Casey Mears' race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega

Casey Mears’ Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway ended with a mechanical failure and a 40th-place finish in the YellaWood 500, his No. 62 Chevrolet coming up short after 131 laps. The veteran qualified 34th, aiming for a solid run through a competitive field. During the opening stage, fuel-saving tactics and large drafting groups reshuffled the order, with RFK Racing separating from the pack. Mears avoided early trouble that knocked out other drivers, but his afternoon ended once a mechanical issue prevented him from continuing. The retirement left him last in the 40-car field as major multi-car wrecks affected the race.