Casey Mears will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition for the first time in six years with Garage 66 later this month at Martinsville Speedway.
The team announced on Thursday, one day after Mears turned 47, that he will drive the team’s No. 66 Ford Mustang in the March 30 event at the Virginia short track. HitchGO, a mobile RV repair, camper, and trailer service company, will be the sponsor. It will be the first time Mears has run a Cup Series race since the 2019 Daytona 500.
“I’m happy to be back in a race car and look forward to returning to Martinsville, one of my favorite tracks,” Mears said. “I appreciate Carl [Long] working with me to make it happen; he’s a well-respected, great guy who’s worked hard to experience longevity in the sport. I’m excited to have HitchGO, Mosby’s Towing and Transport, and Coble Enterprises on board as we chip away at 500 NASCAR Cup Series starts.”
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Mears has made 489 starts in the Cup Series. He was a full-time driver from 2003 through 2016 and earned one career win. That triumph came in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2007 while driving for Rick Hendrick.
During his Cup Series tenure, Mears drove for some of the sport’s most prominent team owners, such as Chip Ganassi, Hendrick, and Richard Childress. Mears also did stints with Red Bull Racing, Tommy Baldwin, and Germain Racing. He drove for the latter beginning at the end of the 2010 season through the 2016 season in what became a recognizable GEICO car.
Garage 66 is an Open team that does not compete full-time. The team failed to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 with Chandler Smith, and Martinsville Speedway is the second race it will attempt to enter.
“Having Casey Mears drive a Garage 66 car is a proud day for our organization,” Long said. “He’s driven for NASCAR’s elite, such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing. Adding Garage 66 to that list means a lot to me and everyone who’s helped build our team. Casey and I first connected many years ago when I was driving and he always treated me and our fellow competitors with respect on and off the track. He hails from a historic racing family, but it’s not something he boasts about. He always takes time for everyone, which is indicative of his character.
“I love having the opportunity to work with good people, especially when they drive fast. I’m excited to get to Martinsville with Casey and have a successful weekend for HitchGO, Mosby’s Towing and Transport, and Coble Enterprises.”