ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard Soldiers indulged their inner NASCAR spirits Sept. 6 when No. 25 National Guard/GMAC racecar driver Casey Mears, accompanied by up-and-coming driver Landon Cassill, made an appearance to talk with Soldiers and sign autographs at the Army National Guard Readiness Center.
In extending a welcome to the racecar drivers, Maj. Gen. James Nuttall, deputy director of the Army National Guard, reminded the crowd of Mears' important win in the Nextel Cup's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, N.C., a race that fittingly took place during Memorial Day weekend.
In a specially designed car, complete with an Army Combat Uniform paint scheme and the rear deck bearing the names of the over 400 National Guard Soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice, Mears drove the "American Heroes" Chevrolet to victory. It was a significant win on many levels, but most importantly for the Soldiers.
Addressing Thursday's crowd of Soldiers, Mears said, "I've really grown to love and appreciate what you guys do for us, and you have no idea what it feels like to be a part of a team and an organization that has over 350,000 people supporting you. It's just awesome to see that."
Mears presented Nuttall with a plaque commemorating the Memorial Day race along with an official racing suit for display in the building. Following the brief ceremony, Soldiers and their families helped themselves to T-shirts, model cars, and other memorabilia for Mears to autograph. Others posed for pictures with Cassill and the National Guard car.
Master Sgt. Donnie Woodruff, who said he has been watching races since "the Richard Petty days," was pleased to get an autograph. "It's good to actually meet the guy in the car and get to talk to him," he said.
Although mathematically the No. 25 team is out of the Chase (the NASCAR equivalent to playoffs), Casey is looking forward to the rest of the season. He's pleased with the progress his team has demonstrated so far, and he hopes to "finish the year out with a bang" by getting a few more victories.