Casey Mears turned in his best career Martinsville finish on Sunday. Credit: Autostock

Mears overcomes plenty during sixth-place run

Contact with Newman, Gilliland doesn't slow fast No. 42 Dodge

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- On the one hand, it was hard for Casey Mears to be angry after finishing sixth at Martinsville Speedway.

But yes, he was, mainly because he had to work so hard on a day when he finally had a decent short-track car.

Credit: Autostock

Subway 500 Official Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Jimmie Johnson Chevy 2. Denny Hamlin Chevy 3. Bobby Labonte Dodge 4. Tony Stewart Chevy 5. Jeff Gordon Chevy 6. Casey Mears Dodge 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 8. Jeff Green Chevy 9. Kevin Harvick Chevy 10. Kyle Petty Dodge • Complete results, click here • Official standings, click here Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his Subway 500 win at Martinsville Top finishersHamlin, Dale Jr. and Kenseth talk about their day at Martinsville Final lapsJimmie Johnson tries to hold off Denny Hamlin down the stretch Spin outDale Jr. takes a spin when trying to pass Kasey Kahne Tough dayJeff Burton retires to garage with motor problems Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Mears had never finished better than 17th at Martinsville, but he felt his day could have been much better had he not been forced to rally from a pair of damaging spins.

On Lap 66, Ryan Newman punted him in Turn 2 after he and Mears had embarked on a paint-swapping session for the previous few laps.

Newman was black-flagged by NASCAR for the hit, which sent Mears to the rear of the field. Mears had been running 11th.

"[Newman] was kind of holding everyone up. When I got up to him, he tried to park me in the center of the corner," Mears said. "[He] just got on the brakes and I got into the back of him. Got him a little loose. He didn't wreck, but he came around the next lap and wrecked me.

"Pretty small-minded and ignorant, really."

Newman had qualified fourth, but handling problems plagued him at the beginning of the race. After the penalty for spinning Mears, Newman rallied, finishing 13th.

"I think he is frustrated because he is having a bad year and he is taking it out on everybody when he is has a bad day," Mears said. "I have been there. I have been there 10 million times at this place and I never did that, but he thinks he can."

Mears was also angered late in the race when he was spun by rookie David Gilliland on Lap 460. Mears, who was running third at the time, somehow kept his Dodge off the wall, and he retained his track position as the yellow came out.

"[Gilliland] just spun me out," Mears said. He was a million laps down. He is a good kid and he has a lot of talent, but he has a lot to learn."

Mears, who will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season, is in the final laps of his relationship with Ganassi Racing, where he has driven for four seasons. In his previous seven races at Martinsville, he said that he had never experienced a car that handled as well as the one he had on Sunday.

"The car was the same all day, was really consistent. It is the first car I have ever had here that would turn," Mears said. "The guys worked really hard putting together some new racecars for these short tracks, and it has made all the difference in the world.

"I have never had a car that has worked. That is the first time I've ever had a car that has worked."