Cassill, National Guard team prep for Indy Busch Series race

INDIANAPOLIS (July 27, 2007) – In his first-ever NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday, Landon Cassill didn’t have the finish he wanted at Gateway International Raceway. The 18-year-old drove inside the top 10 for the first half of the 200-lap race before he was involved in an accident on lap 109 that ended his night. Now Cassill is ready to jump back into the No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet this Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, marking his second Busch Series event. “I do have a little more confidence going into ORP than Gateway, just because I’ve raced there before. The track has been fun for me in the past,” Cassill said. “I’ve had a couple top-five finishes, and held the track record (in the ASALMS Series) for some time. “I’m anxious to see how different the National Guard Chevy will drive at ORP compared to the late models that I’m used to racing there.” Cassill’s previous experience at the track includes him being fastest qualifier for the July 2006 American Speed Association Late Model Series (ASALMS) Northern Division event, where he ended up finishing fifth. He also competed in an ASALMS event at the .686-mile track in 2005 and finished fourth in a Champion Racing Association Super Series race there in 2006. “Now, I am very focused on ORP and I know that my guys are, too,” Cassill said. “I have discussed things with [crew chief Chad Walter] on how I can improve my position on the race track. We are going to Indianapolis at full strength.” Cassill is also looking forward to the opportunity of working with the National Guard team again this Saturday. “I have been so impressed with the National Guard team, and I think that they are 100-percent prepared for any race they go to,” Cassill said. “They work very hard on their equipment no matter who is driving the car. I feel that we were as prepared as we could be for St. Louis, and it showed in our qualifying and race runs.” The Busch Series race at O’Reilly Raceway Park will air live Saturday on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.