Casey Mears Bio
Casey James Mears, born on March 12, 1978, is an American professional off-road and stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Garage 66, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 69 Ford F-150 for MBM Motorsports. A former winner of the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, Mears is a member of the legendary Mears racing family as the nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and the son of IndyCar and off-road veteran Roger Mears.
Early Life and Background
Casey James Mears is a native of Bakersfield, California. Born into one of motorsport’s most respected families, Mears grew up surrounded by the racing industry, with his father Roger Mears having built a successful career in IndyCar and off-road competition. His uncle, Rick Mears, is widely regarded as one of the greatest open-wheel drivers in history, with four Indianapolis 500 victories to his credit. This rich family heritage provided young Casey with early exposure to high-level motorsports and shaped his ambitions on the track.
Following in his father’s tire tracks, Mears began his competitive journey in go-karts during 1991. He quickly progressed through the ranks, moving to the SuperLites Off-Road Series in 1992, where he recorded several top-three finishes. By 1994, Mears had transitioned to sprint cars and finished third in the Jim Russell USAC Triple Crown Championship, including a win at Mesa Marin Raceway. The following season, he captured the championship in the USAC series, establishing himself as a rising talent in American motorsports.
Path to NASCAR
Mears made his Indy Lights debut at the Cleveland Grand Prix in 1996 and competed full-time in the series by 1997. In 1999, he finished second in the Indy Lights championship, losing by just fourteen points, and became only the fourth driver in series history to complete every lap in a single season. He won his first Indy Lights race at the Grand Prix of Houston in October 2000.
After testing Indy cars for multiple teams, Mears was offered a chance to drive a third entry for Team Rahal at California Speedway in October 2000, where he posted a career-best fourth-place finish in his CART Series debut. Following additional open-wheel starts in CART and the IRL, including an attempt to qualify for the 2001 Indianapolis 500, Mears shifted his focus to stock car racing. He made his NASCAR Busch Series debut in 2001 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving the No. 66 car for Cicci-Welliver Racing, beginning a long and varied career in NASCAR’s national series.
Casey Mears Career
Early Career (2001-2002)
Casey Mears made his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series in 2001 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving the No. 66 car for Cicci-Welliver Racing. He started 21st and finished 28th in that event. When the team was sold to Wayne Jesel the following season, Mears drove for them full-time, finishing 21st in points with two top-ten finishes. His consistent performance caught the attention of prominent team owner Chip Ganassi.
In a surprising move, Ganassi selected Mears to drive the No. 41 Target Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2003. Throughout that season, Mears also drove a number of ARCA races for Ganassi, winning three times, including once at Michigan and sweeping both Pocono races. These developmental efforts helped prepare him for the rigors of top-level stock car competition.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2003-2009)
Mears’ rookie Cup season in 2003 saw him finish 35th in the final points standings without a top-ten finish. He drove the No. 41 Cup car for two additional seasons and won two poles in 2004. In 2005, Mears moved to the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge for Ganassi after a planned sponsorship change fell through, replacing the departing Jamie McMurray. He came close to victory several times during this period, leading late in events at Watkins Glen and Homestead.
On June 6, 2006, Mears announced he would leave Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the season to join Hendrick Motorsports for 2007. On July 8, 2006, he finally won his first NASCAR race, a Busch Series event at Chicagoland Speedway, coasting to the finish after running out of fuel. Driving the No. 25 Hendrick Chevrolet in 2007 with sponsorship from the National Guard and GMAC, Mears won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27, 2007, his first and only career Cup Series victory, secured through a bold fuel-mileage gamble. He later drove for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 07 car before being released following the 2009 season.
Later Cup Series Years (2010-2019)
Mears drove for several teams over the next several seasons, including Key Motorsports, Tommy Baldwin Racing, Team Red Bull, and Germain Racing. He failed to qualify for the 2010 Daytona 500, ending a starting streak of 252 consecutive races. At Germain Racing, Mears drove the No. 13 GEICO-sponsored entry from 2010 through 2016, switching from Toyota to Ford in 2012 before returning to Chevrolet in 2014. He was replaced by Ty Dillon at the end of the 2016 season.
In 2017, Mears drove the No. 98 Ford Mustang for Biagi-DenBeste Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for fourteen races, recording a best finish of ninth. In 2019, he returned to the Cup Series with Germain Racing at the Daytona 500, finishing 40th after an early-race incident.
Garage 66 Era (2023-Present)
Following a five-year absence from Cup Series competition, Mears announced his return in 2023 with MBM Motorsports’ Cup entry known as Garage 66. He competed in the Cook Out 400, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and the final three races of the season. Mears continues to compete part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with Garage 66, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, while also running selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events for MBM Motorsports in the No. 69 Ford F-150.
Driving Style and Strengths
Casey Mears has built a reputation as a versatile and determined competitor capable of racing across multiple disciplines, from open-wheel and sports cars to stock cars and off-road trucks. His biggest career triumph, the Coca-Cola 600 victory, showcased his strategic patience and willingness to make bold fuel-mileage decisions. Throughout his career, he has adapted to various team environments and manufacturer transitions, demonstrating resilience and professionalism.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Mears’ most memorable achievements are his 2006 victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon, where they set a Daytona Prototype race record and made Mears the first full-time NASCAR driver to win the Rolex 24 overall. His 2007 Coca-Cola 600 win at Charlotte Motor Speedway remains his signature Cup Series triumph. In off-road racing, Mears competed in the Baja 1000 in 2019 and 2021, continuing the family tradition established by his father Roger.
Casey Mears Career Wins
Casey Mears has accumulated notable victories across multiple racing disciplines throughout his lengthy career. His most celebrated wins include the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 in the NASCAR Cup Series and the 2006 24 Hours of Daytona in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He also recorded multiple ARCA wins in 2003 while developing as a stock car driver.
Cup Series Highlights
Mears’ lone NASCAR Cup Series victory came at one of the sport’s crown jewel events, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27, 2007. Driving the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, he took the lead with five laps remaining when most competitors pitted for fuel, then stretched his fuel to the finish and ran dry just after taking the checkered flag. That win remains the defining moment of his Cup Series career.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Cup Series triumph, Mears won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2006 with Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon, setting a race record for the Daytona Prototype category. He also secured three ARCA Re/Max Series victories in 2003 at Michigan and Pocono. In open-wheel competition, he won a USAC Triple Crown Championship in 1995 and an Indy Lights race at Houston in 2000.
Casey Mears Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Mears family represents one of the most storied dynasties in American motorsports. Casey is the son of Roger Mears, a successful IndyCar and off-road racing veteran who was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. His uncle, Rick Mears, is a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner widely considered among the greatest open-wheel drivers of all time. This rich heritage provided Casey with deep connections to the sport from an early age.
Personal Life
Casey James Mears was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, a region with strong ties to off-road and short-track racing culture. He has carried on the Mears family’s multi-discipline racing tradition by competing in stock cars, sports cars, open-wheel events, and off-road events throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Casey Mears continues his part-time role in the NASCAR Cup Series during the 2025 season with Garage 66, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. He has expressed interest in reaching 500 career Cup Series starts and assembling a schedule of approximately eleven races for the season, building on his return to national-level competition that began in 2023 with MBM Motorsports.
In addition to his Cup Series efforts, Mears runs selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events for MBM Motorsports in the No. 69 Ford F-150, maintaining his presence across multiple NASCAR national series. His continued involvement with MBM Motorsports and its Garage 66 program reflects his enduring friendship with team co-owner Jimmie Johnson, a longtime competitor and seven-time Cup Series champion.
As Mears balances part-time competition with his broader racing interests, including off-road events tied to his family legacy, his 2025 campaign represents another chapter in one of NASCAR’s most diverse and enduring careers. His ability to compete at a high level across multiple disciplines remains a hallmark of the Mears racing tradition.