Gateway 250 - Landon Cassill Notes

PREVIEW: LANDON CASSILL (NO. 24 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET)
VENUE: GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (1.25-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR BUSCH SERIES (RACE 21 OF 35)
EVENT: SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2007 (200 LAPS, 250 MILES)

LANDON CASSILL TO MAKE BUSCH SERIES DEBUT: Driving the No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet, 18-year-old Landon Cassill will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut Saturday evening at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. Cassill, one of 16 drivers to participate in the 2006 GM Racing Development competition, signed with Hendrick Motorsports in December.

FOURTH RACE WITH HENDRICK: Saturday's Busch Series event will mark Cassill's fourth race with Hendrick Motorsports. Cassill, who turned 18 on July 7, has competed in two NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series events and one ARCA Series show. He finished fourth in the Busch East Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway last month.

TEST, TEST: Since joining Hendrick Motorsports, Cassill has been integral in the development of Hendrick Motorsports' Chevrolet Impala SS NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race car. He has tested the "Car of Tomorrow" at Lakeland (Fla.) Speedway and Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway.

PREPARATION IS THE KEY: To prepare for his races with Hendrick Motorsports, Cassill has taken part in rigorous physical training with the company's human performance group. He also drives during pit-crew practice and works with Hendrick Motorsports' research and development program as a full-time employee.

ALL-AMERICAN KID: Cassill, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, raced quads before moving to go-karts at the age of 10. He graduated to midget racing shortly after and then moved to Legends cars. When he turned 14, Cassill's career turned to modified racing before he began competing in the American Speed Association, where legendary racer Gary St. Amant became his mentor.

RELOCATING: Cassill relocated to Charlotte, N.C., from Cedar Rapids when he was signed by Hendrick Motorsports. He graduated early and with honors from his hometown Jefferson High School and moved to the East Coast with his grandmother, Janet Cassill.

TALENTED FAMILY: Cassill, son of Roger and Colleen, has two siblings who also have bright futures in the world of sports. Older brother Zac, 19, is a professional bass angler in the Bass Fishing League and younger sister Echo, 12, is training to be a professional figure skater.

CHASSIS 402: Crew chief Chad Walter has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 402 for Saturday's Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway. With Casey Mears as the pilot, the car scored seventh-place finishes at both Phoenix International Raceway and Richmond (Va.) International Raceway earlier this season.

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AUTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE: Landon Cassill will greet fans and sign autographs with other NASCAR Busch Series competitors at 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday at Gateway International Raceway.

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LANDON CASSILL, DRIVER OF THE NO. 24 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET: (ON HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR HIS FIRST BUSCH SERIES RACE.) "I'm looking to have a clean race this weekend and complete all the laps in the National Guard Chevrolet. It's going to be a great experience racing with some of the NEXTEL Cup drivers as well as the Busch Series regulars. This week, I'm going to stay focused and mentally prepare myself for the race on Saturday. It's going to be a lot of fun and I expect to learn some great things."

CASSILL: (ON RACING FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS.) "I've been very blessed with this opportunity. It's an absolute dream come true. I really appreciate everyone's hard work on my program and it's just great to be a part of this team. The guys in the R&D department have worked especially hard lately juggling the Impala SS and my ARCA and Busch East cars. The best way I can thank them is to go out and have a successful run at Gateway this weekend."

CASSILL: (YOU'VE COMPETED IN SEVERAL RACES THIS SEASON FOR HENDRICK. HOW WILL THIS ONE BE DIFFERENT?) "This is my first Busch Series race, which is something I've worked toward since I started competing. I'm looking forward to working with Chad (Walter) as my crew chief and also the guys on the National Guard team. I've enjoyed having the opportunity to work with them and I hope to make them proud this weekend."

CASSILL: (ON HOW HIS EXPERIENCE AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AWAY FROM THE TRACK HAS HELPED PREPARE HIM.) "I've been building a great relationship with the other employees at Hendrick Motorsports, which is important for the communication process at the track and how efficiently we can make decisions. Pit-crew practice has helped me to understand what the crew goes through and what they have to do to have a successful pit stop. I've also learned what I can do to further help them, as far as getting into and out of the pit box. I'm getting in shape. My trainer is teaching me a lot about what a driver's body goes through during a race. It's all been interesting."

CASSILL: (ON HIS FAMILY AND THE SUPPORT HE'S HAD IN HIS CAREER.) "I owe everything to my parents. They never doubted my dream of becoming a race car driver. They've supported me the whole way through and knew what it would take for me to be successful. My entire family, including my aunts, uncles, and grandmother, has been thoroughly involved and I'm so grateful for their support."

CASSILL: (YOU HAVE A STRONG FAN BASE IN AND AROUND CEDAR RAPIDS. WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT ARE YOU GETTING FROM THE HOMETOWN CROWD?) "A lot of my friends are actually coming to the race this weekend. Some are coming to camp out. And I know a lot of my fans are getting together at different locations back in Cedar Rapids to watch the race together. Their support means a lot to me because I wouldn't be here without my fans from that area. Knowing that they continue to support me and continue to come to my races is really important to me."

CASSILL: (ON RACING IN NASCAR.) "Racing in NASCAR is completely different from any other form of racing I've experienced. My life is about to go through a big change and I'm ready to make the best of this opportunity. NASCAR is the number-one spectator sport in America and its popularity puts an added pressure on the off-track side of things, which is something that is new to me. It forces you to not only focus on the competitive side of things, but also the off-track obligations, like the media, sponsor appearances, and, hopefully, building a fan base. But all of that makes the sport great and I'm glad to be a part of it."

CASSILL: (ON HIS EXPERIENCE TESTING THE IMPALA SS.) "I enjoy getting my hands on any kind of Hendrick equipment. It's been an honor to drive their cars and to test and help improve the Car of Tomorrow program at Hendrick Motorsports."

CASSILL: (ON WORKING WITH HIS HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAMMATES.) "They are there for me to ask questions and give me advice, which is really cool. They always have time for me if I need it. I greatly appreciate their help due to the amount of experience they have, and, of course, the success each of them has experienced."