Landon Cassill is an 18-year-old race car driver living the NASCAR dream.Saturday night at Gateway International Raceway, Cassill will pilot Hendrick Motorsports' No. 24 National Guard Chevrolet in his first career NASCAR Busch Series race .

After being discovered through the GM Racing Development program in 2006, Cassill was signed by Hendrick Motorsports in December. In February, he graduated early and with honors from his hometown Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and made the move to Charlotte, N.C., with his grandmother, Janet Cassill.

Since then, Landon Cassill has become a full-time employee of Hendrick Motorsports and has played a major role in the organization's development of the Impala SS, Chevrolet's "Car of Tomorrow" entry in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

In addition to being involved in testing sessions, Cassill has also raced in both the ARCA Series and NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series this season.

Aside from driving, Cassill also works with Hendrick Motorsports' research and development program, drives during practices with the Hendrick pit crews, and participates in a rigorous physical training regimen with the organization's human performance group.