Casey Mears has been named driver of the Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota Sprint Cup team in an announcement released today.
Mears last job was to stand by for Denny Hamlin at Phoenix, following the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s knee surgery. Now he’ll drive the No 36 Toyota previously driven by Johnny Sauter in two races.
“I’m excited to have Casey on board with the No. 36 and TBR,” Baldwin said. “It’s nice to have someone behind the wheel that is not only marketable but a proven driver as well. We look forward to getting out there at Richmond and seeing what we can do.”
Last year Mears drove a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, but, was not renewed when his team lost sponsorship and RCR downsized from four cars to three.
Earlier this year he drove a Chevrolet for Keyed-Up Motorsports with a 30th place finish at Bristol.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to go racing again,” Mears said. “Tommy is working hard over at TBR and he is really looking to build something there. It’s great to be part of that and I’m looking forward to this weekend at Richmond.”
Mears, 32, switched over from Champ Car driving making his Cup debut with Ganassi Racing in 2003.
In 2007 he was hired by Hendrick Motorsports and remained there through 2008. He is the nephew of Indy Car legend, Rick Mears.
In 253 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series he has one win, 12 top-five and 46 top-ten finishes. Mears had his best year in 2007, when he won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, had five top-five and 10 top-ten finishes on the season. He’s raced 14 times at Richmond with one top-ten finish.
Mears last job was to stand by for Denny Hamlin at Phoenix, following the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s knee surgery. Now he’ll drive the No 36 Toyota previously driven by Johnny Sauter in two races.
“I’m excited to have Casey on board with the No. 36 and TBR,” Baldwin said. “It’s nice to have someone behind the wheel that is not only marketable but a proven driver as well. We look forward to getting out there at Richmond and seeing what we can do.”
Last year Mears drove a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, but, was not renewed when his team lost sponsorship and RCR downsized from four cars to three.
Earlier this year he drove a Chevrolet for Keyed-Up Motorsports with a 30th place finish at Bristol.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to go racing again,” Mears said. “Tommy is working hard over at TBR and he is really looking to build something there. It’s great to be part of that and I’m looking forward to this weekend at Richmond.”
Mears, 32, switched over from Champ Car driving making his Cup debut with Ganassi Racing in 2003.
In 2007 he was hired by Hendrick Motorsports and remained there through 2008. He is the nephew of Indy Car legend, Rick Mears.
In 253 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series he has one win, 12 top-five and 46 top-ten finishes. Mears had his best year in 2007, when he won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, had five top-five and 10 top-ten finishes on the season. He’s raced 14 times at Richmond with one top-ten finish.