How Brad Perez Handled His Last-Second Driver Swap At Bristol
- Dominic Konareski
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
For the second time in 2026, Brad Perez finished a race that he did not start.
This is the second time Perez finished a race he did not start in this season alone – which brings flashbacks to some Cars 3 Cruz Ramirez late-race sub for Lightning McQueen.
Perez, who was the mechanic of the No.02 at Bristol this past weekend, would end up buckling into the No.42 before the end of the second stage. The move was due to Logan Bearden needing a mid-race driver replacement. Perez has worked with numerous teams throughout the past several seasons as part of the pit / shop crew, and has occasionally raced part-time himself.
Overall, Brad Perez has made 20 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series since 2022, and has a handful of Truck and ARCA starts under his belt. When not racing, Perez still brings his equipment to the tracks when he is working as a team member, always ready for an opportunity.
Earlier this season at COTA, Perez did what would be his first mid-race sub of the season. Perez subbed for Bearden and brought the Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet home to a 33rd place finish, five laps down in Bearden’s place.
“This is unlike anything you can compare to,” Perez said. “This is not like stepping into the octagon with an MMA fighter,” said Perez when talking about a mid race sub.
Fast forward several weeks to Bristol and Logan Bearden radios “guys you might have to get Brad ready, my legs are going numb, my back is killing me.”
Before going in as Bearden’s replacement all things came full-circle, and Perez texted Myatt Snider “i may be going in the 42 how tf do i drive bristol compared to iracing.” Both Perez and Snider exchanged text messages over the COTA weekend when Snider subbed mid-race in the Cup Series for Alex Bowman.
While going over Bristol quickly with Snider, Perez was preparing his gear and soon took the reins of the No.42 and took on the 0.533-mile track. Perez, who has only raced Bristol on iRacing even said mid-race “I have literally no idea what I’m doing right now, I’m literally using iRacing techniques.”
Being powered by two Dr Pepper’s, Brad Perez would bring the car home in one piece to a 21st-place finish. “I had a Ricky Bobby Moment,” said Perez post-race, after he traded his tools in for a firesuit mid-race.
Perez also said that he will be working with Young’s Motorsports in the future.
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