Garage 66 has announced its intention to join the field for the 2026 Daytona 500, with Casey Mears slated to pilot the team’s entry at Daytona International Speedway. The Garage 66 Daytona 500 entry spotlights the organization’s commitment to striving for a strong showing in February, as confirmed by Carl Long in a broadcast interview late last year.
Garage 66 Prepares for High-Profile Return to Daytona 500
With the NASCAR Cup Series season rapidly approaching, anticipation is building over which teams will attempt to secure a spot in the coveted Daytona 500. Speaking with Doug Rice on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio before the holidays, Carl Long revealed that Garage 66 will compete for a position in the 40-car lineup. The team has secured an engine partnership to compete in all four Cup events at Daytona and Talladega in 2026, solidifying their intent through leased power from Roush-Yates Engines.
Casey Mears, a veteran with nearly five hundred career Cup starts and the winner of the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, is on board to drive the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Daytona. Mears ended a lengthy six-year break from NASCAR by joining Garage 66 for five events in 2025, including the season’s closing rounds. Long stated his appreciation for Mears’ recent performance and reliability.
“I’ve got enough stuff going on, I’m about as messed up as a soup sandwich right now,”
quipped Carl Long. Pressed about the upcoming season, he continued,
“But I can put it out here for you. We have committed [to] leasing engines [from Roush-Yates Engines] for our Cup car for the Daytona and the Talladega races this year. So, that’ll be four of them that we know. We have Casey Mears lined up to drive for us at Daytona. We’re just trying to get one sponsor deal back with us. I think Casey did an excellent job with us last year.”
—Carl Long, Owner
Casey Mears’ Influence on Team Performance and Reputation
Mears, age 47, brought stability and skill to Garage 66’s equipment during his 2025 tenure, a shift Carl Long believes was noticeable compared to previous drivers. Long highlighted the difference in respect garnered by Mears from his NASCAR peers, which translated into more cooperative racing and improved results for the No. 66 team. Mears’ racing history and relationships within the Cup Series have provided vital racecraft and support on track, where networking with notable drivers such as Denny Hamlin has proven beneficial.
“The one thing that I have with Casey that my Timmy Hills, Josh Bilickis, and Chad Finchums don’t get, like Casey does, is the respect on the racetrack,”
said Long. He further elaborated,
“Casey was out [there], and if he got out of the groove a little bit or got a bad run or somebody left him out — nobody really left him to hang out and dry. Denny Hamlin worked with us. The young kids knew him, respected him, and worked with him. To me, it was a lot better because most of the time, we get hung out. But Casey has a lot of friends and people willing to work with him, so we want Casey as our driver even if we don’t get some of the sponsors to return.”
—Carl Long, Owner
With Mears closing in on 500 career Cup starts, entering the 2026 season just six starts away, this Daytona campaign marks a significant milestone in his career and adds to the storyline for both Garage 66 and its supporters.
Expanded Schedule and Additional Team Plans for 2026
Garage 66’s efforts will not stop with the Daytona 500. The organization is set to make a renewed attempt at the preseason exhibition Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, following its bid to compete in the previous season. Plans include fielding either Chad Finchum or Josh Bilicki for that race. Beyond the events at Daytona and Talladega, Garage 66 has committed to Texas Motor Speedway and the spring Bristol Motor Speedway Date, both featuring Chad Finchum. Altogether, Long believes the team could enter up to 26 races if sponsorship involvement increases, given their three Next Gen chassis in rotation.
Although the team currently has a select few races confirmed for 2026, Long’s ambitions for the Garage 66 Cup program could expand with additional sponsor engagement and resources.
MBM Motorsports: Pursuing Opportunities Across NASCAR Series
Carl Long continues to oversee plans for MBM Motorsports across multiple NASCAR tiers. While boasting a considerable inventory of chassis for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, formerly known as the Xfinity Series, Long notes the financial limitations facing his team’s ability to compete—unless new funding or partnerships are secured.
“I have 26 Xfinity cars just sitting still. But without having a tie-in with a big team or a factory or somebody like that, and a bunch of money — if I can go out and have the engine program all year, then it opens the doors, but you’ve got to pay to be with these guys in an association,”
stated Long.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, MBM Motorsports has added chassis acquired from Front Row Motorsports, originally built by Hattori Racing Enterprises, following Chandler Smith‘s last-minute move in 2025. Among the new assets is a chassis that Lawson Smith drove to victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Long’s 2026 plan includes fielding Tyler Tomassi, who previously finished 27th at Talladega, in the season-opening truck race at Daytona.
Return of Derek White and Expanded ARCA Involvement
MBM Motorsports will also compete in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series, with Derek White set to race in the season opener at Daytona. White, originally from Kahnawake, Quebec, faced a career pause following his 2016 suspension due to legal issues surrounding cross-border tobacco charges. After a lengthy legal battle, White had his punishment reversed by a Canadian court in 2025 and was subsequently reinstated by NASCAR. Last season, the 55-year-old returned to the Craftsman Truck Series and achieved a best finish of 19th at Watkins Glen International for MBM Motorsports.
What the 2026 Season Means for Garage 66 and MBM Motorsports
The confirmation of Garage 66’s Daytona 500 entry with Casey Mears not only adds a respected veteran to the field but also represents Carl Long’s intent to expand his team’s influence in NASCAR’s top divisions. The possibility of a larger Cup schedule, additional entries for seasoned drivers like Chad Finchum and Josh Bilicki, and operational expansion with MBM Motorsports across NASCAR’s varied platforms reflect a deep commitment to the sport, subject to the often-challenging pursuit of sponsorship. These efforts, highlighted by Mears’ milestone pursuit and White’s hard-fought return, promise heightened drama and emotion as the new season approaches at Daytona and beyond.
