Player Management International Media Release
West Allis, WI (June 23, 2007) – As Mike Wallace returned to the site of a past win, he was optimistic that he could make up ground in the points chase and get closer to returning the Gecko to the Top 10. He would do just that on Saturday night in West Allis, WI, when the GEICO Racing team descended on the Milwaukee Mile.
Wallace would be 25th in the first practice, while picking up two spots in the final practice to end up 23rd, but he felt that his car was good and would be there for him when qualifying rolled around at 5:35 PM (ET). Wallace would get the luck of the draw, as he would select the 37th qualifying position, which would allow the track to cool and give him a good chance of qualifying towards the front of the field.
Wallace would wheel the #7 GEICO Chevrolet around the one-mile oval in 30.059 seconds at a speed of 119.764 MPH, which would be good for the 20th starting position. He would actually start a bit better, as Chase Miller would find the wall during qualifying and force the Evernham Motorsports team to unload a back up car and go to the back of the field, which would bump Wallace up one spot to 19th.
When the green flag dropped on the field in Milwaukee, Wallace would waste little time in taking the #7 GEICO Chevrolet straight to the front of the field. Wallace would spend most of his evening in the Top 5 and Top 10 before finding himself as the leader of the AT&T 250. The #7 GEICO Chevrolet would run strong up front and would record six laps as the leader. He would avoid multiple crashes, receive good pit stops from the Phoenix Racing team and ultimately record an 11th place finish under the lights at the Milwaukee Mile.
“This is a finish that we needed,” Wallace said. “We’ve worked hard all year and have ran well every week, but weird things kept happening. Tonight, we showed what we’re capable of as a race team. I am happy that we were able to have GEICO up front and leading the race.”
“Our associate sponsor, Sport Clips, would like to say that we cut through the field,” Wallace joked.
Wallace has picked up six spots in the standings over the last three weeks, moving from 19th to 13th and now sits just 74 points out of the Top 10.
This week, Mike Wallace and the GEICO Racing team travel to Loudon, NH, for the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com on Saturday, June 30, 2007.
Wallace and the #7 GEICO Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS will hit the track at New Hampshire International Speedway for their first practice on Friday, June 29th, at 9:40 AM (ET), with final practice at 1:45 PM (ET). Qualifying is slated for 10:05 AM (ET) on Saturday morning, June 30th.
On Saturday, June 30, 2007, the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com NASCAR Busch Series race will be televised live on ABC with coverage beginning at 2:30 PM (ET) with green flag action coming at 3:00 PM (ET). Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.
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.