Player Management International Media Release
Concord, NC (March 31, 2008) – Little did Mike Wallace know that when he recorded the fastest time at the Richmond NASCAR test a week ago that it would be just the beginning of an exciting week for both his family and his sponsor.
A week ago, Wallace and the Gecko would travel with the GEICO Racing team up to Richmond International Raceway for their final test prior to their May 2nd race at the .75-mile D-shaped oval. Wallace would waste little time getting acclimated to the track and by the end of the evening he rested at the top of the speed charts, having recorded the fastest time of the day.
In the Wallace household, racing is a family affair. Mike Wallace is the middle brother of the racing Wallace’s that includes older brother Rusty and younger brother Kenny. Now throw Mike’s daughter Chrissy into the mix; and let’s do it at Martinsville, well known to be one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. A half-mile track, Martinsville is known for its beating and banging, which makes it one of the worst places to make a NASCAR debut.
After media coverage that resembled a big budget ad campaign, Chrissy Wallace arrived at Martinsville Speedway this weekend with GEICO on the hood of her #03 Toyota Tundra to make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut. Ironically, Martinsville is also where her father made his NASCAR debut in 1990.
Widely regarded as arguably the best female driver to ever enter the series, Chrissy exhibited composure typically reserved for well-seasoned veterans, such as her father and her uncles. With dad as her spotter, she would start the race in the 35th position and carefully move her #03 GEICO/Mobile Delvac Oils Tundra to the front of the field. She would ultimately overcome many obstacles before finishing on the Lead Lap in the 18th position in her first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
Simply finishing a race in Martinsville is an accomplishment; finishing on the Lead Lap in 18th in your first NASCAR race is a statement. Wallace proved that she is a racer and that she can do it in NASCAR’s top three.
Last week was also exciting for GEICO. While the GEICO drivers were out tearing up the speed charts, the GEICO marketing team launched another assault on the internet, as they released yet another GEICO Racing commercial featuring third cousin, once removed, Lauren Wallace. Unlike other GEICO Racing commercials, this commercial is part of an internet marketing campaign to promote geicogarage.com, GEICO’s new innovative, interactive web site.
geicogarage.com, a web site that is one of the most innovative, interactive sites in all of auto racing, takes race fans inside the world of GEICO Racing and provides an in-depth, interactive look at the world of the #7 GEICO Racing team.
The new internet ad features Lauren Wallace, alongside Mike Wallace, Paul Tracy, Tommy Kendall and Max Papis in a setting closely resembling a weekend at the race track. The ad can be viewed by visiting www.geicoracing7.com .
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.GEICOracing7.com .