Player Management International Media Release
Fontana, CA (February 25, 2008) – Raindrops keep falling on my head is more than a 1970’s hit song by B.J. Thomas, it was the theme for the weekend in Fontana. After sitting all day Saturday waiting for the rain to clear, NASCAR decided late Saturday night to postpone the Stater Bros. 300 and start the race on Sunday afternoon after the conclusion of the Sprint Cup race.
Unfortunately, the rain would continue into Sunday and cause the Sprint Cup race to be called off after just 87 laps. Consequently, after spending another full day and night at the track, NASCAR would once again reschedule the 300-mile race for Monday afternoon after the rescheduled Sprint Cup race concluded, which would see the #7 GEICO Camry on the starting grid at approximately 4:00 PM (ET).
A tired and weary Germain Racing team would show up to the track on Monday morning excited about running a race that had already been rescheduled twice. While they were worn out and ready for rest, they were also excited about a car that had shown great promise in the sole practice session.
On-track activities had been canceled on Friday, but NASCAR allowed a 90-minute practice session on Saturday prior to the start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Mike Wallace and the Gecko were all business when they hit the track, and after sitting as high as 8th on the charts, they would find themselves 13th on the final practice sheet. With qualifying having been canceled as well, the #7 GEICO Camry would start the race from the 17th position, as the starting line up was based on the point standings from the 2007 season.
Under perfect skies on Monday afternoon, the Stater Bros. 300 would finally hear engines roar as they anticipated the long awaited start. In an event that seemed to more closely resemble a 24-hour endurance race, the green flag would wave at approximately 4:30 PM (ET), and the #7 GEICO Camry would be strong on the initial run. It would not be long before Wallace would work his way into the Top 15 and continue on a torrid pace through the first half of the race.
On Lap 70, Wallace would pop into the Top 10 and refuse to leave, even working his way up to 9th before a late-race green flag pit stop would force him down pit road for four tires and fuel. The Germain Racing team would give Wallace and the GEICO Camry a good stop, however Wallace would find himself back in the 26th position where he would have his work cut out for him. He would waste little time and start working his way to the front, finding himself in the Top 20 within a few laps.
Wallace would ultimately record a resilient 16th place finish when the checkered flag ended the day at California Speedway. The 16th place finish would bump Wallace and the Gecko up to the 12th position in the point standings, just 25 points removed from Clint Bowyer and the Top 10.
“This was a long weekend to say the least, but we proved that we’re resilient and tough, and that regardless of circumstances this GEICO team will make things happen,” Wallace said. “I’m so proud of this Germain team and I’m glad we were able to have the GEICO car running in the Top 10 today. We’re looking forward to getting to Vegas this week because we had a great test there in January where we were 8th, and we’re sure that’s going to translate into the race next weekend.”
He continued, “It was great to have Gordon Logan (Sport Clips CEO and Founder) at the track this weekend and we talked a lot about the VFW and what we can do to bring about awareness to their programs which service our nation’s veterans of foreign wars. When we’re sitting there in the rain for three days it’s frustrating, but then when you realize the sacrifices that our troops are making you realize how fortunate you really are, despite the rain or anything else.”
This week, the Germain Racing team will pack up the #7 GEICO Camry and make the short trip from California to Las Vegas. Las Vegas will wrap up NASCAR’s west coast road trip before they head to Atlanta on March 8th.
Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry will hit the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for their first practice on Friday, February 29th, at 1:30 PM (ET). Final practice is also on Friday at 4:45 PM (ET), followed by qualifying on Saturday afternoon at 12:05 PM (ET).
The Sam’s Town 300 race is on Saturday, March 1st, and it will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 4:00 PM (ET), while the Performance Racing Network (PRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
Visit the new innovative, interactive GEICO Racing web site at: www.geicogarage.com
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