PREVIEW: CASEY MEARS (NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC "AMERICAN HEROES" MONTE CARLO SS)
VENUE: LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE QUAD-OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES (RACE 12 OF 36)
EVENT: SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007 (400 LAPS, 600 MILES)

MEARS AND THE 600: This weekend, Casey Mears will make his fifth career start in the annual 600-mile NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Mears' best result in NASCAR's longest race came in 2004 when he finished seventh.

SAME CAR, NEW BODY: Crew chief Darian Grubb has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 357 for Sunday's NEXTEL Cup event. The car saw race action earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but suffered significant damage in a wreck there and will feature a brand new body as a result.

A SALUTE TO AMERICAN HEROES: In addition to a new body, Mears' No. 25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevrolet also will feature a special paint scheme this weekend as part of the American Heroes Memorial Day salute to the Armed Forces. The tribute, which includes the cars of eight NEXTEL Cup and two Busch Series drivers, is part of a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need. (See quote from Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, below.)

CLOSE TO HOME: The 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. One of those names holds special significance for Jimmy "Biscuit" Parrott, who provides pit support and serves as the backup truck driver for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series team. Parrott's older brother, Michael C. Parrott, was killed in action on Sept. 15, 2005, while serving with the National Guard in Iraq. The late Parrott, who made his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., will be recognized on Mears' car during Sunday's race. (See quote from Jimmy Parrott below.)

BUSY START TO A BUSY WEEK: On Monday, Mears participated in the Rick Hendrick Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., to benefit the Hendrick Marrow Program and Levine Children's Hospital. The following day, the 29-year-old driver made the short trip down I-485 to attend a dedication ceremony for the new Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in Matthews, N.C. The center, which opened in late 2006, was funded in part with a $1 million gift from Rick Hendrick in memory of his late father, Joe Hendrick.

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AUTOGRAPH SESSION: Casey Mears will sign autographs on behalf of Chevrolet from 2-4 p.m. local time on Friday at the 13th Annual Food Lion Speed Street event in Uptown Charlotte.

MORE MEARS PLEASE: Mears will greet fans and sign autographs at 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday at the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC souvenir hauler outside Lowe's Motor Speedway.

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LT. GEN. CLYDE A. VAUGHN, DIRECTOR OF THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: (ON THIS WEEKEND'S AMERICAN HEROES MEMORIAL DAY SALUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY.) "The American Military embodies everything that is great about America. The heart of every Solider, Marine, Airman, Sailor, Reservist and National Guardsmen is proud to be honored by the NASCAR community."

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JIMMY "BISCUIT" PARROTT, PIT SUPPORT AND BACKUP TRUCK DRIVER FOR THE NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS NEXTEL CUP SERIES TEAM: (ON THE NO. 25 CAR'S SPECIAL PAINT SCHEME THIS WEEKEND AND HONORING THE MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER.) "The special paint scheme on the 25 caught my eye in the shop, and when I took a closer look at the names on the deck lid, I found my brother. It meant a lot to me to see him on there. He's with me all the time, but this weekend especially. I'm very proud of him and of what he did, and it means a lot to see him honored this way."

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CASEY MEARS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC "AMERICAN HEROES" MONTE CARLO SS: (ON RUNNING A SPECIAL PAINT SCHEME TO HONOR FALLEN NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.) "It's an awesome opportunity to honor the men and women who serve our country and who have paid the ultimate price. When you stop and think about it, it's pretty unbelievable what we get to do, week in and week out. I feel so fortunate to be racing in the best series in the world, and to be able to give back to somebody -- whether it's a family member or a friend of a soldier -- is a big deal to me."

MEARS: (ON PACING HIMSELF DURING A 600-MILE RACE.) "I ask somebody to tell me when we're halfway, somebody to tell me when we've got about 50 (laps) to go, and somebody to tell me when we've got 20 or 10 to go. I just try to pace myself for that first half of the race, re-evaluate where we're at during the third quarter and get myself in position to finish strong to the end. I don't spend a lot of time asking what lap we're on because it's a long race and you'll wear yourself out doing that. If you've got certain markers in mind, you'll be in the right frame of mind."

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DARIAN GRUBB, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC "AMERICAN HEROES" MONTE CARLO SS: (ON THE KEYS TO SUCCESS THIS WEEKEND AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY.) "The 600 is a unique race because it is so long and because you have so many opportunities to adjust the car to compliment the driver. That's a good thing, though, since the race runs from hot and sunny conditions into the cooler, higher-grip hours at night. The key to a good 600 run is maintaining a respectable pace without abusing the car during the long green-flag runs and also pacing your adjustments as the sun goes down. Consistency of pit stops is also very important as track position plays a huge role in the results of the race."