How does Casey Mears do it?

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Seeing Rick Mears on tv this morning got me thinking about Casey and his lone win in the Coke 600. It also got me wondering how he manages to stick around so long as a driver who is mediocre at best? Take a look at his career stats:

http://racing-reference.info/driver/mearsca01

1 career win, and not a lot of close finishes. There are many drivers with equal or better records (David Ragan comes to mind) who can't keep decent rides. Is it the name? Is he a really nice guy? Does he have family sponsors?
 
that was a fuel mileage race at the end too wasn't it? yeah, I would guess its a family thing, but I'm pretty sure most of NASCAR is based on family/friend connection
 
The guy who controls the GEICO money wants him in the seat. That's the answer. Anyone who has objected in the past to Mears driving has been fired. Bob Germain is very close to just pulling out altogether. It might be the worst "moraled" group in the garage. I feel bad for Bob, he's probably the coolest owner in the entire sport. He invites everyone & anyone over to his motor coach, feeds them, gives them great wine, then plays guitar for them. He's actually pretty good. But...he has no choice (if he wants GEICO $$) then to slum around in the high 20's with Mears.
 
Allenbaba said:
The guy who controls the GEICO money wants him in the seat. That's the answer. Anyone who has objected in the past to Mears driving has been fired. Bob Germain is very close to just pulling out altogether. It might be the worst "moraled" group in the garage. I feel bad for Bob, he's probably the coolest owner in the entire sport. He invites everyone & anyone over to his motor coach, feeds them, gives them great wine, then plays guitar for them. He's actually pretty good. But...he has no choice (if he wants GEICO $$) then to slum around in the high 20's with Mears.
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Are the equipment, engineering and human resources components of his team better than mid-pack?
 
aunty dive said:
Are the equipment, engineering and human resources components of his team better than mid-pack?
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No, not really. Everyone of "talent" they've brought in to become better has either quit (out of frustration) or been fired (because they fought to replace the driver). The problem is the guy who brokers the GEICO deal makes about $1mm a year on it. That's all he does, that's his livelihood. So anything that can threaten that is promptly squashed (that includes other sponsors who have been brought to Bob's doorstep who'd want a decent chunk of the season. Squashed). GEICO is fine just going around the track with Casey...they spend so much "other" money in the sport (sponsoring races, campsites, parking lots etc) that they just want a car out there to complete to optics. Casey is safe, and keeps his nose clean.

This past off season, Germain had an opportunity to partner with RCR at an "equal share" level and put Ty in the car. They'd essentially be a 4th car, getting full support (pit crew, you name it). GEICO man killed the deal, said GEICO wasn't interested, wanted Casey, etc (no one is sure if they even had the conversation or not. Obviously any ripple in the pond is bad for him). Bob Germain almost said "F-U" and did it anyway (taking his chances with GEICO) but pulled out last minute. Like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bob got out of racing all together. Especially since his "charter" now has value. Hope not...Bob's awesome.
 
Allenbaba said:
This past off season, Germain had an opportunity to partner with RCR at an "equal share" level and put Ty in the car. They'd essentially be a 4th car, getting full support (pit crew, you name it). GEICO man killed the deal, said GEICO wasn't interested, wanted Casey, etc
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Wow.

I like Casey, but...wow.
 
I always thought it had to do with his family influence. Maybe the GEICO man is a friend of the family? I do have to admit, the consistency on having their name out there gives GEICO recognition for it's brand.
 
They should of just stuck with the Lauren Wallace kid, they'd be winning some races now.
 
Michfan said:
The Mears name
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I guess its just the business man within me, but I'd reckon a company like GEICO would prefer a better driver to get the company car on TV & radio, rather than just a do nothing driver that only gets on TV when he f*cks up
 
ToyYoda said:
FWIW though, he raced for some good teams and didn't do much. He had the one fuel mileage win with HMS but did little else, and his one year at RCR was a bust.
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14th in the championship with CGR is about as good as anyone else in that organization has done. Montoya had one Chase season that was better and then McMurray has topped out right around there.
 
FLRacingFan said:
14th in the championship with CGR is about as good as anyone else in that organization has done. Montoya had one Chase season that was better and then McMurray has topped out right around there.
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Sterling Marlin had a couple good years there, but granted that was awhile back.
 
I don't understand this crap . You got 43 ( oops 40) drivers . You take out the 30th place driver out , you still got 40 drivers . You take out the 20th place driver out, you still got 40 drivers . Because some of you guys don't care for a particular driver , it ain't gonna change a thing if you take him out , there will still be another 30th place driver there for you to crap on .That's racin ...you only want to see the top 5 drivers go at it ? , that ain't racin .
 
Maybe Germain should merge with another one car team?

If they wanted to be that 4th team for RCR, go with JTG-Daugherty. Mears and Allmendinger together with their sposors in Kroger and GEICO... It could be a solid idea. I mean I could understand Bob wanted to pull out. The death of his wife could have taken a lot of that drive to be an owner.

I wish Bob and company nothing but the best in the future.
 
this is why I say be careful with thinking Larson is so awesome of a driver. everyone who has left chip has ran worse wherever they went. Mears showed some flashes in ganassi cars. This led Rick to think Casey has something. instead the 600 win was on fuel mileage. Jmac left chip and ran horrible at roush. That was also when roush cars were some of the best in the sport. You know alot of the problem has to be mears, almindinger puts together some decent runs in the 47 car from time to time. They are also affiliated with RCR likely under the same deal. Casey never shows anything.
 
Allenbaba said:
No, not really. Everyone of "talent" they've brought in to become better has either quit (out of frustration) or been fired (because they fought to replace the driver). The problem is the guy who brokers the GEICO deal makes about $1mm a year on it. That's all he does, that's his livelihood. So anything that can threaten that is promptly squashed (that includes other sponsors who have been brought to Bob's doorstep who'd want a decent chunk of the season. Squashed). GEICO is fine just going around the track with Casey...they spend so much "other" money in the sport (sponsoring races, campsites, parking lots etc) that they just want a car out there to complete to optics. Casey is safe, and keeps his nose clean.

This past off season, Germain had an opportunity to partner with RCR at an "equal share" level and put Ty in the car. They'd essentially be a 4th car, getting full support (pit crew, you name it). GEICO man killed the deal, said GEICO wasn't interested, wanted Casey, etc (no one is sure if they even had the conversation or not. Obviously any ripple in the pond is bad for him). Bob Germain almost said "F-U" and did it anyway (taking his chances with GEICO) but pulled out last minute. Like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bob got out of racing all together. Especially since his "charter" now has value. Hope not...Bob's awesome.
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Thanks for letting us in on whats going behind closed doors if you will, so it sounds like GEICO has a lot more control over the team than they probably should. I would to hate to see Bob wash his hands of it all and walk away.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
this is why I say be careful with thinking Larson is so awesome of a driver. everyone who has left chip has ran worse wherever they went. Mears showed some flashes in ganassi cars. This led Rick to think Casey has something. instead the 600 win was on fuel mileage. Jmac left chip and ran horrible at roush. That was also when roush cars were some of the best in the sport. You know alot of the problem has to be mears, almindinger puts together some decent runs in the 47 car from time to time. They are also affiliated with RCR likely under the same deal. Casey never shows anything.
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So he should settle and just stay where he's at forever?
 
Allenbaba said:
No, not really. Everyone of "talent" they've brought in to become better has either quit (out of frustration) or been fired (because they fought to replace the driver). The problem is the guy who brokers the GEICO deal makes about $1mm a year on it. That's all he does, that's his livelihood. So anything that can threaten that is promptly squashed (that includes other sponsors who have been brought to Bob's doorstep who'd want a decent chunk of the season. Squashed). GEICO is fine just going around the track with Casey...they spend so much "other" money in the sport (sponsoring races, campsites, parking lots etc) that they just want a car out there to complete to optics. Casey is safe, and keeps his nose clean.

This past off season, Germain had an opportunity to partner with RCR at an "equal share" level and put Ty in the car. They'd essentially be a 4th car, getting full support (pit crew, you name it). GEICO man killed the deal, said GEICO wasn't interested, wanted Casey, etc (no one is sure if they even had the conversation or not. Obviously any ripple in the pond is bad for him). Bob Germain almost said "F-U" and did it anyway (taking his chances with GEICO) but pulled out last minute. Like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bob got out of racing all together. Especially since his "charter" now has value. Hope not...Bob's awesome.
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Source?
 
jws926 said:
Thanks for letting us in on whats going behind closed doors if you will, so it sounds like GEICO has a lot more control over the team than they probably should. I would to hate to see Bob wash his hands of it all and walk away.
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It's not even really GEICO... none of them are hands on. The independent broker who controls the sponsorship $$ is the one who controls the team.
 
Guys like mears, DiBenedetto, Ragan, Mcdowell and other guys that used to be in the bad cars like Gilliland and Stremme are all better drivers than Danica Patrick. They just dident have the sponsor and built in nascar hype train. She has been in one of the best teams in nascar and is almost always racing in the back with the junk teams. It is pathetic to watch. It really makes me feel bad for women drivers becasue so many have real skill but will probably a.lways be compared to Danica and might not even get a shot because nascar has kept her driving around as a sideshow or so they can say "look how progressive we are. We have a women driver."
 
Matthew2470 said:
Credible source?
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What part don't you believe? GEICO & Casey have been together a long time despite mediocre performance, it's not a stretch to think they're linked somehow. RCR and Germain have a technical alliance, it's not a stretch to think Richard was really pushing to get his grandson a ride. Do those really require other sources for you? I would classify that info under "implied."

Or do you not believe that Bob is a really cool guy and plays guitar for guests while feeding them expensive wines? If so, here's a still frame I took from a video of Bob playing guitar for us in his motor coach after several bottles of wine. (Which might also alleviate some of your other credibility concerns.)


Bob.PNG
 
Allenbaba said:
What part don't you believe? GEICO & Casey have been together a long time despite mediocre performance, it's not a stretch to think they're linked somehow. RCR and Germain have a technical alliance, it's not a stretch to think Richard was really pushing to get his grandson a ride. Do those really require other sources for you? I would classify that info under "implied."

Or do you not believe that Bob is a really cool guy and plays guitar for guests while feeding them expensive wines? If so, here's a still frame I took from a video of Bob playing guitar for us in his motor coach after several bottles of wine. (Which might also alleviate some of your other credibility concerns.)


View attachment 19200
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So no credible source. Noted.
 
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