Move to HMS may be missing link for Mears (cont'd)

"I like to see guys that have had to earn the right to be there, and have had to work through it. Not taking anything away from Ganassi, I think they've had some great cars and teams over the last few years," Gordon said.

"But I think Casey's really had to work on getting used to a stock car, the bigger, heavier cars, and I think he's done a great job really learning how to be patient and learning how to get the most out of a car and bring it home at the end of the day. And I think that's a huge asset to Hendrick Motorsports, that we've had other people be able to teach him those things and pay his dues there. I hope that it all comes together for him this year, because I think that team is on the brink of a breakthrough, and I think Casey is as well."

It helps that Mears is surrounded by a support system like none he's ever had. Among Hendrick's 524 employees are specialized mechanics who can give detailed attention to even the smallest parts of the car. At a recent Car of Tomorrow test in Lakeland, Fla., Mears said he was accompanied by "an engineer and an engineer and another engineer," in addition to crew chief Lance McGrew.

And then there are people like Gordon and owner Rick Hendrick and reigning Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, all of whom Mears had close personal relationships before he joined his new team. He and Johnson, who both come from off-road backgrounds, were even teammates once before.

It all creates a very comfortable atmosphere, making Mears feel less like the new guy at Hendrick and more like someone who's finally where he's supposed to be. How much those personal relationships helped him get hired, he isn't sure. He was still talking to Ganassi, and within days of making a decision on his 2007 plans when he received a call from Hendrick.

"I think the way everything went down with Brian leaving, it was about who was available at that time," Mears said. "At that time, I like to think I was their first choice, the best person for this job. The fact that there were personal relationships there as well, I'm sure that helped sway that opinion. But I was told I was chosen based on the job that I could do. I feel pretty good about it. Just all the way around, it's a great opportunity."

And with that opportunity comes expectations, easily the highest of Mears' NASCAR career. For years he's been the promising, likeable kid with the so-so cars, someone Mark Martin, Jeff Burton or Dale Earnhardt Jr. would approach after races to offer encouragement or support. The instant he slides into the No. 25 car for the first time, those days are over.

"If you're going to be in this sport, you've got to step up when the time comes. The time's come," Gordon said. "But I don't think as an organization we want to put that kind of pressure on him. I think he's put that on himself."