NASCAR Cup Series driver Casey Mears. Mike DiNovo-Imagn Images

Casey Mears making 600th NASCAR start, Truck Series debut at Martinsville

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Oct 16, 2025 12:07 PM ET

The Oct. 24 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway will mark a pair of milestones for veteran driver Casey Mears.

Mears, who will compete in the Slim Jim 200 behind the wheel of the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford F-150, will be making his Truck Series debut if he can qualify, as well as his 600th NASCAR start.

Mears has 598 career starts across the top three series of NASCAR going into Sunday's Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, which he will compete in with Garage 66.

"Having a driver like Casey in our truck is a huge moment for MBM Motorsports," said team owner Carl Long in a press release. "Reaching 600 NASCAR starts is something very few drivers ever accomplish, and we’re honored he chose to do it with us."

Casey Mears adding to a long career

The 47-year-old driver from Bakersfield, Calif., has made 498 Cup Series starts — including his lone victory in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — and 107 Xfinity Series starts.

Mears has made two Cup Series starts in 2025, with his first coming at Martinsville on March 30. Mears made his NASCAR debut in the 2001 Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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

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