47-year-old driver Casey Mears returned to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025 for the first time in over six years, marking his return with a pair of starts as he pushes to reach 600 for his career.
His new team, Garage 66, wants him to reach that milestone this year. The team announced they signed Mears to a new three-race contract for the rest of the season (Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway, and the finale in Phoenix).
Means currents have 491 Cup Series starts and 107 Xfinity Series ones. Only 47 drivers have started 500 Cup Series races in the lengthy history of the sports, including current drivers like Denny Hamlin (currently in the playoffs).
“I’m excited we were able to put these three races together, and I appreciate the ongoing support from Bob Germain, S.I. Yachts, and Acrisure,” Mears said of the news. “
“Given our close friendship, it’s touching that Bob is willing to invest in me after all these years; it shows his character and who he is as a person.”
When Mears returned in 2025, he was effusive of Long. “I appreciate Carl (Long, co-owner of Garage 66) working with me to make it happen; he’s a well-respected, great guy who’s worked hard to experience longevity in the sport,” he said.
“I’m happy to be back in a race car and look forward to returning to Martinsville, one of my favorite tracks.