NASCAR Cup Series driver Casey Mears. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Casey Mears running Daytona 500 with Garage 66

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 12:08 AM ET

A NASCAR veteran will try to make the 68th running of the Daytona 500 with Garage 66.

On Tuesday, the team announced that Casey Mears, a 47-year-old veteran of 494 Cup Series starts, will attempt to qualify for and race in the Daytona 500 in the No. 66 Ford owned by Carl Long.

Mears has competed in a total of 27 Cup Series races at Daytona including 13 Daytona 500s. His last start in the "Great American Race" came in 2019, while his best finish in NASCAR's most prestigious event is second in 2006.

In those 27 Daytona starts, Mears has a total of six top-10 finishes, an average finish of 21.1 and 21 laps led. He'll have to make the Daytona 500 on speed in qualifying on Feb. 11 or by racing his way into the race in his duel race on Feb. 12.

Here we go!!! @CJMearsGang is ready to attempt the 68th Daytona 500 in the @SIYachts / https://t.co/CG33YGvw9V Ford, with support from KARR Security Systems.

READ: https://t.co/mwJ7a78YgN #NASCAR #Daytona500

@SMD_racing pic.twitter.com/dHidgDrcRx
— Garage 66 & MBM Motorsports (@MBMMotorsports) February 4, 2026

Casey Mears making first Daytona 500 start since 2019

Mears ran five Cup Series races with Garage 66 in 2025 in an effort to keep marching toward his goal of competing in 500 Cup Series races. He enters 2026 just six starts shy of that goal.

Mears' best Cup Series finish in 2025 was an 18th-place run at Talladega. He finished 29th at Daytona in August 2025.

Mears' only Cup Series victory came in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

This article first appeared on Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI and was syndicated with permission.

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