Casey Mears Honors 'American Heroes' on Memorial Day Weekend

CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 2007) - On Sunday, Casey Mears will pay tribute to fallen heroes as he makes his fifth career start in the annual 600-mile NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Mears' No. 25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevrolet features a special paint scheme 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. "It's an awesome opportunity to honor the men and women who serve our country and who have paid the ultimate price," said Mears, who qualified 16th-fastest for NASCAR's longest race. "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." The No. 25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevrolet has 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 the names on Mears' car also has a connection close to home. Jimmy "Biscuit" Parrott, who provides pit support and serves as the backup truck driver for Kyle Busch's No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series team, found his brother's name on the car while working the shop. Parrott's older brother, Michael C. Parrott, was killed in action on Sept. 15, 2005, while serving with the National Guard in Iraq. "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," Jimmy Parrott said. "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."