Trading Paint: Casey Mears To Drive Fifth Different Car In Short Cup Career

Everyone in the NASCAR world loves to talk about the annual game of musical chairs, in which drivers and teams swap rides as if they're tires after a long green-flag run at Darlington.

The often termed "Silly Season" dominates headlines throughout the marathon that is the Sprint Cup season.

It gives fans something to talk about over a beer and a brat outside their favorite turn at their favorite track, as they wonder which souvenir trailer they will be visiting the following season.

The drama adds additional excitement to an already exciting sport.

But, while fans love to delve into discussions about race politics, "Silly Season" keeps drivers on the edge of their seat and none too comfortable.

For driver Casey Mears however, Silly Season is especially unsettling, because when the music stops, he never lands in the same seat.

Mears is in his sixth season in NASCAR's top series and will be driving his fifth different car next season.

The only time he drove the same car in consecutive seasons was from 2003-05, when he drove the No. 41 Target Dodge for Chip a. Before parting ways with Ganassi, Mears also drove the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge for one season.

After parting ways with Ganassi, it appeared as if Mears had caught the break he needed; he signed with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports for 2007.

With Rick Hendrick, Mears drove the No. 25 National Guard Chevrolet and, finally, broke through.

He won his first race in grand fashion by capturing the checkered flag at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600. The storybook fuel mileage victory returned the Mears family name to victory lane on Memorial Day Weekend and gave Mears' fans hope.

However, it would be his sole victory for Hendrick that year and wasn't nearly enough to keep his ride. Rick Hendrick moved Mears to the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008.

Coming into this season, even though on his fourth car in five years, Mears headed to Daytona with high hopes.

However, the season's opening race ended with disappointment as, with five laps remaining he crashed while running third.

From there it only got worse.

The following weekend at California, Mears hit a wet spot on the track,spun, and ended up on his side in a big wreck.

Mears and the No. 5 team were never able to rebound after their tough start.

Consequently, Casey found himself again a part of the "Silly Season" grumblings this year when Rick Hendrick announced he would replace Casey with Mark Martin in the No. 5 car next year.

With Mears now in limbo and Richard Childress Racing deciding to start a fourth team, RCR announced they have signed Mears to drive the No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet next season.

With another new ride and new colors, only time will tell if Mears will fit in at RCR.

In the meantime Mears fans can head to the souvenir trailers to trade in their Kellogg's for Jack Daniel's. They might need it.