Underdog Casey Mears survives chaos in the Duels at Daytona, dodges last-lap wreck to end seven-year drought for Carl Long's operation in the Great American Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a thrilling display of perseverance and racing savvy, Casey Mears pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 NASCAR season so far. On Thursday night during the first Daytona Duel qualifying race, the 47-year-old veteran driver navigated chaos on the final lap to secure an eighth-place finish, locking himself and the underfunded Garage 66 team into Sunday's prestigious Daytona 500.
Mears, who turns 47 this year, will become the oldest driver in the field for NASCAR's season-opening showcase.
This marks his 14th career start in the Daytona 500—his first since 2019—and edges him closer to a significant personal milestone: his 500th career start in the NASCAR Cup Series. With just a handful of races needed to reach that historic mark, Mears' return to the sport's biggest stage carries extra meaning, both professionally and personally.
Over his long career, Mears has driven for powerhouse organizations like Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing. He's experienced the highs of top-tier equipment and big-team resources. This time, however, the story is entirely different. Mears is behind the wheel of the No. 66 Ford for Garage 66, a small operation owned by former driver Carl Long.
The team, which operates with a lean crew—reportedly around 10 people at the track—had not qualified for the Daytona 500 since 2020, enduring a frustrating seven-year drought in attempts.
The path to qualification was anything but smooth. In the Duel, Mears went a lap down after a spin on pit road entry around Lap 46, where he made contact with Noah Gragson. He fought back, regaining the lead lap via a wavearound during a caution. Then came the dramatic finale: an overtime restart led to a multi-car wreck on the last lap, triggered when Corey LaJoie spun.
Mears, undeterred, drove straight through the mayhem—missing disaster by inches, suffering some nose damage but keeping his momentum to cross the line as the top-finishing open entry. This bold move denied spots to LaJoie and Chandler Smith, sealing Mears' place in the 41-car field.
Speaking to NASCAR Roundtable after the race, Mears expressed deep emotion about the achievement, especially with his children now old enough to fully grasp its significance. He described the moment as more special than previous Daytona experiences, noting how meaningful it felt to succeed in this underdog scenario.
"To come here in this scenario and make the show with my kids being older now, they understand what’s going on. It’s really special," he shared.
Mears gave credit to team owner Carl Long, emphasizing the immense effort behind the scenes. Long, who has battled challenges in fielding competitive Cup entries for years, has built a reputation for maximizing limited resources.
Mears highlighted how few people truly appreciate the hard work Long puts in daily to keep the program afloat. "I think a lot of people don’t understand how hard Carl works. He does a really good job managing what they have."
Looking ahead to Sunday's Daytona 500, Mears remains realistically optimistic. Superspeedway racing is notoriously unpredictable—crashes, strategy, and luck often level the playing field, allowing longshots to shine.
Last season's performance at Talladega, where he finished 18th in similar equipment, is a sign that this team can compete on drafting tracks.
"If we can keep ourselves in the mix, stay out of the mess, and we got a shot at the end," Mears said. "You see a lot of times at these superspeedways, guys win that you think you shouldn't sometimes, and here we are in that position."
For this team, a top-20 finish would represent success, but Mears believes more is possible with smart decisions. "I think for this team and this program, if we finished inside the top 20, that’d be a great day. But the reality is, we can top 10, top 5 it, if we play our cards right."
The crew now faces a critical task: assessing damage from the late crash and deciding whether to repair the primary car or switch to a backup. If repairs hold, Mears will roll off in the 17th starting position.
Either way, this qualification stands as a testament to determination, proving that in NASCAR, heart and hustle can still overcome massive odds.
As the sport turns its focus to Sunday's green flag, all eyes will be on this improbable contender. Casey Mears and Garage 66 have already won the first battle—now comes the chance to write an even bigger chapter in one of motorsports' most storied events.