As Casey Mears and Garage 66 gear up for NASCAR’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, they have made a big last-minute primary sponsorship change. The team was set to race with HitchGo as its primary sponsor, but that plan has now shifted.
HitchGo is no stranger to NASCAR, but something changed in its partnership with Mears and Garage 66 that led the team to partner with Coble Enterprises and Canter Power Systems instead. The former will find its spot on the quarter panels, while the latter will be present on the hood of the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
As Mears nears the tally of 500 Cup Series race starts (489 currently), he spoke on the new partnership with Canter, America’s largest Generac home backup generator dealer.
“I appreciate the support of Canter Power Systems and look forward to a productive weekend at Martinsville,” Mears said. “Canter is an expert in the generator industry and is dedicated to providing personal, reliable and high-quality service. I’m proud to have them onboard.”
CEO of Canter Power Systems, Brian Lopatka added:
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Garage 66 and Casey Mears for the upcoming Martinsville race. At Canter Power Systems, we seek new ways to amplify our brand and connect with our audience. This sponsorship not only aligns with our commitment to innovation and excellence but also allows us to engage with NASCAR fans in a meaningful way. We are confident this partnership will deliver powerful results both on and off the track, and we’re only getting started.”
Mears has a 27-race experience at Martinsville, with his best finish being P6 in 2006 and 2008. As a result, a race win may not be on the cards but he and Garage 66 could aim to finish in the top ten or fifteen.
Speaking of favorites, Kevin Harvick believes NASCAR star Denny Hamlin could win the Cup Series race this weekend. Also known as ‘King of Martinsville’ for securing five race wins, Hamlin may end his winless streak since April 2024. Newsweek Sports reported Harvick’s comments:
“King of Martinsville, you know that that’s Denny Hamlin. It seems that they’ve kind of found their groove, steady and consistent, leading some laps, won a stage just last weekend, got a sponsor on the side of the car. All that noise, it just keeps getting quieter and quieter for Denny Hamlin because he just keeps putting himself in a position to perform well.
“That’s what he’s been able to do throughout the year. So this could be a big Denny Hamlin weekend.”
It is noteworthy that Hamlin’s last win at Martinsville was back in 2015.
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