Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
Landon Cassill's plans for the 2011 season weren't certain at the start of the year. Cassill likely figured he would be competing on and off in NASCAR's Nationwide Series more than he would in the Sprint Cup series as he registered himself to score points in the Nationwide Series. Things changed after Cassill scored a career best third place finish in the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona, the DRIVE4COPD 300. Cassill's car owner for the event, James Finch decided to move the 21 year old driver up to his Sprint Cup car and that's where Cassill stayed for the duration of the year.
Cassill started the Cup season in a start and park role, driving the second, third and fourth races in the #60 Germain Racing car. Cassill jumped in Finch's 09 (later 51) car in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Cassill qualified for every race from that point on with the exception of the two road course events and the August race at Bristol. Cassill kept the team in the top 35 in points all season while having several good runs, particularly on the restrictor plate tracks. However, Cassill and the team's best finish of 12th was at Michigan in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.
The penalty report for Cassill in 2011 indicates that while he had several very good runs on the year, Cassill was also involved in several incidents during the season. Cassill had to break the rule for pitting before the pits were open nine times in 2011. More often than not, a driver who breaks this rule is doing so because they were involved in some sort of incident. Cassill also had an additional penalty for the same thing, but it was a case where he did not have damage to his car. For a low budget operation and a young driver, Cassill and the Phoenix Racing team did a good job in the pits. Combined between the driver and crew, there were only two penalties all year long, one due to Cassill speaking in the pits and one by the crew for not having all the lug nuts installed.
2011 Statistics For Landon Cassill
Was Not Eligible To Score Points
0 top 5s
0 top 10s
Best Finish: 12th in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400
13 laps led
2011 Penalty Report For Landon Cassill
Race 2 - Engine change, Pre-Race to the rear
Race 8 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 9 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 12 - Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field Transmission; Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
Race 13 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 20 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 21 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end; Lug nut(s) not installed, pit
Race 26 - Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
Race 27 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 28 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 31 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 32 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end