Player Management International Release
Richmond, VA (September 7, 2008) – A 1980’s rock group, the Scorpions recorded the hit song, ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’. While they are most likely retired, their song rang true when the #7 GEICO Camry was preparing to race in Richmond on Friday night.
Tropical Storm Hanna was threatening the Richmond area. Consequently, NASCAR made the decision to postpone the Emerson Radio 250 until Sunday evening when the weather would have safely cleared. This was not welcome news to the GEICO Racing team, as they had made their presence felt during the practice session in Richmond.
Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry got off to a quick start at the Virginia short track. Unlike all other race weeks, Richmond would afford NASCAR’s #2 series just a single practice session. Wallace would waste little time making himself at home. When the red flag closed the practice, the #7 GEICO Camry was sitting 5th on the speed charts. Wallace toured the facility in 21.989 seconds, at a rate of speed of 122.789 miles per hour, which left the GEICO Racing team eagerly anticipating qualifying.
Due to the impending weather and ever-present rain showers, NASCAR canceled qualifying, which meant that the starting line-up would be determined by the Owner’s Points standings. Consequently, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry would line up 12th on the starting grid, just ahead of Jason Leffler, who is one position in back of Wallace in the point standings.
Then the bad news came. During the driver meeting at 5:45 PM (ET), Series Director, Joe Balash, announced that due to the impending hurricane that the Emerson Radio 250 was rescheduled for Sunday evening at 7:00 PM (ET).
48 hours later, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry lined up to go racing at Richmond International Raceway. Under clear skies, Wallace raced hard throughout the evening, at times flirting with the Top 10. His persistence would pay off and when the checkered flag was displayed after 250 laps of racing, Wallace and the Gecko would record a 15th place finish at the .75-mile D-shaped oval.
When the points report was distributed after the race, Wallace and the Gecko still rested in the 8th position.
“Our goal is to have solid runs and we’ve been able to do that, which helps us in the point standings,” Wallace said. “We’re going to keep working hard to put this GEICO Camry in Victory Lane before the year is over. We’ll enjoy a much needed weekend off and then head to Dover to try to win a race for GEICO, Sport Clips and Smith Transport.”
This week, Mike Wallace and the Germain Racing team will enjoy a weekend off before heading to Dover for the 29th race of the season on September 20th.
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.