Mike Wallace Nets A Top 15 in Phoenix, Gecko Heading South of the Border

Player Management International Media Release

Avondale, AZ (April 11, 2008) – The Valley of the Sun would give the GEICO Racing team the opportunity to have a good run and assist in their assault on the Top 5 in the point standings.  A track where Wallace has experienced past success, Phoenix was the perfect place for the #7 GEICO Camry to re-visit Victory Lane.
 
Weather conditions would provide an excellent race weekend and the GEICO Racing team would take advantage of having two full practices. During the opening practice session, the GEICO Camry would sit 16th on the speed charts when it concluded. Between practices, the GEICO Racing team would make adjustments to the car in order to find the speed they were looking for.  The final practice session would find Wallace and the Gecko just slightly slower, and they would rest in the 24th spot when the red flag closed the final practice.
 
The final practice session must have been indicative of the race car’s speed, because when qualifying concluded on Friday afternoon, Wallace would find himself starting from the 24th position.  He toured the facility in 27.965 seconds, at a rate of speed of 128.732 MPH.  
 
A lot of fans consider night races to be the best races.  Night races provide the unique opportunity for fans to see the race go green under sunny skies, but watch the checkered flag wave under the night sky.  Combine this with perfect weather conditions and you have the perfect setting that was present at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday evening.
 
Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry would take the green flag and move immediately backwards, falling to the 28th position.  It would not be long, however, until Wallace would start heading towards the front of the field.  During the pit stops, the GEICO team would make the necessary adjustments to the #7 GEICO Camry, while also helping Wallace pick up positions on pit road.  
 
The Gecko would run solidly in the Top 15, and even visit the Top 10, before recording a 15th place finish under perfect skies in Phoenix.  
 
“We really wanted to run better, but 15th will keep us in the hunt in the point standings,” Wallace said.  “We go to Mexico City next week and last year I would’ve had a Top 10 there if I didn’t get caught up in a wreck with a few laps to go.  This GEICO team is working hard and we’re going to continue to fight each week to get to Victory Lane.”   
 
This week, the Germain Racing team heads south of the border to Mexico City, Mexico, for NASCAR’S first road course race of the 2008 season.  
 
Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry will hit the track at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for their first practice on Friday, April 19th, at 2:00 PM (ET).  Final practice is also on Friday at 4:05 PM (ET), followed by qualifying on Saturday afternoon at 11:35 AM (ET).    
 
 
The Corona 200 is on Sunday, April 20th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 1:30 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 .