Player Management International Media Release
Dover, DE (June 2, 2007) – Mike Wallace and the GEICO Racing team rolled into the Monster Mile in Dover, DE, ready to conquer a track where Wallace has traditionally experienced great success. After the final practice session, there was even more reason for Phoenix Racing’s enthusiasm.
Wallace posted a less than flattering speed in the first practice of the day on Friday when he appeared 30th on the speed charts. However, when the final practice session began a few hours later, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet would make marked improvement and end up 11th in the final practice results.
Phoenix Racing would ensure that Wallace would continue have a fast weekend, as the #7 GEICO Chevrolet would qualify 18th for the Dover 200, marking Mike Wallace’s best qualifying effort of the season.
Wallace would start just in front of Matt Kenseth on Saturday afternoon as clouds hovered over the high-banked 1-mile concrete oval. When the green flag waved, Wallace would keep the GEICO Chevrolet out of trouble and narrowly miss multiple crashes before finding himself at the front of the field to lead a lap for the 8th race this season, resulting in his fourth WIX Filters Lap Leader Award of the season. The Phoenix Racing pit crew would perform quick pit stops that would help put Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet at the front of the field.
Unfortunately, with 76 laps remaining, Wallace’s nephew, Steven Wallace, would get into the rear of his car and send him careening into the wall in a hard crash that would break the track bar and force the #7 GEICO Chevrolet to retire from the race. Wallace would appear in the 33rd position when the checkered flag fell on Dover International Speedway.
Wallace currently leads the WIX Filters Lap Leader standings and sits ahead of Jason Leffler and Juan Pablo Montoya.
“It’s a shame because we had a great car here this weekend,” Wallace said. “We practiced well, we qualified well and we raced well, but unfortunately we got punted by a car that was a lap down and it really tore our car up, but more importantly, it knocked us out of the race. Crashes are just a part of racing, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. I’m very disappointed.”
This week, The Phoenix Racing team will pack up the #7 GEICO Chevrolet and head to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Federated Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, June 9, 2007.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to Nashville,” Wallace said. “We had a great car there in April, but a mechanical problem hurt us. We ran all the way up to the front of the field and had a good shot at winning the race before our fuel cell problem.”
Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS will hit the track at Nashville Superspeedway for their first practice on Friday, June 8th, at 5:00 PM (ET), with final practice at 7:00 PM (ET). Qualifying is set for Saturday afternoon, June 9th, at 3:05 PM (ET).
On Saturday, June 9, 2007, the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Series race will be televised live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 6:30 PM (ET) and green flag action coming at 7:00 PM (ET). Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.GEICOracing7.com.
To learn more about the Sport Clips Racing program, please visit: www.SportClips.com.