As the 2026 NASCAR season approaches, anticipation grows for Casey Mears Daytona 500 return, where he aims for an extraordinary career milestone. Mears, who is poised to compete at the world-renowned Daytona International Speedway, is just six starts short of reaching his 500th NASCAR Cup Series appearance.
Mears Continues His Legacy With Daytona Comeback
This year marks a critical chapter in Mears’s lengthy racing journey. The winner of the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway comes into the season with 494 starts in the Cup Series, seeking to join a select group of drivers who have reached 500 races. After ending a six-year absence from the sport, Mears made five starts for Garage 66 last year, reigniting his competitive drive. The team has confirmed that he will return to the No. 66 car for Daytona and further races in the new season, eager to achieve a landmark in motorsports longevity.
“So, we’re going to go to Martinsville, run Phoenix, and after that, I think we’re looking for six more races next season. Just really want to make that 500 mark happen.”
– Casey Mears, NASCAR Driver
Team Confidence as Mears Returns to Iconic Race
Mears, who last competed in the Daytona 500 with a 40th-place finish in 2019, is set to reclaim his spot in the storied event. Since racing full-time from 2003 to 2016 — where his career highlight remains the fuel-saving win at Charlotte — he’s made only a handful of Cup appearances. Team owner Carl Long, speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, outlined the team’s commitment to supporting Mears’s pursuit, including leasing engines from Roush-Yates Engines specifically for the Daytona and Talladega events in 2026.
“I’ve got enough stuff going on, I’m about as messed up as a soup sandwich right now,”
Carl Long, Team Owner
“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.”
– Carl Long, Team Owner
Mears’s Impact and Team Dynamics
The veteran driver’s return is not just about numbers; it also brings an intangible value that Garage 66 hopes to use to its advantage. Long remarked on the team’s improved performance with Mears behind the wheel compared to other entrants like Timmy Hill, Josh Bilicki, and Chad Finchum. Mears offers race-day respect among his peers, a quality essential for smaller operations aiming for strong results at superspeedways such as Daytona.
“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,”
Carl Long, Team Owner
Long further believes Mears provides guidance and credibility within the team, attributes rarely afforded to smaller outfits but vital for success at events like the Daytona 500.
Looking Forward to NASCAR’s 2026 Season Opener
The 2026 Daytona 500, scheduled for Sunday, February 15, will not only mark the beginning of the Cup Series season but could see Casey Mears take a major step toward his career 500th start. Fans and teams alike are watching closely as the storied driver embarks on a return that celebrates endurance, influence, and the pursuit of legacy in American motorsport.
