Mike Wallace 9th in Phoenix; The Season Finale Awaits

Player Management International Media Release


Avondale, AZ (November 8, 2008) – Only two races remained on the schedule when Mike Wallace and the GEICO Racing team arrived at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday morning for practice.  More poised than ever, Wallace made his presence felt immediately by landing 6th on the speed charts at the close of the opening practice session.
 
While the final practice session would find Wallace 23rd, he would qualify for the Hefty Odor Block 200 in the 22nd position and have a good feeling about his #7 GEICO Camry.  
 
Wallace’s hunch was correct, as he would immediately move towards the front of the field.  Inside of five laps, Wallace would find himself penetrating the Top 20 before reaching the 14th position by Lap 50.  Narrowly avoiding mishaps on the 1-mile tri-oval, he would continue his strategic assault on the field and find himself sitting 13th on Lap 15.  Shortly thereafter, he would reside in the 12th position on Lap 155.  
 
As the race began to wind down, Wallace didn’t.  He would continue to run solidly in the Top 15 and begin to closely approach the Top 10.  He would edge eerily closer on Lap 177 when he secured the 11th position.  With a Top 10 finish within reach, Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry would battle hard against Mike Bliss in the #1 Miccosukee Resorts car during the closing laps.  Wallace would lose the battle to Bliss, but pass rookie Joey Logano on the final lap to record a 9th place finish in the Valley of the Sun.  
 
Racking up yet another Top 10 finish, Wallace is excited about the thought of finishing the 2008 season on a good note.


“It’s great to be able to get another Top 10 as the season comes to a close, but we still want that win for GEICO, Sport Clips and Smith Transport,” Wallace said.  “We’ve had a really good year and it’s bittersweet because we’ve been able to run really well, but the season is almost over.  We’re totally focused on getting that win in Homestead next week.  This is a great team and we know our capabilities.”  
 
This week, the Germain Racing team packs up the #7 GEICO Camry for the final time and heads to Homestead, Florida, for the 2008 season finale.
 
Mike Wallace and the #7 GEICO Camry will hit the track at Homestead-Miami Speedway for their opening practice session on Friday, November 14th, at 1:15 PM (ET), with the final practice session being held at 6:45 PM (ET).  Qualifying will be held on Saturday afternoon at 11:35 AM (ET).
 
The Ford 300 is on Saturday, November 15th, and it will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 4:00 PM (ET), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.  
 
Visit the 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 .