Player Management International Media Release
Fort Worth, TX (April 8, 2017) – When the NASCAR Xfinity Series descended upon Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, fans and drivers alike were interested to see what the newly paved racetrack would bring as cars took to the track. Practice got underway on Friday and while Biagi-DenBeste Racing would struggle early on, Casey Mears and his No. 98 GEICO Military team were able to find speed when the race got underway on Saturday.
Mears was 22nd in the weekend’s opening practice session before later qualifying 26th for Saturday’s My Bariatrics Solutions 300. With full confidence in car and driver, Mears and his Biagi-DenBeste team were seemingly undeterred as the GEICO Military Ford lined up for 200-laps of racing.
When the green flag got things going in the Lone Star state on Saturday afternoon, Mears and his GEICO Military Ford Mustang got off to a quick start after starting 26th. Within the first five laps, the Bakersfield, CA, native had gathered up four spots and picked up another before the first caution flag of the day slowed the field on lap 11. He continued his trek through the field, closely eyeing the top-15 as the first stage of the day came to a close after 45-laps of racing. The GEICO Military Ford was scored in the 19th position and Mears and crew chief Jon Hanson exchanged radio chatter about the newfound speed and how much the car had improved to that point.
During the break between stages, Mears brought his No. 98 GEICO Military Ford to the attention of the Biagi-DenBeste pit crew, who promptly outfitted him with four fresh tires, fuel and adjustments. The car was fast and the team was excited about the day’s prospects as the field prepared to return to green. As Mears exited pit road during his journey back out to the racing surface, something snapped and his car was soon spilling oil all over pit road and the racetrack. When Mears got in the gas as he took off, the nuts that hold the gear on the housing stripped, causing a rearend seal issue. He was done for the day. After finding speed in what was certain to be a top-10 car, Mears was relegated to a 38th place finish.
“This is disappointing because I was having a lot of fun out there and the GEICO Military Ford was fast. We were definitely going to be top-10 today,” Mears said in the garage. “The Biagi-DenBeste team worked hard this weekend and we were able to find speed for the race today. We were passing a lot of cars and having fun, so standing here right now is heartbreaking. Thanks to Jon Hanson and the guys for their hard work this weekend. We will be ready to get back to work at Richmond.”
Mears and the GEICO Military team will now shift focus to the next race on their schedule, which will take place in Richmond, VA.
Casey Mears and the No. 98 GEICO Military Ford Mustang will hit the track at Richmond International Raceway for the weekend’s opening practice session on Friday, April 28th, at 1:00 PM (ET). Qualifying will follow on Saturday at 10:05 AM (ET).
The ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race is on Saturday, April 29th, and it will be televised live on FS1 beginning at1:00 PM (ET). The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast, along with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
Please visit www.GEICO.com to learn how you could save money on more than just auto insurance.
You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing
To learn more about Biagi-DenBeste Racing, please visit: www.biagidenbesteracing.com