Casey Mears Lands Five-Race Deal With Beard Motorsports

The veteran driver will reach his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start milestone with the family-owned team.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:27pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting a NASCAR race scene, conveying the energy and significance of Casey Mears' 500th career start.A cubist interpretation of the veteran driver Casey Mears reaching a career milestone with the family-owned Beard Motorsports team.Indianapolis Today

Casey Mears, the winner of the 2007 Coca-Cola 600, has landed a five-race deal to compete for Beard Motorsports in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Mears, who made a comeback last year after a six-year hiatus, will reach his goal of 500 career Cup Series starts with this new opportunity.

Why it matters

Mears' 500th start will be a significant milestone in his NASCAR career, as he'll become just the 48th driver in series history to reach that mark. Beard Motorsports, a family-owned team, is providing Mears with this chance to accomplish the feat, which aligns with the team's passion for the sport.

The details

Mears will drive the No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports in five races this season: Talladega in April, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, the YellaWood 500 at Talladega in the fall, and the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He will have sponsorship backing from longtime partners, including the Gracie Foundation.

  • Mears will make his first start with Beard Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026.
  • Mears currently sits at 495 career NASCAR Cup Series starts heading into this five-race stint with Beard Motorsports.

The players

Casey Mears

A veteran NASCAR driver who won the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 and is set to reach 500 career Cup Series starts with this new opportunity.

Beard Motorsports

A family-owned NASCAR team that is providing Mears the chance to accomplish his 500-start milestone.

Amie Beard-Deja

The executive vice president of Beard Motorsports, who expressed the team's excitement to partner with Mears for these five races.

Bob Germain

A longtime supporter of Mears who has continued to back the driver as he closes in on 500 Cup Series starts.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Casey Mears for these five races in 2026. 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.”

— Amie Beard-Deja, Executive Vice President, Beard Motorsports

“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. 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.”

— Casey Mears

What’s next

If all goes to plan, Mears will achieve his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start at the season-finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2026.

The takeaway

This partnership between the veteran driver Casey Mears and the family-owned Beard Motorsports team represents a feel-good story in NASCAR, as Mears reaches a significant career milestone with the support of longtime backers like Bob Germain.