In search of his landmark 500th NASCAR Cup Series start, Casey Mears has joined forces with Beard Motorsports to pilot the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in five races.
The native of Bakersfield, California, will make his debut for the family-owned team at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, before getting back behind the wheel at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26), Daytona International Speedway (August 29), Talladega Superspeedway (October 25), and the NASCAR Cup Series season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 8).
NEWS: Beard Motorsports is excited to share that #NASCAR veteran @CJMearsGang will drive the #62 Cup Series Chevrolet for five races in 2026 beginning with the April 26 #JackLinks500 at @TALLADEGA. pic.twitter.com/PZcf7GjMfE
— Beard Motorsports (@BeardOil62) March 31, 2026
Should everything go to plan, Mears will reach his goal of 500 NASCAR Cup Series starts in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
“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.”
The 48-year-old driver made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2003 and was a fixture at NASCAR’s top-level for 14 seasons, scoring a victory in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Mears stepped away from full-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series at the end of 2016, but continued to make sporadic starts across NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2019 DAYTONA 500. Mears returned for a more bulky schedule in 2025, running five events with Carl Long and Garage 66, the team he returned to for the DAYTONA 500 this season. finishing 32nd.
“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,” Mears added.
The Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Mears’ first race with Beard Motorsports, will take place on Sunday, April 26.
