In a stunning turn of events during Thursday night’s Daytona 500 qualifier at Daytona International Speedway, Casey Mears clinched a spot in the main event after a multi-car crash eliminated Corey LaJoie’s chances in the race’s final moments. The Casey Mears Daytona 500 qualifier triumph came as Joey Logano secured victory under caution, setting the stage for NASCAR’s season-opening race in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Joey Logano, driving for Team Penske in a Ford, controlled the qualifying race until a five-car accident with just four laps to go brought out the yellow flag. The crash occurred when Austin Dillon received a strong push from Chris Buescher, which led Dillon to collide with Bubba Wallace, spinning Wallace and sending the contest into a tense overtime extension. The extra laps created a chaotic sprint to the finish that dramatically altered the qualifying outcome.
Casey Mears Avoids Disaster to Snatch Transfer Position
When the two-lap overtime commenced, Logano held the lead, while Corey LaJoie was vying for the open slot in the 41-car Daytona 500 field. On the decisive lap, LaJoie was spun out, allowing Mears—by a matter of inches—to avoid the wreck and surge past both LaJoie and Chandler Smith to secure the coveted transfer spot. Mears had already overcome an earlier setback involving an incident on pit road yet managed to fight his way back into contention.
“I just know that we made it, the car is damaged, but we got it in,”
Mears said.
“I can’t believe we are here based on our night and the way that it went. I didn’t know who was in and whether or not we made it and then the guys started going nuts on the radio.”
Mears said.
Representing Garage 66, a team managed by former driver Carl Long and staffed by just 10 employees, Mears’s entry was made possible with support from ex-team owner Bob Germain. This qualifying run at Daytona also marks a major milestone, as Mears is chasing his 500th career Cup Series start. Sunday’s race will be his 495th start since beginning his career as a Cup Series mainstay, last competing full-time in 2016.
“Everything was completely stacked against us,”
Mears admitted.
“I can’t believe we’re here. It feels good to be here.”
Mears said.
Mears has confirmed that his 2026 focus is on superspeedways and road courses, targeting five more starts this season in pursuit of the significant 500-start achievement. The resilience he displayed in overcoming adversity during the qualifier reverberated throughout the paddock, fueled by Garage 66’s underdog spirit and limited resources.
Joey Logano’s Fourth Qualifying Win Highlights Penske Strength
Joey Logano reinforced his dominance in qualifying races at Daytona with his fourth career qualifier victory. Logano, who previously won the Daytona 500 in 2015, once again proved formidable on the superspeedway and was quick to acknowledge the strength of his car and team.
“I do think we have a strong race car, obviously a fast race car, we proved that,”
Logano observed.
Logano’s teammate at Team Penske, Ryan Blaney, followed closely behind with a second-place finish, while Austin Dillon, who was instrumental in the key late-race incident, placed third. Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, and Chandler Smith were among the drivers caught up in the night’s turbulence, highlighting just how competitive and unpredictable Daytona can be.
Long-Term Impact and What Comes Next for the Daytona 500 Field
The wild finish in Thursday’s first Daytona 500 qualifier illustrates the high stakes and razor-thin margins that define racing at Daytona International Speedway. For Casey Mears and Garage 66, their dramatic triumph secures a spot on one of racing’s biggest stages, offering a boost to small independent operations. Meanwhile, Joey Logano’s continued success marks Team Penske as an early favorite heading into Sunday’s main event.
As NASCAR fans and teams prepare for Sunday’s Daytona 500, the impact of Thursday night’s drama will be felt throughout the garage, with Mears’s underdog story and Logano’s dominance fueling anticipation for a memorable season opener in Florida.
