Camping World 200 - Casey Mears Notes

PREVIEW: CASEY MEARS (NO. 24 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET)
VENUE: NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (1.058-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR BUSCH SERIES (RACE 18 OF 35)
EVENT: SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2007 (200 LAPS, 211.6 MILES)

BACK IN THE SEAT: Following a three-week hiatus from the NASCAR Busch Series, Casey Mears, driver of the No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet, returns to competition this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. Mears is running a 22-race Busch Series schedule this season.

STREAKING: Mears has been on a hot streak in both Busch Series and NEXTEL Cup Series competition as of late. He has posted eight consecutive top-10 finishes in Busch Series competition and three NEXTEL Cup top-five efforts in the past five weeks. Mears has advanced from 35th to 20th in the Cup standings in that span.

CREW CHIEF EXPERIENCE: Chad Walter, crew chief of the No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet, earned the Busch Series pole position last year at New Hampshire International Speedway with driver Kyle Busch.

WELCOME BACK: Mears has not competed in the Busch Series at New Hampshire International Speedway since July 2004 when he finished 20th. Since that time, he has competed in six NEXTEL Cup races at the track.

NATIONAL GUARD TEAMMATE: Landon Cassill, Hendrick Motorsports' youngest driver, will also be piloting a National Guard-sponsored car this weekend at NHIS. Cassill, 17, will compete in Friday evening's NASCAR Busch Series East race, driving a No. 42 National Guard Chevrolet. This will be Cassill's second Busch East race and only his second start for Hendrick Motorsports. Cassill finished 14th at South Boston Speedway earlier this month.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS: This weekend, the 26th Infantry "Yankee Division" Brigade will be honored on the No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet. The Yankee Division covers New England, with locations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. While the National Guard's NEXTEL Cup sponsorship focuses on recruitment, its Busch Series sponsorship focuses on honoring the achievements of local brigades and their members.

NEW CAR: Walter has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 444 for Saturday's Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. The car has never been raced or tested.

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AUTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE: Mears will greet fans and sign autographs at 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday at the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC souvenir hauler outside New Hampshire International Speedway.

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CASEY MEARS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 24 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET: (ON RETURNING TO NASCAR BUSCH SERIES COMPETITION.) "I missed running in the Busch Series. It definitely felt like I had more time to do things and discuss more things on the Cup side, but, at the same time, I missed running, too. We do run really well in the No. 24 National Guard Chevy, so I'm looking forward to getting back with those guys. We've had a little bit of a break, but they've been testing here and there. I'm looking forward to racing with them again."