Casey Mears made his last NASCAR Cup Series start in the 2019 Daytona 500. Nearly six years later, Mears turned his first laps in a dirt modified. For a driver who’s raced just about everything professionally — from sports cars to IndyCar to NASCAR — the prospect of a new racing discipline excited him.
From Connecticut to Arizona
“I was racing with Kenny [Schrader] at Lime Rock [Park in Connecticut] last year, and we were just bullshitting about what to do next,” Mears said. “Kenny told me about the fun he was having racing a dirt modified.”
Meanwhile, Mears’ father, the legendary off-road racer Roger Mears, had checked out Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway in Show Low, Arizona.
“My dad goes out and has a good time, and meets Brad [Whitfield, track promoter],” said Mears. “He shoots me Brad’s number and says I should put something together with Brad.”
From Idea to Reality
Whitfield offered Casey Mears the two-seated house car at Central Arizona Raceway, a track he also promotes, for the IMCATV Winter Nationals last Wednesday.
“I went into the pits and immediately found a garage community like I was used to,” Mears said. “[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champ and modified driver] Matt Crafton loaned me a set of gears. Austin Murray loaned me a driver’s seat. Nolan Morrow, a longtime modified driver and Brad’s right-hand guy, explained setup. Mike Kirby, pitting next door, loaned me a shock and slid under the car to work on it. Everyone in the pits was trying to accomplish the same thing—being successful at that track.”
Kirby (pictured, right) later offered Mears more than a shock. He had brought his modified to the track but hadn’t found time to drive it. Crew-chiefing for his daughter took up most of his time. So, Kirby provided Mears a ride for the rest of the week.
What’s It Like to Drive a Dirt Modified for Casey Mears
“I really enjoyed it, even though everything is backwards from everything I have ever learned about racing,” said Mears. “The modified is a unique race car, with short left-rear links demanding you stay on the gas to keep the left rear tucked up under the car. Nothing works unless the left rear is loaded. Once I learned the technique, the car was really fun to drive. We made changes to the setup, and I was running second and third instead of eighth or night in the heat races.”
The skill needed to drive a modified also impressed Mears.
“Fighting to get around the track faster, finding that grip and battling other racers at the same time is so much fun,” Mears said.
Casey Mears Enjoying a New Form of Racing
Casey Mears has participated in some of the biggest motorsport events in the country. Daytona 500. Rolex 24 At Daytona (which he won). Indianapolis 500. Baja 1000. He also competed in numerous other disciplines of the sport. Now, he can add dirt modifieds to that list.
“When I got the opportunity to drive a modified, I looked at all the different stuff I got to drive in my career,” said Mears. “A modified on dirt wasn’t one of the cars. It was neat to check another box on that list this week.”
Mears’ best finish over the course of the four days at Central Arizona Raceway was a fifth in the B-main. He competed amongst a field of 81 modifieds. Overall, Mears enjoyed the experience.
“I raced with some of the best modified drivers there are,” Mears said. “It was fun to race with them and fun to learn. As far as buying a modified, I would want to have sponsorship in place first. If I had a chance to drive for someone again, I’d love to do it.”
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
