Veteran NASCAR driver Casey Mears will return to the sport’s biggest stage in 2026, as he is set to compete in the Daytona 500 driving for Garage 66. The start will continue Mears’ pursuit of a historic milestone, as he enters the season just six starts shy of 500 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Mears returns to Garage 66 after competing with the organization during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, further strengthening an established partnership built on experience and performance. His Daytona 500 effort will feature S.I. Yachts and The Gracie Foundation as co-primary sponsors, with KARR Security Systems serving as a major associate sponsor.

One of the most seasoned competitors in modern NASCAR history, Mears continues to build on a career defined by longevity, adaptability, and success at the sport’s highest level. Reaching the 500-start mark would place Mears among a select and distinguished group, with only 47 other drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history having reached the milestone. 

“Being back at Daytona is always special, and the Daytona 500 remains one of the greatest challenges in motorsports,” said Mears. “To return with Garage 66, after racing with them in 2025, and to be just six starts away from 500 Cup Series races is something I’m incredibly proud of. I’m grateful to S.I. Yachts, The Gracie Foundation, and KARR Security Systems for their support in making this program possible.”

Garage 66 team owner Carl Long is excited to continue the relationship with Mears. 

“I am looking forward to going to Daytona with Casey Mears; he’s one of the best restrictor plate racers in the sport,” Long said. “We’ll need to get through the Duel 150s on Thursday, but the way Casey performed for us at Daytona and Talladega last year, we’ll be strong. We’ve also secured a strong pit crew and have added veteran crew chief Jason Miller to the team to assist with race strategy. As long as we do our job with the car and execute on pit road, we should be in the Daytona 500 field on Sunday.”

Casey Mears and the No. 66 S.I. Yachts/The Gracie Foundation Camaro ZL1 will hit the track at Daytona International Speedway for the season’s opening practice session on Wednesday, February 11, at 10 a.m. ET. Daytona 500 qualifying will follow at 8:15 p.m. ET. 

The America 250 Florida Duels will take place on Thursday, February 12, and will be televised live on FS1 beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, will carry the live radio broadcast.  

The Daytona 500 is on Sunday, February 15, and it will be televised live on FOX beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.  The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast, along with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

PMI PR