The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are in full swing, and as the intensity ramps up, so too do the storylines surrounding smaller part-time teams trying to make their mark in the sport. One of those teams, Garage 66, has confirmed they will be back in action this weekend at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway. However, they’ll be fielding a different driver behind the wheel of their No. 66 Ford Mustang.
Garage 66, formerly known as MBM Motorsports, has been one of several part-time outfits competing sporadically throughout the 2025 season. Despite entering 16 races on paper, the team has only managed to make 12 actual starts due to multiple failed qualifying attempts. They were unable to make the grid for three major events earlier in the year, including the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, the exhibition-style Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, and the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Over the course of the season, Garage 66 has utilized a rotating roster of drivers to pilot the car, with six different names taking turns behind the wheel. Most recently, veteran driver Timmy Hill was tapped for the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway. Hill’s appearance marked his first Cup Series start in a year after early reports suggested that Josh Bilicki who leads the team in appearances with five starts this season would be driving instead.
Unfortunately for Hill, his long-awaited return didn’t go as planned. After starting the Southern 500, Hill finished a disappointing 35th. The result was another reminder of the uphill battle smaller, part-time teams face against the sport’s powerhouse organizations. Following Darlington, Garage 66 opted not to compete in the second race of the playoffs at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway.
Now, as the round of 16 comes to a close with Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Garage 66 is shaking things up once again. The team has confirmed that Chad Finchum will return to the seat of the No. 66 Ford for his third Cup Series start of the season. Finchum previously drove for the team at Texas Motor Speedway in May, where his day ended early with a DNF, and at Nashville Superspeedway in June, where he recorded a 35th-place finish.
For Finchum, Bristol provides an opportunity to showcase his talents on one of NASCAR’s most historic short tracks. Known for its high-banked, half-mile oval and its chaotic 500-lap battles, the “Last Great Colosseum” has always been a stage where underdogs can surprise. While expectations may be modest for Garage 66 given their limited resources, simply making the field and running all 500 laps would be a step forward for the program.
As the spotlight remains fixed on the playoff contenders fighting to advance deeper into the postseason, teams like Garage 66 continue to carve out their own storylines. With Finchum back in the fold, the organization will look to make the most of Saturday night’s challenge under the lights in Bristol, Tennessee.