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The season hasn’t even officially begun yet, but Casey Mears is already posting top speeds. With a new number, sponsor, crew chief, and team, Casey Mears is adjusting to a lot – and loving it. 

As the driver of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet, Casey Mears has already stepped into his new role with ease. Mears is ready and eager to get this season underway and nothing speaks louder than the record breaking speeds he has already posted at testing.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder kicked off at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 7. In both the morning and afternoon sessions on the first day, Mears posted the second and third fastest speeds. Both of these sessions, along with the morning session on Jan. 8, focused solely on qualifying runs. In all three sessions Mears posted fourth or better lap times with a personal best of 48.852 seconds, reaching a top speed of 184.230 mph. 

The afternoon session on Jan. 8 was the first of three drafting sessions. Mears started out in the top 20 but finished strong, posting the seventh fastest lap at 187.344 mph in the final afternoon test session on Jan. 9. Mears was able to have a little fun during testing as well. In an effort to become better acquainted with his new team, Mears hosted a team dinner during the BCS college football Championship game. 

The next day, he was introduced to Garth Brooks, who will serve as the face of NASCAR Day this year. The final night, Mears greeted his fans in Daytona International Speedway’s infield for Pre-Season Thunder Fan Fest. The final week of January saw NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mears’ initial run listed him as 17th fastest at 177.311 mph and 30.455 seconds. 

With the hard work of crew chief, Alan Gustafson, and the No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST team, Mears’ speeds improved every time he hit the track. By the end of the test, Mears posted the third fastest speed at 185.344 mph, beating the track record of 184.856 mph which was set last March. Mears will wrap up the week testing the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet at California Speedway before heading to Arizona for the weekend. 

After playing in the Celebrity Skins Golf Classic hosted by his friends Jimmie Johnson and Nick Lachey, Mears will attend Super Bowl XLII on Sunday. Be sure to tune into FOX at 8 p.m., ET on Saturday, February 7 to watch Mears make his debut in the Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet in the Budweiser Shootout.