Mike Wallace & Gecko Have Tough Day in Texas; Looking for Redemption in Phoenix

Player Management International Media Release

Justin, TX (April 5, 2008) – Mike Wallace arrived in Texas with his #7 GEICO Camry to make his 600th career NASCAR start; a milestone achieved by few.  While he had reached a significant plateau in his career, Wallace was more concerned with having a good run for GEICO, Sport Clips and Smith Transport.  
 
Practice would be limited to a single session due to the rain in the Fort Worth area.  At the end of that session, Wallace and the Gecko would sit 19th on the speed charts.  Qualifying would also be rained out, and the #7 GEICO Camry would find itself starting from the 13th position, as the line up was determined by the Owner Points standings.
 
Starting 13th, Wallace would exhibit patience when the green flag waved at Texas Motor Speedway.  Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry would run solidly in the Top 15, and even make an appearance in the Top 10, before a mid-race issue would set the GEICO team back.  Loose lugnuts would force the GEICO Camry down pit road under the green flag, which would cause the GEICO team to lose valuable time.   They would go three laps down by the time Wallace returned to the race track.  Unfortunately, such a tough setback would leave Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry unable to recover and they would record a 25th place finish in the Lone Star State.  
 
While Wallace was celebrating his 600th career NASCAR start under beautiful skies and perfect weather, it would not be enough to help Wallace and the GEICO team make up any ground on the Top 5.  While Wallace would drop to 11th in the point standings, he sits just 94 points removed from Kyle Busch in the 5th position.  
 
“This obviously is not the desired result, nor is it acceptable,” Wallace said.  “We are working hard as a team and we are looking forward to getting to Phoenix next week so we can redeem ourselves.  Phoenix is a track where I have experienced success and I’m looking forward to getting there and putting the GEICO Camry up front.  We’ve proven that we can run well and even though we had a bad week it is not going to affect the big picture.”  
 
This week, the Germain Racing team heads back out west to Phoenix, AZ, for the Bashas 300.
 
Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry will hit the track at Phoenix International Raceway for their first practice on Thursday, April 10th, at 1:15 PM (ET).  Final practice is also on Thursday at 8:45 PM (ET), followed by qualifying on Friday afternoon at 5:05 PM (ET).  
 
 
The Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 is on Friday, April 11th, and it will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 9:30 PM (ET), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) 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 .