MEARS’ IMPRESSIVE RUN NETS TOP 25 IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE

Player Management International Media Release

Sparta, KY (July 9, 2011) – A week removed from leading the field at Daytona, Casey Mears and the GEICO Racing team stormed into the Bluegrass state vying to capitalize on the momentum established in Daytona.  His efforts on Saturday night would serve its purpose and when the GEICO team departed the Northern Kentucky hills after a hard fought 400-mile race, they were smiling and looking forward to things to come. 
 
In a state famous for horse racing, NASCAR looked to rebrand Kentucky as an auto racing state, as Kentucky Speedway served up it’s first ever Sprint Cup Series race.  If pre-race traffic served as any indication, it would appear that they are well on their way. 
 
The weekend kicked off with an open test on Thursday for all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams.  Having tested here previously years ago when testing was permitted for Sprint Cup teams, Mears quickly made himself at home and landed 21st on the speed chart at the end of the first test period.  Crew chief Bootie Barker and the German Racing team made the necessary adjustments and Mears jumped the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry up to 17th at the conclusion of the final session. 
 
For the second consecutive week, Mother Nature would intervene and cause the cancellation of the opening practice session on Thursday when rain blanketed the Sparta area.  Fortunately, the storm cell passed and Mears and his counterparts were afforded a practice session early in the evening.  Mears paced the 1.5-mile tri-oval in just 29.931 seconds, at a rate of speed of 180.415 miles per hour, placing the #13 GEICO Camry 25th on the speed chart, just ahead of Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers and Mark Martin.  After qualifying was rained out on Friday, the starting grid was set according to practice speeds.  Mears would roll off 25th for the Quaker State 400. 
 
A sold-out, standing-room only crowd awaited Mears when he took to pit road and climbed into his #13 GEICO Camry to do battle under a Saturday night sky.  The green flag waved and Mears initially lost positions, dropping to 30th by lap three.  His demise was short-lived, as he jumped back to 28th by the close of lap four and entered the Top 25 on Lap 11. 
 
A competition caution slowed the field on Lap 30, allowing Mears to bring his #13 GEICO Camry to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew.  After being outfitted with four fresh Goodyear racing tires and a full tank of Sunoco racing fuel, Mears restarted the race in the 30th position on Lap 35. 
 
He meticulously navigated the 1.5-mile tri-oval and moved into 25th on Lap 72.  Lap 73 heard Barker telling his driver that his GEICO machine was faster than the leader.  Then, on Lap 88 when Mears aired concern to Barker: “I’m too tight right now”, Barker responded with affirmation, saying: “You’re doing great, Casey; your lap times are excellent.”  A lap later, Mears and his #13 GEICO Camry captured yet another position when they effortlessly moved into 24th. 
 
Mears continued his assassin-like approach and cracked the Top 20 on Lap 121 while soon after, on Lap 124, he was flirting with the Top 10 when he took over the 12th position.  After a scheduled green flag pit stop, Mears reported a vibration in the corners on Lap 128.  Barker quickly assured him that his worry was for not, causing Mears to drop the issue and refocus his energy on the task at hand. 
 
With just a handful of cars left on the lead lap, Mears had fallen victim to the leaders and found himself down a lap when Barker radioed to him on Lap 152: “By hook or crook, we’re going to get you back on the lead lap.”  Mears responded by answering: “If we can get there we’ll be good.  We’re better than a lot of those guys.”
 
As the race began to wind down, the caution flag was displayed with just five laps left on the board, causing Mears and the GEICO team to have a sense of familiarity.  Just a week ago in Daytona, the team fell victim to a last lap crash that collected nearly half of the field. 
 
The race went back to green with just two laps remaining and Mears was able to successfully hustle around the racetrack, avoiding any potential danger.  Mears would not recoup his lap as late-race circumstances would dictate otherwise, but the GEICO driver would net a Top 25 when the checkered flag was displayed late into the night. 
 
With fireworks setting the backdrop for the post-race activities, a smiling Mears emerged from his #13 GEICO Camry and immediately began thanking his crew for their efforts.
 
“We had a solid night, did a good job and we now have some positive momentum rolling,” Mears said.  “This entire GEICO team has worked really hard this year and it’s nice to see our effort beginning to pay off.  Daytona was exciting because we were able to lead laps and this week we come in here and battle and get a Top 25.  Sprint Cup racing is a tough business, but we’ve shown our resilience and we’re showing what we can do as we continue to build this team.”
 
As good fortune seems to be abounding in the GEICO Racing program, GEICO announced on Thursday that they would be the title sponsor of the Chicago NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.  The GEICO 400 will take place at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, September 18th.   
 
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