After spending six years away from competing in NASCAR’s National Series, Casey Mears is bound and determined to make his return count in a major way.
Next weekend’s XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway (October 26) is scheduled to be his fourth (of five planned) NASCAR Cup Series start of the season with Garage 66. Still, the Bakersfield, California-native isn’t just stopping at a return to NASCAR’s top level.
That same weekend, on Friday, October 24, Mears will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, competing in the Slim Jim 200 for the NASCAR Truck Series at the half-mile paperclip… and if that wasn’t enough, the start will serve as his 600th run between NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series.
Mears will be piloting the No. 69 The Pit Stop Diecasts Ford F-150 for MBM Motorsports in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut. The start will mark the sixth start of the season for the organization’s part-time program in the series.
“It’s pretty special to come back to Martinsville for my 600th NASCAR start,” said Mears. “This sport has given me so many incredible experiences, and to make my Truck Series debut with MBM Motorsports and The Pit Stop Diecasts at such an iconic track is exciting. The Truck Series has always been on my list — it’s tough, exciting racing, and Martinsville is the perfect place to make it happen.”
In addition to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway, The Pit Stop Diecasts will ride along as a major associate sponsor of the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
“Having a driver like Casey in our truck is a huge moment for MBM Motorsports,” said team owner Carl Long. “Reaching 600 NASCAR starts is something very few drivers ever accomplish, and we’re honored he chose to do it with us. The experience and professionalism that Casey brings mean a lot to our program, and race fans are going to love seeing that No. 69 The Pit Stop Diecasts Ford on the track.”
Mears is set to be the third driver to get behind the wheel of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for MBM Motorsports in 2025, joining Tyler Tomassi (Pocono, Charlotte’s ROVAL, and Talladega) and Derek White (Watkins Glen, Loudon).
Derek White, with a 19th-place result at Watkins Glen International, has the best finish for the MBM Motorsports entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year.
The 47-year-old Mears will look to better that in the final short oval race of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign, taking place on Friday, October 24 at 6:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
