Casey Mears may have one of the most diverse racing backgrounds in the sport today.
The 29-year-old Californian is the son of championship off-road racer Roger Mears and the nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears.
After starting his career racing off road as a youngster, Mears made the progression to the race track, competing in open-wheel race cars, including sprint cars and the Indy Lights Series.
He was a successful road racer and competed briefly in CART and the IRL before choosing a career in stock-car racing.
Mears earned his first NASCAR Busch Series triumph last year and picked up his first Nextel Cup victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): Celebrating his first Busch Series victory with crew chief Brad Parrott at Chicagoland Speedway; In 2001; In victory lane for his first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in 2003; With Roger, Jr. in 1992; The Mears gang at Indianapolis in 2004; Enjoying his 2006 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona victory with Dan Wheldon (left) and Scott Dixon; Accepting his USAC Triple Crown award in 1996; Celebrating his first Nextel Cup victory with his parents at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. — NSSN Archives