Player Management International Media Release
Bristol, TN (August 22, 2008) – Bristol Motor Speedway is known as the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’ and it regularly features excitement not typically found on the bigger speedways. While it features old-school type beating and banging, Mike Wallace has experienced past success on the .5-mile high-banked race track.
Sitting 8th in the point standings, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry entered the practice sessions poised to contend for a win. While the first practice session found Wallace in the 27th position, the final practice offered hope, as he rested 21st on the final chart.
Qualifying would be kind to Wallace and the Gecko, as they would roll off the starting grid in the 18th position. Sandwiched between Jason Leffler and Mike Bliss on the parade laps, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry looked to maneuver their way to the front of the field.
Having been granted a reprieve from the hot temperatures that typically are present in Bristol in August, the clear skies and 75-degree temperature filled the 160,000-seat venue. When the green flag waved, the field embarked on a 250-lap quest to survive the Food City 250 with their race cars intact. This quest would last 18 laps before the carnage began and the first caution flag of the evening was displayed. Regardless, the #7 GEICO Camry would persevere through the multiple crashes and run solidly in the Top 20 for the majority of the evening.
As the race began to wind down, Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry would fall victim to a late-race crash that would put them behind the wall to make repairs. Once Wallace returned to the track, he would turn just a few laps before being retired for the evening. His misfortune would result in a 35th place finish and, consequently, Wallace would fall to 9th in the point standings.
“This was not what we had in mind when we came to Bristol because I have always ran well here,” Wallace said. “It is unfortunate, but we will move on and take the #7 GEICO Camry to California next week and rebound from this. The GEICO team is resilient and Fontana offers us the opportunity to redeem ourselves.”
This week, Mike Wallace and the Germain Racing team will pack up the #7 GEICO Camry and head West to Fontana, California.
Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry will hit the track at Auto Club Speedway for their opening practice session on Friday, August 29th, at 5:00 PM (ET), with the final practice session being held at 8:30 PM (ET). Qualifying will be held on Saturday evening at 5:05 PM (ET).
The Camping World RV Service 300 presented by Coleman is on Saturday, August 30th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 9:45 PM (ET), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
Visit GEICO Racing’s innovative, interactive 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.