Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR competitor and former Coke 600 winner Casey Mears to chat about his recent return to the driver’s seat. With the goal of reaching 500 career Cup starts in mind, Casey returned to Sunday competition this past weekend at Martinsville. Casey explains that the inspiration for the push to get 500 came from an interview he did a couple of years ago, where a journalist informed him that he had 489 starts. Thanks to time on the simulator, Casey was able to jump back behind the wheel after his five-year absence and complete the race without too many mistakes. Casey and Dale discuss his upbringing in Bakersfield, California, and his time spent racing Stadium Super Trucks and off-road racing. Casey’s relationship with off-road trucks stems back to his father Roger, who was prolific in the division, earning four class victories in the famed Baja 1000. Casey shares his experiences from the event and gives listeners great insight into what competitors face throughout the race. The guys also chat about Casey’s time in the open wheel world, making the transition to stock cars, Casey’s current day to day life and their friendship over the years. THE PODCASTS YOU LOVE. THE MERCH YOU NEED. Get it all here: https://shop.dirtymomedia.com/ Chapters 02:58 The Journey Back to Martinsville 05:46 Milestones and Career Reflections 09:01 The Experience of Racing Again 11:59 Challenges and Triumphs on the Track 14:53 The Dynamics of Racing Relationships 17:52 Future Aspirations in Racing 21:06 Growing Up in Bakersfield and Early Influences 28:28 The Baja 1000 Experience 36:13 The Mears Gang 01:01:21 The Impact of Cautions on Race Outcomes 01:04:57 The Pressure of Performance and Team Dynamics 01:28:01 Life After NASCAR: Embracing New Adventures 01:34:30 Family Life: Balancing Racing and Parenthood Follow Dirty Mo Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyMoMedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirtyMoMedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtymomedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtymomedia_ All About Dirty Mo Media: https://www.dirtymomedia.com