RoadLoans.com 200 - Landon Cassill Notes

PREVIEW: LANDON CASSILL (NO. 5 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET)
VENUE: DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (ONE-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR BUSCH SERIES (RACE 29 OF 35)
EVENT: SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 2007 (200 LAPS, 200 MILES)

CASSILL AGAIN: Landon Cassill, 18, will drive the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet this weekend at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Cassill drove the National Guard Chevrolet to a 22nd-place finish at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway earlier this month. Casey Mears will be back behind the wheel at Kansas Speedway next week.

CASSILL'S YEAR: Cassill made his first career start for Hendrick Motorsports at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in June for a NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series race. Since then, he has competed in one other Busch East race, two ARCA races and three NASCAR Busch Series events.

MEETING THE MONSTER: Cassill has not yet competed at the famed Dover Monster Mile. In fact, he has never seen the concrete track in person. Cassill has spent time preparing for the upcoming race on his Bug-Eye Technology Racing Simulator and by watching videos of past Dover races, including footage from Mears' in-car camera during the June event.

NATIONAL GUARD TEAM AT DOVER: The No. 5 National Guard team, headed by crew chief Chad Walter, finished fourth at the Monster Mile in June with Mears driving.

REPRESENT: The hood of the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet will honor the 28th Infantry Division from Pennsylvania this weekend. Cassill will meet with select National Guard soldiers prior to Saturday's race.

FUN WITH THE GUARD: Cassill and the National Guard team took a day off of racing last week to visit Fort Jackson Army Base in Columbia, S.C. Fort Jackson is the largest Entry Training Center in the United States, training 50 percent of all soldiers. Cassill and the team rappelled Victory Tower and fired ammunition from several different weapons at the firing range.

SHORT TRACK TEST: Cassill and the National Guard team tested USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla., this week to prepare for their upcoming short-track races.

WALTER REED: On Thursday, Cassill accompanied Mears and members of the No. 25 National Guard Cup team to Walter Reed National Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Cassill and Mears visited military service men and women who are receiving medial treatment at the center.

CHASSIS 405: Crew chief Chad Walter has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 405 for Saturday's Busch Series race at Dover. Mears most recently drove the car to a ninth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway. Earlier this season, the car also earned runner-up finishes at California Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway.

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LANDON CASSILL, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET: (ON PREPARING FOR A RACE TRACK THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN.) "I've definitely been prepared by people at the shop and the other drivers. They say that it's a really exciting track and a lot of fun to race on. They also say that it's a lot like Bristol, so I'm really looking forward to racing there."

CASSILL: (ON DOVER'S TRICKY PIT ROAD.) "It's so important to be focused when you're getting off of the race track, getting onto pit road, getting into your pit box and then getting out of your pit box. Only about 15 seconds of your pit stop is actually spent inside the pit box. Your pit crew doesn't decide how many positions are lost or gained on pit road. It's important to get on pit road as efficiently as you can, get into your box, stop it on the sign and get out of your pit box. You just have to be very focused once you hit that line."

CASSILL: (ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD SPOTTER.) "I like to be talked to a lot, because I like motivation. Positive feedback is big for me. My father used to spot for me when I ran late models, and he was really good at positive feedback and offering motivation. I try to find a spotter that's really good at that, and both David (Green) and Jeff (Dickerson) are really good."

CASSILL: (ON COMMUNICATION WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD TEAM.) "Communication is huge, obviously. With teamwork, and on the radio, and during practice and testing, it's all about getting as much done in a very short amount of time. Chad Walter and I work together perfectly. We learn a lot about each other during testing. We've gotten our communication down to where it's very efficient. It's a huge part of success."

CASSILL: (ON BECOMING MORE RECOGNIZABLE.) "Some people will shake my hand and start a conversation. I don't know them, but they apparently know me. It's cool. It's a neat feeling that people know you. I try to remember as many names as I can and get to know a lot of the people in the sport. It's important to me to make friends and keep friends while I'm here, and not burn any bridges in the process."

CASSILL: (ON HIS FUTURE IN NASCAR.) "I'm just so honored to be driving for Hendrick Motorsports right now. All of my focus is on the rest of the 2007 season. I want to do the best I can for this team and Mr. Hendrick and everyone involved. I'll think about the future when it gets here."