MEARS’ SONOMA EFFORT FURTHER SOLIDIFIES TOP 35 STATUS

Player Management International Media Release

Sonoma, CA (June 26, 2011) – When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series descended upon wine country in Northern California, GEICO driver Casey Mears arrived hoping to remain in the Top 35 upon his departure later in the weekend.  The obvious hurdle was that Mears and the Germain Racing team were sponsorless for the weekend and were unsure whether or not Mears would see a full 110-laps on Sunday afternoon.
 
While GEICO is the primary sponsor of the #13 Germain Racing entry for eighteen races, even adding races as the season has progressed, Sonoma was not on the list.  Once Mears paced the 1.99-mile, ten-turn road course in just 78.070 seconds, qualifying the #13 GEICO Camry 27th, team owner, Bob Germain, began considering ways to allow Mears the opportunity to compete in the advertised distance of the race. 
 
Sitting on the team’s transporter late Friday afternoon with Mears and crew chief, Bootie Barker, Germain worked the telephone talking to the motor company, as well as consulting GEICO on their perspective.  Not long after the meeting started, the trio exited the hauler committed to compete in all 219-miles of the Toyota/Save Mart 350.  Mears and the Germain Racing team would quickly begin work on the resulting decision to compete in the full race, while working on a limited staff.
 
Amid weather better suited for a casual stroll along the beach, the green flag turned the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series loose in the Sonoma Valley on Sunday afternoon.  Mears settled into the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry after rolling off of the starting grid in the 27th position.  Barker would quickly advise Mears to keep the car clean and evade trouble, ensuring the team would survive the race.  Their goal was to achieve the task set forth, which was to accumulate the necessary points needed to firm up the team’s position in the Top 35 of the Owner Point standings.
 
On Lap four, Mears radioed to Barker that the car was “bad loose and sideways off of Turn eight.”  And by Lap 14, Mears indicated that the #13 GEICO Camry was “way too loose and hard to drive.”  Barker quickly assured his driver that the Germain pit crew would make the necessary adjustments under caution.  A focused Mears continued to make progress, honing in on the Top 20 by Lap 21. 
 
Mears would begin to run short on fuel as the team gambled on a much needed caution, which would have allowed the #13 GEICO Camry to visit pit road.  The irony would come on Lap 32 when Mears radioed to Barker that he was out of fuel and then brought out the event’s first caution flag of the day when he came to rest at the entrance of pit road.  Mears would get the necessary push and bring the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew where he would get four new tires, a full tank of Sunoco racing fuel and much needed adjustments. 
 
Mears would restart 39th on Lap 36 and begin to make up ground before the field found itself in a melee in Turn 11 before cycling through even a single lap, bringing out the event’s second caution flag of the afternoon.  While navigating the road course under caution, Mears radioed to Barker: “The rear gear change helped and I now have more power.”
 
Despite going a lap down due to the earlier fuel issue, Mears continued to battle for positions and by Lap 59, Mears was running in the Lucky Dog position.  A lap later, the caution flag was displayed and Mears received the Lucky Dog award, allowing him to earn a lap back.
 
The balance of Mears’ afternoon was spent pursing the field and when the checkered flag was displayed after 219-miles of racing, the #13 GEICO Camry crossed the finish line in the 34th position. 
 
“It was a tough afternoon at times, but we accomplished our goal today and we got the points we needed as we head into Daytona next week,” Mears said following the race.  “All I can say is that it’s great to have a team owner (Bob Germain) who is committed to our success and a sponsor in GEICO who gives us such great support and is equally committed to building this program.  We’re excited to get to Daytona and put the #13 GEICO Camry at the front of the field.”
 
Next week, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Daytona where they will kick off the back half of the 2011 season.
 
Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 2.5-mile tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway for the opening practice session at 4:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, June 30th. Qualifying will follow on Friday, July 1st, at 4:10 PM (EDT).
 
The Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Saturday, July 2nd, and it will be televised live on TNT beginning at 7:30 PM (EDT).  The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
 
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com
 
You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing
 
Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/caseymearsracing