Landon Cassill
Encyclopedia
Landon Douglas Cassill is a driver in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports
. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala
for Phoenix Racing
in the Sprint Cup Series.
when he was 3 years old. Cassill moved to go-karts. He finished second in the Pro Kart Tour at Atlanta Motor Speedway
at age 10. The following year, he earned his first of two Kart Series national championships. Cassill won four International Kart Federation
(IKF) championships, some on dirt
and some on asphalt.
In 2000, Cassill competed in three different classes: two karting and a midget
class. He won all three state championships on the same night. Cassill won four more state championships at the Newton Kart Klub in Newton, Iowa
in 2001. He then started racing in a modified at the half mile Hawkeye Downs.
He was racing in the ASA
Late Model Series
(ASALMS) in 2003 while he was in high school
at Jefferson High School
in Cedar Rapids. He has also raced in legend, modified, and late model
racecars. Other series include the American Speed Association
and the CRA Super Series
.
At age 16, he became the youngest winner in ASALMS history when he won at Lake Erie Speedway
on June 9, 2006; holding the record until Erik Jones surpassed him at age 14 in 2010. On July 3, Cassill won his second ASALMS race, this time in a Southern Division race at South Georgia Motorsports Park near Cecil, Georgia
. The win made him the first driver to win in both the Northern and Southern Divisions. He won his first Challenge Division race at I-70 Speedway
on July 8 to become the first driver to win in all three divisions. He finished second in the Challenge Division points behind Kelly Bires
, and eleventh in the Northern Division despite starting in half of the races.
in Asheboro, North Carolina
, North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia
, and Nashville Superspeedway
.
Cassill was signed by Hendrick Motorsports in December 2006. In 2007, Cassill tested the team's Car of Tomorrow
car at Lakeland Speedway and Greenville-Pickens Speedway
. Along with his driving duties, Cassill has worked in the team's research and development program and drove during practices for the Hendrick pit crews. Cassill made his Nationwide Series debut at Gateway International Speedway in July 2007 after turning 18, as NASCAR requires national series drivers to be at least 18 years of age (regional series drivers can be 16). Cassill finished 32nd in his debut. He was in contention to score his first top-10 finish at Memphis
before another driver spun him out on the final lap. In his six starts that year, his best finish was 18th at Dover
.
In 2008, Cassill drove the #5 National Guard Chevrolet in 16 Nationwide Series races for JR Motorsports
and the #4 Phoenix Racing
Chevrolet in the 3 road course races. In Cassill's first start of the season, at Nashville
, he started 22nd and finished 19th, two laps down. He earned his first top-10 finish in the June race at Nashville with a 9th place finish. He won his first pole at Loudon, but had to start at the back of the field due to an engine change. He quickly moved his way up in the race, but was wrecked by Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
, resulting in a 34th place finish. He was involved in another incident with Hamilton, Jr. at Memphis which resulted in an altercation following the race. In 19 starts, Cassill earned 5 top-10 finishes and won the Rookie of the Year honors. He also drove a limited schedule in the Truck Series for Randy Moss Motorsports, garnering one top-5 finish. Cassill made his lone 2009 start on October 24 at Memphis, driving Phoenix Racing's #1 Miccosukee
Chevrolet to a 10th place finish.
In 2010, he drove the #98 truck for Thorsport Racing at Daytona, but was caught in a wreck early in the event. He made 6 starts in the Nationwide Series: 3 in the #7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports and 3 in the #09 Ford for RAB Racing
. Cassill made his Cup Series debut at Michigan
driving for veteran team owner James Finch
. He finished 38th in his debut. He ran 15 other races that year for Finch, TRG Motorsports
, and Larry Gunselman
. Cassill is ineligible for future Cup Series rookie consideration; through the 2010 season, drivers could run more than 7 races in a previous season to be eligible for the award.
Cassill started out the 2011 season with a third place finish in the opening Nationwide series race: the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona
. It was announced on February 24 that Landon would drive the #60 Toyota for Germain Racing
in the Sprint Cup Series full-time with sponsorship from All Sport
. Cassill later replaced Bill Elliott
as the driver of the Phoenix Racing Chevrolet.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
for Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
in the Sprint Cup Series.
Early career
Cassill began racing in a quadAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
when he was 3 years old. Cassill moved to go-karts. He finished second in the Pro Kart Tour at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
at age 10. The following year, he earned his first of two Kart Series national championships. Cassill won four International Kart Federation
International Kart Federation
The International Kart Federation was the first kart racing organization in the United States, founded and still based in California in 1957. In 1971 it was joined by the World Karting Association, which originally focused more on the Eastern and Central United States.The International Kart...
(IKF) championships, some on dirt
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
and some on asphalt.
In 2000, Cassill competed in three different classes: two karting and a midget
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
class. He won all three state championships on the same night. Cassill won four more state championships at the Newton Kart Klub in Newton, Iowa
Newton, Iowa
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,254. It is the home of Maytag Dairy Farms and was formerly home to the Maytag Corporation's corporate headquarters until the Whirlpool Corporation acquired it in 2006...
in 2001. He then started racing in a modified at the half mile Hawkeye Downs.
He was racing in the ASA
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
(ASALMS) in 2003 while he was in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at Jefferson High School
Jefferson High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
For schools with a similar name, see Jefferson High School.Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is the eighth largest high school in Iowa...
in Cedar Rapids. He has also raced in legend, modified, and late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
racecars. Other series include the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
and the CRA Super Series
CRA Super Series
The CRA Super Series is a Super Late Model stock car racing series owned and operated by the Champion Racing Association. It is a touring series based in the Midwest United States. It was formerly known as the Kendall Late Model Series and the Sunoco Super Series. The series utilizes late model...
.
At age 16, he became the youngest winner in ASALMS history when he won at Lake Erie Speedway
Lake Erie Speedway
Lake Erie Speedway is a 3/8 mile paved, banked oval race track which opened on June 21, 2002 in Erie County, south of North East, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Lake Erie Speedway runs six race divisions including Late Models, Modifieds,...
on June 9, 2006; holding the record until Erik Jones surpassed him at age 14 in 2010. On July 3, Cassill won his second ASALMS race, this time in a Southern Division race at South Georgia Motorsports Park near Cecil, Georgia
Cecil, Georgia
Cecil is a town in Cook County, Georgia, United States. The population was 286 at the 2010 census. It is most known as the home of South Georgia Motorsports Park.-Geography:Cecil is located at ....
. The win made him the first driver to win in both the Northern and Southern Divisions. He won his first Challenge Division race at I-70 Speedway
I-70 Speedway
I-70 Speedway is a racetrack near Interstate 70 east of Odessa, Missouri, USA. The track opened in 1969 and was open every year until it closed in 2008. It was built and owned by Bill Roberts who, along with partners, had previously built and owned KCIR Dragstrip on Noland Road in Kansas City,...
on July 8 to become the first driver to win in all three divisions. He finished second in the Challenge Division points behind Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #25 Ford Mustang for Team Rensi Motorsports and the #18 International Comfort Products Corporation Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series.-Early career:Bires began karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead,...
, and eleventh in the Northern Division despite starting in half of the races.
NASCAR
In 2006, Cassill was introduced to NASCAR through the GM Racing Development competition. He was one of 16 drivers that participated in the three-stage evaluation process that took place at Caraway SpeedwayCaraway Speedway
Caraway Speedway is a short track located near Asheboro, North Carolina, U.S.A.. Caraway Speedway was built in 1966 as a dirt track. The track was paved in 1972 and joined the NASCAR Weekly Series Family as a .455 mile asphalt short track. Caraway Speedway was owned and operated by Russell &...
in Asheboro, North Carolina
Asheboro, North Carolina
Asheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County, and is the home of the state-owned North Carolina Zoo.-Geography:...
, North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth is a city in Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,531 at the 2000 census, but was estimated around 3,890 as of the 2005 census. The city is the county seat of Murray County...
, and Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
.
Cassill was signed by Hendrick Motorsports in December 2006. In 2007, Cassill tested the team's Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
car at Lakeland Speedway and Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
. Along with his driving duties, Cassill has worked in the team's research and development program and drove during practices for the Hendrick pit crews. Cassill made his Nationwide Series debut at Gateway International Speedway in July 2007 after turning 18, as NASCAR requires national series drivers to be at least 18 years of age (regional series drivers can be 16). Cassill finished 32nd in his debut. He was in contention to score his first top-10 finish at Memphis
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
before another driver spun him out on the final lap. In his six starts that year, his best finish was 18th at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
.
In 2008, Cassill drove the #5 National Guard Chevrolet in 16 Nationwide Series races for JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, cousin and former crew chief Tony Eury, Jr., and the owner of his Cup ride Rick Hendrick. It currently fields the No...
and the #4 Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
Chevrolet in the 3 road course races. In Cassill's first start of the season, at Nashville
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
, he started 22nd and finished 19th, two laps down. He earned his first top-10 finish in the June race at Nashville with a 9th place finish. He won his first pole at Loudon, but had to start at the back of the field due to an engine change. He quickly moved his way up in the race, but was wrecked by Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
Charles Robert Hamilton, Jr. is a NASCAR driver and owner, and current track promoter. He is currently a free agent...
, resulting in a 34th place finish. He was involved in another incident with Hamilton, Jr. at Memphis which resulted in an altercation following the race. In 19 starts, Cassill earned 5 top-10 finishes and won the Rookie of the Year honors. He also drove a limited schedule in the Truck Series for Randy Moss Motorsports, garnering one top-5 finish. Cassill made his lone 2009 start on October 24 at Memphis, driving Phoenix Racing's #1 Miccosukee
Miccosukee
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving federal recognition in 1962...
Chevrolet to a 10th place finish.
In 2010, he drove the #98 truck for Thorsport Racing at Daytona, but was caught in a wreck early in the event. He made 6 starts in the Nationwide Series: 3 in the #7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports and 3 in the #09 Ford for RAB Racing
RAB Racing
RAB Racing with Brack Maggard is a team the competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and formerly the ARCA RE/MAX Series. It is co-owned by former NASCAR driver Robert A. Benton Sr. and his son Robert Jr. along with Georgia businessman and Southern Pan Services founder Brack Maggard and was founded...
. Cassill made his Cup Series debut at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
driving for veteran team owner James Finch
James Finch
James Finch is a Panama City, Florida-born businessman. He is the owner of Phoenix Construction, a construction company that specializes in airport construction, and the Phoenix Racing team in NASCAR. They field the #1 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray in the Nationwide Series...
. He finished 38th in his debut. He ran 15 other races that year for Finch, TRG Motorsports
The Racer's Group
The Racer's Group, or TRG, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Camping World Truck Series and Rolex Sports Car Series racing team located in Petaluma, California owned by Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra. In addition to stock car racing, TRG has competed professionally in road racing since 1995...
, and Larry Gunselman
Larry Gunselman
Larry Gunselman is an American former race car driver. He has made a total over 100 starts and over 2 million in earnings in all three of NASCAR's top divisions...
. Cassill is ineligible for future Cup Series rookie consideration; through the 2010 season, drivers could run more than 7 races in a previous season to be eligible for the award.
Cassill started out the 2011 season with a third place finish in the opening Nationwide series race: the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. It was announced on February 24 that Landon would drive the #60 Toyota for Germain Racing
Germain Racing
Germain Racing is an American NASCAR team. It is owned by the Germain brothers, Bob, Stephen, and Richard. The Germain family owns many car dealerships across the United States...
in the Sprint Cup Series full-time with sponsorship from All Sport
All Sport
All Sport is a brand of sports drink similar to Gatorade and Powerade. It was created by PepsiCo, as their response to The Coca-Cola Company's Powerade and Stokely-Van Camp's Gatorade, now owned by PepsiCo...
. Cassill later replaced Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
as the driver of the Phoenix Racing Chevrolet.