Casey Mears: Dodge/Save Mart 350 preview

Casey Mears on Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway:

"We had a pretty good test at Infineon Raceway," said Mears. "Last year in Sonoma was my first road race in a stock car and I thought it would be pretty easy, but it was nothing like I expected. Open-wheel cars are so different that I overdrove the stock car. The Target Dodge is much heavier and reacted differently. I would try and drive it into the turns like an open-wheel car and I was just slow. When I slowed down in the stock car I actually turned quicker lap times.

"These road courses are tough to pass on, so qualifying and pit strategy are going to be extremely important. Jimmy (Elledge) and the team have done a great job all year with pit strategy, so I am confident we can walk away with a good finish. I am looking forward to the race and hopefully we can get that top-five finish we've been after all season."