NASCAR Cup Series driver Casey Mears will return for the last three races of the 2025 season at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 19, Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26, and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2.
The nephew of Rick Mears, Casey was a full-time driver in the top-tier class of NASCAR between 2003 and 2016. Following his appearance in 2019, Mears returned this year as a part-time driver, racing at Martinsville in the spring and at Daytona last month, leading to his total tally of 491 Cup races in the past 16 years.
Garage 66 and MBM Motorsports announced on Thursday that Mears will drive the No. 66 Ford Mustang in the three races. The Germain family, who Mears drove for from 2010 to 2016, and S.I. Yachts, will be the primary sponsors for Mears, while global fintech insurance company Acrisure will be an associate sponsor. Speaking on the partnership with Mears, Germain said:
“We achieved significant success in NASCAR with two Truck Series Championships, and Casey played a key role in the development of our Cup Series program. I’m proud that the years he spent driving our No. 13 car accounted for many of his Cup starts, and I’m happy we’re partnering in his pursuit of hitting 500.
Casey Mears, driver of the #27 Chevrolet, is introduced during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Casey Mears, driver of the #27 Chevrolet, is introduced during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
“Casey and I have remained close over the years, and he was always one of our biggest supporters. He’s a great guy, and he’s always been genuine in how he lives his life, which is what I appreciate most.”
Vernon Leake, CEO of Acrisure Protection Group, said:
“We look forward to supporting Casey’s success in these competitive races as he demonstrates our shared values and standards towards excellence and high performance.”
Appreciating the two sponsors for the partnership, Mears said:
“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. 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.
“It also means a lot that Acrisure continues to support us; they stepped up first this year at Martinsville and helped get this program started. Thanks to Carl Long and Garage 66 for all of their hard work because they’ve worked hard to ramp up and make it happen.”
Garage 66 team owner Carl Long added:
“This has been a great opportunity for Garage 66, and it’s been an honor to have Casey in our car and to work with S.I. Yachts and Acrisure. Casey is a top-tier driver who brings attention to detail and focus to everything he does, from the preparation of the pit equipment to the way the interior is adjusted. We appreciate S.I. Yachts and Acrisure’s trust in our team, and we’re committed to finishing the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season strong.”