National Guard to back Dale Jr Nationwide effort

The Army National Guard will continue its involvement in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008 with a 21-race primary sponsorship of the No. 5 Chevrolets with drivers Landon Cassill and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The team will be fielded by JR Motorsports in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports.

Cassill, 18, will pilot 19 events in the No. 5 National Guard Chevys, kicking off his season Feb. 23 at California Speedway. The campaign will mark the most extensive racing action for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native and 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate since he signed with Hendrick Motorsports in December 2006.

Providing bookends to the 2008 schedule, Earnhardt will drive the "Guard Car" in the Feb. 16 season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and the Nov. 15 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The two-time circuit champion has earned five Nationwide-level victories at Daytona.

"The National Guard is very pleased to be sponsoring the No. 5 National Guard Nationwide Series car in 2008," said Lt. Col. Diana Craun, Deputy Division Chief, Strength Maintenance Division, National Guard Bureau. "The Guard's presence at Nationwide Series races will honor America's finest Citizen-Soldiers in an exciting way by featuring a unique Unit Patch on the hood, deck-lid and rear quarter-panels of the car. Additionally, Army Guard Soldiers from these honored units will be invited to watch the No. 5 car as it reaches Victory Lane."