Roger Mears

Last updated
Roger Mears
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
Born (1947-04-24) April 24, 1947 (age 77)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Achievements20 off-road world championships at Riverside
Two HDRA/SCORE championships
Four Baja 1000 class victories
Five Pikes Peak International Hill Climb class victories
Champ Car career
Years active1978–1984
Team(s) Machinist Union Racing Team
American Dream Racing
Best finish9th (1982)
First race 1979 California 500 (Ontario)
Last race 1984 Dana Jimmy Bryan 150 (Phoenix)
WinsPodiums Poles
000
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
4 races run over 1 year
Best finish46th (1995)
First race 1995 Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic (Phoenix)
Last race 1995 Spears Manufacturing 200 (Mesa Marin)
WinsTop tens Poles
000
Statistics current as of May 18, 2013.

Roger Mears (born April 24, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas) is an American former racing driver. Best known for his career in off-road racing, he also drove in the USAC and CART series from 1978 to 1984. He competed in 31 races, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1982 and 1983. [1] He finished in the top ten 17 times, with three fourth-place finishes.

Contents

Following his IndyCar career, Mears returned to off-road racing. [2] Late in his career, he raced in four events during the 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series season, [3] racing for Hendrick Motorsports, including the inaugural series race at Phoenix. His best career finish, however, was a 16th at Mesa Marin.

Mears is the father of NASCAR driver Casey Mears, [4] and the older brother of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears.

Since his retirement from racing, Mears has been heavily involved in his son's career. He ran an Indy Lights team, with Casey as the driver, before working as a consultant with both Ganassi and Hendrick Motorsports. [5]

Mears is an atheist. [6] He played himself in the 1994 film Desert Steel.

Racing record

American open–wheel racing results

(key)

Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

YearEntrant12345678910PosPoints
1978 PIR1 TRE1 MOS MIL1
26
TEX MIL2
22
OMS1
15
OMS2 TRE2 PIR2 51st10

USAC

YearTeamChassisEngine123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
1978 Beith Racing Eagle 72 Offenhauser L4 t PHX1 ONT1 TXS1 TRE1 INDY MOS MIL1 POC MIS1 ATL TXS2 MIL2 ONT2
6
MIS2 TRE2 SIL BRH PHX2
DNS
25th400

CART

YearTeamChassisEngine12345678910111213141516RankPoints
1979 Patrick Racing Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX V8 t PHX ATL1 ATL2 INDY TRE1TRE2MIS1MIS2WGLTRE3ONT
13
MIS3ATL3PHX2NC0
1980 Hodgdon Racing McLaren M24 Cosworth DFX V8 t ONT
9
24th272
Grant King RacersKingfish 73 Chevrolet V8 INDY
DNQ
MILPOCMDO
4
MISWGL
16
MIL
26
ONT2MIS2MEXPHX
1982 Machinists Union Racing Team Penske PC-9B Cosworth DFX V8 t PHX
8
MIL
22
CLE
21
9th103
Penske PC-7ATL
4
MIS
17
MIL2
14
POC
9
RIV
4
ROA
8
MIS2
8
Penske PC-10 PHX2
7
1983 Machinists Union Racing Team Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8 t ATL
7
INDY
28
MIL
8
CLE
6
MIS
DNQ
ROA
8
POC
16
RIV
9
MDO
12
MIS2
16
CEA
7
LS
6
PHX
16
12th43
1984 Caliva Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8 t LBH
DNQ
PHX
26
NC0
Machinists Union Racing Team Penske PC-10 INDY
DNQ
MILPORMEACLEMISROAPOCMDOSANMIS2PHX2LSCEA

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
1980 Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8 DNQGrant King Racers
1981 Penske PC-7 Cosworth DFX V8 t DNQ Agajanian
1982 Penske PC-9B Cosworth DFX V8 t 1932 Machinists Union Racing Team
1983 Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8 t 828 Machinists Union Racing Team
1984 Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8 t DNQ Machinists Union Racing Team

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

SuperTruck Series

NASCAR SuperTruck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920NCTCPts
1995 Hendrick Motorsports 25 Chevy PHO
21
TUS SGS MMR
16
POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP
24
FLM RCH MAR NWS SON 46th382
5 MMR
29
PHO

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References

  1. "Where Are They Now?: Roger Mears". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  2. Winderman, Ira (May 21, 1986). "Off The Beaten Track Roger Mears Is Carving His Niche In Off-road Racing". Sun-Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, FL. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  3. "Pickups take to racetrack". Standard-Speaker . Hazelton, PA. May 27, 1995. p. 44. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  4. "Dads Behind Sons' Wheels". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, CA. June 15, 2003. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  5. "Roger Mears".
  6. "Interview with retired IndyCar & Offroad Driver Roger Mears". YouTube . 8 June 2018.