Player Management International Media Release
BRISTOL, Tenn. (August 22, 2015) – Known as the World’s Fastest Half Mile, Bristol Motor Speedway always provides close racing and ample amounts of action with drivers completing 15-second laps around the 1/2-mile short track. Casey Mears and the Germain Racing team knew a challenge was before them, but after much preparation, the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS was ready for a 500-lap battle under the lights on Saturday evening.
Mears qualified his GEICO Chevrolet in the 28th starting position and aimed to maintain a clean racecar at the fast, cereal bowl-shaped oval. As the sun set at the Tennessee short track, Mears saw the green flag wave and quickly reported to his Germain Racing team that the front end of the car wouldn’t turn in the corners. The veteran driver continued to complete laps and fight through the ill handling, while crew chief Bootie Barker made air pressure, wedge and rubber adjustments to the GEICO machine.
On lap 225 while running in the 26th position, Mears reported to Barker that the GEICO Chevrolet was much better during the beginning of a long run, but after 50 laps the front-end plague would resume. With perseverance, the team fought to improve the handling for Mears and by lap 375, their efforts prevailed as the California native radioed to the crew that his car was much better and he was able to gain ground.
Mears was running in the top-25 with 100 laps remaining, but the final restart of the evening came on lap 437 and saw him collect two spots and move into the 23rd position. When the checkered flag slowed an aggressive field, Mears and his GEICO Chevy crossed the finish line in the 23rd position, accounting for Germain Racing’s 16th top-25 finish of the 2015 season. Mears departs Bristol one spot to the good in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver standings, as he moves up to 22nd. He now sits just 35 points removed from the top-20 and only nine points out of 21st.
“It was a long night, but we worked hard and were able to get a decent finish,” said Mears after the race. “I’m proud of the GEICO Racing team for sticking with it and working to get the car better over the course of the race. We were able gain a position in the points, which helps. The upcoming off-week will be nice and it will allow everyone to catch their breath before making the final run to Homestead.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will take a well-deserved week off before returning to racing action at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles Southern 500 on Sunday, September 6th. The green flag will wave shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET and NBC will carry live television coverage.
The Motor Radio Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, channel 90, will also provide live radio analysis of the historic event.
Please visit www.GEICO.com to learn how you could save money on more than just auto insurance.
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.caseymearsracing.com.
You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing.
To learn more about Germain Racing, please visit: www.germainracing.com.