MEARS AND THE GECKO REDEEM THEMSELVES WITH TOP 25 AT BRISTOL

Player Management International Media Release

Bristol, TN (March 18, 2012) – As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series descended upon Bristol Motor Speedway for the fourth race of the 2012 season, Casey Mears and the Germain Racing team were looking to seek redemption after tough breaks in each of the first three races derailed the team’s efforts. 
 
While the official race results would indicate otherwise, Germain Racing’s improvement has not gone unnoticed.  Mears and the GEICO team qualified fifth for the Daytona 500, were making quick work of the field in Phoenix and, just a week ago, were running lap times consistent with the leader.  Unfortunately, in all three cases, misfortune darted their hopes for good finishes.  Despite the setbacks, everyone from media members to other teams in the garage has taken notice of the ‘new and improved’ Germain Racing.

Bristol offered Mears the opportunity to hit ‘reset’ and get his season started.  When qualifying got underway on Friday afternoon, Mears and the #13 GEICO Ford Fusion toured the World’s Fastest Half-Mile in just 15.547 seconds, landing him 24th on the Food City 500 starting grid.  A year ago, Mears and the GEICO team qualified 43rd at the Bristol spring race, so his lap on Friday also served as further confirmation of the drastic improvement the team has experienced from the previous season.
 
When the rain cleared on Sunday morning and the green flag waved, Casey Mears settled in for 500 laps of racing.  While the team was able to finish the race and record their second Top 25 finish of the season, the day did not come without its challenges.  Mears jumped as high as 19th on lap 24, but spent the majority of the afternoon battling his racecar.  The #13 GEICO Ford Fusion was hard to turn and Mears voiced his frustration clearly over the team’s radio frequency.  He would slide up and down the scoring chart throughout the race and ultimately record a 25th place finish when the checkered flag ended an afternoon of racing in Bristol. 
 
“Obviously, I’m glad we finished the race and I’m glad we got a Top 25, but we’re better than that,” Mears said standing next to his GEICO machine after the race.  “We’re working hard to gain ground and get this #13 GEICO Ford where it needs to be, but I’ve been out here ten years and I know this team is good, so it gets frustrating when we’re out there running 25th.  We’ll get it figured out and when we do, I have no doubt we’ll be running up front.”  He continued, “I appreciate the commitment from GEICO and from Germain Racing.  We have a solid program and it won’t be long until you see the results of our hard work.”
 
Next week, the Germain Racing team will head back out west for race number five of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.  Mears and his #13 GEICO Ford Fusion will hit the track in Fontana, CA, for the opening practice session on Friday, March 23rd, at 3:00 PM (ET).  Qualifying will follow at 7:10 PM (ET). 
 
The Auto Club 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, March 25th, and it will be televised live on FOX beginning at 2:30 PM (ET).  The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
 
To learn more about the GEICO racing program, please visit: www.geicoracing13.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