Casey Mears’ unlikely NASCAR comeback will continue in 2026. The 48-year-old suddenly made his NASCAR return in 2025 after making his last start six years prior.
Now, after competing in this year’s Daytona 500 with Carl Long’s Garage 66, Mears is back in another surprise deal. He just inked a five-race ride with Beard Motorsports, a team with a Richard Childress Racing alliance, in an attempt to make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start.
Mears’ unlikely comeback has been highlighted by qualifying for the Daytona 500 after narrowly escaping a crash in the Duel qualifier.
“Partnering with Beard Motorsports, a team founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., and operated by his wife and daughter, means a lot to me. We have a feel-good story that connects with race fans,” Mears said. “One thing I’ve learned during the last year is how much I still love racing and competing. I’m incredibly appreciative of Bob Germain and his continued support as I close in on 500 Cup starts. His generosity is moving and I’m thankful for his friendship.
“I’ve watched Beard Motorsports race over the years, and it’s a team that doesn’t just show up for superspeedway races – they make races and are competitive. As a racer, that’s really appealing.”
Where Will Casey Mears Race In 2026?
Mears currently sits at 495 Cup Series starts. The deal with Beard Motorsports, a part-time Chevrolet entry, should get him to 500 starts unless more than 40 cars show up to an event and he does not qualify.
Mears will compete in the No. 62 entry at Talladega on April 26, July 26’s Brickyard 400, Aug. 29’s race at Daytona, the second Talladega race on Oct. 25, and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8.
“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Casey Mears for these five races in 2026,” said Amie Beard-Deja, executive vice president, Beard Motorsports. “It has been well documented that Beard Motorsports is a passion project for my family and we’ve been committed to carrying on what my dad started. To take the No. 62 Chevrolet to new venues is beyond anything we could’ve imagined when we started in 2017.
“After hearing about Casey’s desire to get to his 500th Cup Series start, we started talking. His experience in the NASCAR Cup Series and at the tracks we’ll visit with him this year makes us very excited for the rest of the season.”
Mears has one Cup Series win in his career, coming in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600.
Who Will Casey Mears Be Driving For?
Beard Motorsports is a family-owned, single-car operation that usually only competes at drafting tracks, also known as superspeedways.
The team qualified for the Daytona 500 in 2026 with Anthony Alfredo. However, NASCAR deemed the No. 62 car illegal and they were disqualified. Beard Motorsports has a single top five (2022 with Noah Gragson) and seven top 10s in 34 Cup Series races. Last year, Alfredo led a combined 21 laps at both Talladega races, which gives Mears hope going into this year’s events.
Mears’ effort will be supported by his longtime Cup Series owner, Bob Germain, who retired and sold his team several years ago.