By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
For the first time since 2016, Casey Mears will compete in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.
Germain Racing announced Tuesday (Feb. 5) that the veteran Mears will pilot a second car for the small team, with Mears driving the No. 27 Chevrolet alongside teammate Ty Dillon.
The entry is built in collaboration with Premium Motorsports’ team owner Jay Robinson and will be crew chiefed by Pat Tryson.
Germain team owner Bob Germain said it was a long time coming to expand to two cars for the Great American Race.
“I have considered running a second car in the Daytona 500 for years,” Germain said. “My immediate focus is still on our No. 13 team and the full season that Ty Dillon will run. However, when the chance to field a second car with Casey Mears came together this year with Jay Robinson building the car and providing the at-track crew, I wanted to jump on it.”
Mears has competed in 12 Daytona 500s across his 488 Cup starts, finishing runner-up in 2006 to Jimmie Johnson. And with Mears’ seven-year history with Germain from 2010 to 2016, Germain hopes to take advantage of the veteran’s plate racing ability.
“The Daytona 500 is a race that our team, sponsors and fans are all passionate about, and I am too,” he said. “In a race where anything can happen, having a second entry is an exciting opportunity.”
Mears captured Germain Racing’s best-ever finish at Daytona, finishing fourth in the July race in 2014.
“Casey has been a part of our Germain Racing family for years,” Germain concluded. “I’m grateful that he’s willing to get behind the wheel for me again in this one race.”