NASCAR: Casey Mears dropped from Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports announced today that driver Casey Mears won't be back with the team next year but the Californian is expected to finish the year with the team even though the announcement has been made early.

Mears has had a tough year, lying 24th in the championship while his teammates are all in the top 12.

His beat finish of the season was fifth last week at Sonoma.

Rumours have been already going around the paddock naming veteran Mark Martin as the future replacement.