PREVIEW: CASEY MEARS (NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS)
VENUE: DARLINGTON RACEWAY (1.366-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES (RACE 11 OF 36)
EVENT: SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007 (367 LAPS, 500 MILES)

DARLINGTON RECORD: In 2004, Casey Mears earned a career-best NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series finish at Darlington Raceway when he turned a 19th-place qualifying effort into a 15th-place result. The Hendrick Motorsports driver also has two top-10 Busch Series finishes at the track known as "The Lady in Black."

THAT NEW-CAR SMELL: Crew chief Darian Grubb has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 427 for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup race at Darlington. The car is as new as it gets, having never been tested or raced in competition.

TESTING AT HOME: On Monday and Tuesday, Mears and the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet team participated in the NEXTEL Cup test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The team tested two cars -- Hendrick Motorsports Chassis Nos. 334 and 357 -- in preparation for the speedway's events the last two weekends of May. Both cars have seen competition in 2007, with No. 334 serving as the primary at Texas Motor Speedway in April and No. 357 running at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

A SALUTE TO AMERICAN HEROES: On Tuesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Mears helped unveil the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevrolet, a special paint scheme that will run as part of the American Heroes Memorial Day salute to the Armed Forces at the track's May 27 NEXTEL Cup event. The unveiling, which included the cars of eight NEXTEL Cup and two Busch Series drivers, kicked off a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need.

MEARS IN CAMO: Mears' No. 25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevrolet features an ACU pattern (camouflage) paint scheme with the names of National Guard soldiers who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror displayed on the car's deck lid. Lt. General Clyde A. Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, participated in the unveiling and spoke in support of the program: "The American Military embodies everything that is great about America," Vaughn said. "The heart of every Solider, Marine, Airman, Sailor, Reservist and National Guardsmen is proud to be honored by the NASCAR community."

THIS ONE'S FOR MOM: In celebration of Mother's Day, Carol Mears, mother of Casey Mears, will serve as grand marshal for Saturday night's NEXTEL Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway along with the moms of other Cup Series drivers. Her 29-year-old son says a weekend victory would be the perfect Mother's Day gift (see quote from Casey Mears below).

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE: Every weekend at the race track, Billy Kuebler provides pit support for the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet driven by Mears in the NEXTEL Cup Series. During the week, the 22-year-old Saline, Mich., native attends class at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he is about to earn a degree in motor sports mechanical engineering. Kuebler will graduate from the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at UNCC on Saturday afternoon, but instead of walking across the stage to pick up his diploma, he'll be checking tire pressures and working on pit road in Darlington, S.C. (see quote from Kuebler below).

* * * * * * * * * *

MEET THE MEARS GANG: Casey Mears will greet fans and sign autographs at 2:45 p.m. local time on Saturday at the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC souvenir hauler outside Darlington Raceway.

* * * * * * * * * *

CASEY MEARS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS: (ON RACING ON MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND.) "I've told my mom before that I wouldn't be where I am today without her, but it would be pretty special to tell her again this weekend in Victory Lane. She's an amazing person and a great mom."

MEARS: (ON TEAMMATE JEFF GORDON'S GOODYEAR TIRE TEST AT DARLINGTON EARLIER THIS YEAR.) "I talked with Jeff a little bit about what he thought, and he said it was the same old Darlington. Obviously, with the Impala SS having less downforce and a little less grip, you have to be easier in your approach to that track. But I think it's going to be the same place, and we're going to see a lot of the same things go on there."

MEARS: (ON HIS 18TH-PLACE FINISH AT RICHMOND LAST WEEKEND.) "It was a solid run for our No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet team. When we got into trouble early, I was pretty frustrated because it put us so far back in the field and we lost a lap. But Darian (Grubb, crew chief) and the team stuck with it, and we got the finish we needed to help with the points."

* * * * * * * * * *

BILLY KUEBLER, PIT SUPPORT FOR THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS: (ON MISSING HIS COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY THIS WEEKEND.) "I am very proud to graduate from college and see my hard work pay off, but I couldn't imagine not being at Darlington. All that hard work at school was so I could be at the race track, doing what I love to do. Being part of the team is my graduation, and a win at one of my favorite tracks would be a pretty cool way to celebrate."

* * * * * * * * * *

DARIAN GRUBB, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS: (ON RACING AT DARLINGTON THIS WEEKEND.) "We have the benefit of a tire test that the 24 car participated in at Darlington, so we have some data that we will hopefully be able to use to our advantage. The Impala SS shouldn't be much different than the Monte Carlo SS when it comes to handling, but Darlington is a place of its own, and it's all about driving style and tire management to keep a steady pace there. The weekend schedule will be interesting because we have our two practices divided by qualifying, but a limited number of sets of tires. Overall, we'll be working on Casey's comfort for the long haul and plans toward finishing the race strong."