At Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California on March 24, 2017. CIA Stock Photo
Casey Mears and his team, Garage 66, have made a major sponsorship change just before the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville. Originally set to race with HitchGo as the main sponsor, they’ve now shifted to new partners—Coble Enterprises and Canter Power Systems. Coble will feature on the car’s quarter panels, while Canter will be showcased on the hood of the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The reason behind the switch with HitchGo remains unclear.
Mears, who is close to hitting 500 Cup Series starts (currently at 489), expressed gratitude for the new partnership with Canter Power Systems, a top Generac home backup generator dealer in the U.S. He highlighted their expertise and commitment to quality service and said he’s excited to represent them at Martinsville.
Canter Power Systems’ CEO, Brian Lopatka, shared his excitement about teaming up with Garage 66 and Mears for Martinsville. He said the sponsorship is a great opportunity to boost brand visibility and connect with NASCAR fans. Lopatka emphasized that this partnership reflects their dedication to innovation and expects it to be impactful both on and off the track.
With 27 races under his belt at Martinsville, Mears’ best finishes were sixth place in both 2006 and 2008. Although a victory might be unlikely, he and Garage 66 could realistically aim for a top-10 or top-15 result in this weekend’s race.
Kevin Harvick believes Denny Hamlin could come out on top at Martinsville, dubbing him the “King of Martinsville” thanks to his five wins there. Harvick pointed out Hamlin’s recent steady performance, including leading laps and a stage win last weekend, along with gaining sponsorship. He thinks Hamlin is quietly putting himself in position to succeed.
It’s important to note that Hamlin hasn’t won at Martinsville since 2015, so this weekend could be a chance to break his nearly decade-long winless streak at the track.
