the Daytona 500 on the Cup side was really positive. That gave us a lot of confidence going into the 500. The 24-hour race boosted the whole team's spirits. Anytime you've got guys thinking positive, it's a good thing.

It's unbelievable. There are only a few big races in the world and this is definitely one of them. I can't believe we're sitting up here right now and that we won this race. Everybody's up late, you're tired, and there are a lot of things that go on. It hasn't even really sunk it yet that we actually won. It was so much fun and it feels great.

This is my fourth year in Cup. I was settling in with a team that has typically run a little bit better than we have over the last few years.

Dover has been a frustrating track for me. We've had top-10 cars at times, but couldn't put the finishing touches on the race. This past spring we couldn't get the car to turn right. Hopefully we can get a good handle on this new car we are taking and make my 100th start a memorable one.

I would hate personally to get penalized for something that my crew chief did that I didn't even know about.

I think everybody knows what I want for my birthday. I'm going to knock on wood. Having a win here at Vegas would be a great birthday present. I know we can get the job done. We've just got to focus on not doing anything wrong.

It was a great day for us. I thought about going with Newman for a little bit, but as soon as he pulled out, the No. 38 (Sadler) had a big run on me, so I had to stay at the bottom. He gave me a good shove to cross the startfinish line.

I think a lot of things are going in the right direction. We haven't had the races that we need in the last few weeks to remain strong and maintain that top 10. We know that, so we're working hard to make it better.

Bristol is a great track, but it hasn't been a good track for me.

Don't get me wrong, those guys are driving hard and working hard, but their cars are not moving around a bunch, they're not sideways, they're not hanging out. They look fairly stuck to the track and they're able to get to the front.

We've got everything in our power right now to be in that Chase and to be in the top 10, so we've just got to put all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place, keep our heads up and keep digging and I think we can make it.

After the three races we've had, we couldn't be coming back to a better place as far as we're concerned. I'd have to be satisfied to leave the track today with another top-five finish. Of course, it would be better to win, and that's what we're going there to do.

It's great to know that we have the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives and help The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, ... Last year I didn't know what to think about driving a pink car, now I can't wait to race it. I was touched by so many stories that fans shared with me last year, that it is an honor to be part of Target's initiative again to raise awareness and money for a foundation that will ultimately save lives.

I had a really good feeling going into the Daytona 500. Throughout the whole week leading up to the 500, we just kept making more and more progress. We kept making the car better and better.

I thought it was fairly clean. I thought everybody respected the spirit of the rules. I think the whole bump-drafting thing has been blown out of proportion. It's what has made this sport fun.

Heading home... I always look forward to going to California, ... My grandparents and family come out to the race, and it adds a little extra incentive for me to do well. I'm also going to learn how to surf on Thursday, so that should be fun.

I thought about going with Newman, but Elliott Sadler (who finished fourth) gave me such a good shove, I had to stay with him.

We still know there's room for improvement. The Dodge teams have done a good job of finding ways to make the Charger work.

On the new rule... NASCAR instituted a new camber rule beginning this weekend, ... We will have to adjust on the Target Dodge a little, but I don't expect it to make a huge difference. This car is by far my favorite car, so I'm really looking forward to this weekend. We've been able to make adjustments when we needed to and it's balanced really well.

Racing-wise I hate to see it go, but this sport is growing and changing. You've got to move with the times and do what's going to help the sport grow.

I think at the end we sort of handed the win away when we didn't take two tires. We could have gotten out ahead of those guys.

In the past, it was always ... maybe in three or four years you'll be a guy that is competitive. People expect you to be competitive your first year out now. Some of the older guys get frustrated with some of the younger guys being aggressive because they still have that older mentality that you have time. Well, time isn't a luxury that you have in this sport.

It was an eight-man decision on top of the box to take two or four, we decided to go with a conservative decision because we already had two cars in the fence that were running up front and doing good because of tire trouble.

I thought I was clear and I wasn't. I came down on him,

In my mind, the fact that they got caught earlier in the week took every doubt out of my mind that they had to cheat to win this race. It's disappointing it has to happen in our sport, but that's really all I can say about it.