PREVIEW: CASEY MEARS (NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS)
VENUE: NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (1.058-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES (RACE 27 OF 36)
EVENT: SUNDAY, SEPT. 16, 2007 (300 LAPS, 317.4 MILES)

MEARS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE: Casey Mears, driver of the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Impala SS, is still searching for his breakthrough run at New Hampshire International Speedway. The 29-year-old driver earned his best NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series result at the 1.058-mile oval in July 2003 when he finished 16th after 300 laps.

A TASTE OF LOUDON SUCCESS: In NASCAR Busch Series competition, Mears earned his first New Hampshire top-10 finish earlier this season when he came home 10th in the companion race there.

CHASSIS MAKEOVER: Crew chief Darian Grubb has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 440 for Sunday's NEXTEL Cup Series race at Loudon, N.H. After serving as the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet team's road-course chassis earlier this year, the car will earn its flat-track stripes this weekend thanks to a new front suspension and other adjustments.

LIVE FREE OR DIE: This weekend, the National Guard's 197th Field Artillery Brigade from New Hampshire will be recognized on Mears' No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Impala SS. Members of the storied brigade will meet with Mears prior to the start of the race and enjoy a pit-road view of the pre-race festivities.

DEALERSHIP RECOGNITION: Mac Mulkin Chevrolet of Nashua, N.H., will be featured on the decklid of Mears' No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet at Loudon. As a co-primary sponsor on the No. 25 Chevrolet, GMAC recognizes outstanding GM dealerships throughout the NASCAR season. The Detroit-based company operates in approximately 40 countries in the areas of automotive finance, real estate finance, insurance and other commercial businesses.

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WE'RE WITH CASEY: Casey Mears will greet fans and sign autographs at 9:30 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. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS: (ON APPROACHING THE REST OF THE SEASON.) "We're pushing hard, and we want to get to that 13th spot in the standings. None of us decided to go racing because we wanted to just hang out and finish off the season. There's a good race among teams just outside the Chase, and we want to win that battle and really demonstrate how far we've come this year."

MEARS: (ON HELPING HIS TEAMMATES IN THE CHASE.) "For the most part, we're racing to win races and we can't cut too many people slack. The best thing we can do is share information with our teammates and maybe give them a little extra room on the track when they need it. But other than that, it's pretty much business as usual."

MEARS: (ON WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT LOUDON.) "I don't have the results to prove it quite yet, but I really enjoy racing at Loudon. It's a fun track with multiple grooves and gives the driver some options, which always makes the racing more exciting to watch."

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DARIAN GRUBB, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 NATIONAL GUARD/GMAC IMPALA SS: (ON THE NO. 25 TEAM'S GOALS FOR THE LAST 10 RACES OF THE SEASON.) "We're approaching the last 10 races just like we approached every other race this season, and we'll be looking to put our No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet back in Victory Lane. Our overall goal for the year was a top-15 points finish, and that's well within reach now. Beyond that, we're still shooting for the 13th spot, which is a very attainable goal."