Mears hopes to capture teammates' magic in '08

With the spotlight focused on his Hendrick teammates, but with the same resources, Casey Mears may surprise in 2008. Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Casey Mears has a difficult assignment ahead of him this season.

Mears drives for Hendrick Motorsports, which has put together a Sprint Cup version of the Yankees' 1927 Murderers' Row with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Johnson has won the last two championships and has 33 victories; Gordon has four championships, finished second last year, and has 81 wins; Earnhardt is lacking a Cup title on his résumé, but has 17 wins.

There's nothing to suggest in Mears' five seasons in NASCAR that he's capable of similar accomplishments. He has one win, last year at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, in 180 Cup starts. Mears was 15th in the points last season, one position lower than his career-best with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006.

But good situations in racing often make for breakthrough seasons, with performances beyond any expectations.

How many people expected Clint Bowyer to make the Chase last season? How many thought he would end up third in the points?

Mears is returning with the same organization he raced for last season, but his situation has been upgraded by moving to the No. 5 team. Along with the move, Mears will work with new crew chief Alan Gustafson, who made the Chase the past two seasons with Kyle Busch, who had two wins and qualified for the playoff on the strength of 11 top fives and 20 top 10s.

Mears, driving the No. 25, had five top fives and 10 top 10s. It's not a stretch to believe that with Gustafson calling the shots, Mears could double those totals and make the Chase.

And once you're in the Chase, as Bowyer -- winless in the regular season and 12th seeded -- demonstrated in '07, you can make your move vertically.

"With the history that Alan and everybody's had with the 5 car, for me it's a great opportunity this year," Mears said.

Mears got off to a slow start last season after the No. 25 changed crew chiefs to Darian Grubb a week before Speedweeks. He didn't have the benefit of preseason testing with Grubb like he did this week at Daytona with Gustafson and in future tests at Las Vegas and Fontana.

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