Mike Wallace Finds Redemption in Fontana; Heading for the Gecko's Backyard

Player Management International Media Release

Fontana, CA (September 1, 2007) – After a rough weekend in Bristol, TN, Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet were looking forward to seeking redemption in Southern California.  While they sit comfortably in the Top 10 in the point standings, Wallace and the Gecko eagerly desire to make up points and move further up the point standings before season’s end. 

Once the #7 GEICO Chevrolet was unloaded at California Speedway, Wallace would quickly get up to speed despite temperatures in excess of 105-degrees.  At the end of the first practice session, the Gecko would find himself sitting 7th on the speed charts, just behind Jeff Burton and slightly ahead of Denny Hamlin.  The second practice session would also be quick for the Phoenix Racing team, however Wallace would fall off a bit to wind up 14th on the speed charts when the final practice concluded. 

Unfortunately, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet would draw the #1 spot for qualifying at the hot and steamy 2-mile D-shaped oval, which would send them out on a track that would be nothing less than hot and slick.  While most cars found it difficult to maneuver the slippery speedway, Wallace and the Gecko would get comfortable and tour the speedway in 40.858 seconds at a speed of 176.220 MPH.  When the red flag waved on qualifying, the #7 GEICO Chevrolet would find itself starting in the 19th position.

If there were an award for the most cars passed in a single race, Mike Wallace would have secured a comfortable victory.  In one of the most eventful races of the year for Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet, he would lead the race, take multiple trips to back of the field, drive 60 laps with no helmet cooler in 100-degree heat because of an alternator issue, and ultimately go off-road into the infield grass before finally taking the checkered flag in the sweltering heat in SoCal. 

During the early stages of the race, under the event’s first caution, crew chief, Gere Kennon, would radio to Wallace to pit out of sequence and come in for fuel in order to help with track position later on in the race.  Once Wallace departed the pits, he would be forced to start at the rear of the field, as most cars did not make the trip down pit road. 

When the green flag waved to re-start the action, he would immediately move to the front of the field and settle in until he was forced to pit again later in the race due to an alternator issue.  During the pit stop, the Phoenix Racing pit crew would replace the battery and return Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet to the track in good time.  However, Wallace would once again be relegated to the rear of the field, where he would once again work his way back to the front. 

During a late-race incident, Wallace would become part and parcel to the action and find himself taking a trip through the infield grass before flat spotting all four of his tires and being forced to head down pit road to take on four new Goodyear tires.  Fittingly, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet would yet again find themselves at the back of the field, where they would battle to get to the front and finally record a 16th place finish under the lights in the Southern California heat.

“I’m worn out to say the least,” Wallace joked after completing what appeared to be an endurance race for the Phoenix Racing team.  “We battled just about everything tonight and still managed to finish 16th.  I think this says a lot about the guys on this #7 GEICO team and our perseverance, and now we’re looking forward to getting to Richmond, which is in GEICO’s backyard, and getting a good finish.”

Wallace and the Gecko reside comfortably in the Top 10 in the point standings, sitting in the 10th spot, just 55 points shy of Greg Biffle in the 9th position. 

This week, Mike Wallace and the GEICO Racing team head to Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, VA, for the Emerson Radio 250 on Friday, September 7, 2007.  

Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS will hit the .75-mile D-shaped oval for their first practice session on Friday, September 7th, at 8:30 AM (ET), with final practice at 10:10 AM (ET).  Qualifying is set for Friday afternoon at 4:05 PM (ET). 

On Friday night, September 7th, the Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series race will be televised live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 7:30 PM (ET) and green flag action coming at 8:00 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.