MEARS ENDS UP COLLATERAL DAMAGE AFTER TOP-5 RUN AT TALLADEGA

Player Management International Media Release

Talladega, AL (May 1, 2016) – A restrictor-plate specialist of sorts, Casey Mears always eagerly anticipates the opportunity to race at Talladega Superspeedway.  This weekend’s GEICO 500 gave the Bakersfield, CA, native the opportunity to do just that.  Coupled with Germain Racing’s prowess at restrictor-plate facilities, Mears seemed poised for success when his sponsor’s marquee weekend got underway on Friday.

Mears wasted little time settling in at the legendary superspeedway and by the time the weekend’s first practice session came to a close, the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS was sitting seventh on the speed chart.  Qualifying followed suit, as Mears zipped around the high-banked tri-oval in just 50.196-seconds, at a speed of 190.772-miles per hour.  A heavy wind picked up on the backstretch during his qualifying run, thwarting an otherwise top-10 qualifying effort and placing him 20th on Sunday’s GEICO 500 starting grid.  Cars that immediately followed Mears during the qualifying session would also fall victim to the conditions and find themselves far below Mears in the starting lineup, serving as further evidence of the strength and speed of the No. 13 GEICO Chevy heading into Sunday’s event.

When the GEICO 500 went green at 12:02 PM local time on Sunday, Mears and his GEICO Chevy rolled off of the starting grid from the outside of row 10, in the 20th position.  Just four laps into the 188-lap event, he reported a heavy vibration to crew chief Bootie Barker and quickly dropped out of the draft, freefalling to the 33rd position.  He relayed to Barker that it felt like a driveline or motor issue.  However, just four laps later, Mears made a sudden charge to the front of the field, picking up 15 spots in a single lap and taking over the 18thposition.  While the vibration persisted, Mears did as well, making quick work of the field and landing in the 8th position by lap 15.

Mears ran solidly in the top-10 before lap 29 saw him break into the top-5 and take over the fourth position.  His ascent up the scoring tower continued, as he moved the GEICO Chevy into third on lap 37, inching closer to the lead.  Mears’ afternoon was going as planned until lap 59 when Michael Waltrip went down onto the apron and then shot back up onto the racetrack making contact with Mears and sending the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS into the outside wall.  The incident caused heavy damage and sent the Germain Racing team behind the wall for significant repairs.

Despite the carnage, the GEICO pit crew worked efficiently, made quick repairs and returned Mears to the race just 24 laps in arrears.  He was scored in the 38th position, but continued to hustle around the 2.66-mile tri-oval in an attempt to recover positions.  As the caution flags flew in what seemed like a demolition derby, Mears managed to recover three laps and five positions before crossing the finish line and recording a hard-fought 33rd place finish.

“We come out of this weekend with mixed emotions because the GEICO Chevy was solid and had a lot of speed and we were clearly running strong at the front of the field, but we got clipped by Michael (Waltrip) and ended up with a torn up racecar,” Mears said in the garage after the race.  “We were fast all weekend and definitely had a shot to win this thing, which is the silver lining, I guess.  I was pleased with the crew and how fast they got the car fixed and got me back in the race.  We hustled and were able to get some laps back and also pick up five positions.  The guys on this GEICO team never quit and I appreciate their commitment and hard work.”  He continued, “We appreciate GEICO and their support of our sport.  Few sponsors do as much as they do and they truly care about NASCAR and its fans.  I’m proud to represent them and appreciate the opportunity to drive the No. 13 GEICO Chevy.”

Germain Racing will now journey to the Sunflower State.

Casey Mears and the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS will hit the track at Kansas Speedway for the weekend’s opening practice session on Friday, May 6th, at 11:30 AM (ET).  Qualifying will follow at 6:45 PM (ET).

The GoBowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Saturday, May 7th, and it will be televised live on FS1 beginning at 7:30 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.

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 Duracell, please visit: www.duracell.com

To learn more about Germain Racing, please visit: www.germainracing.com

GERMAIN RACING DEPARTS RICHMOND WITH 29TH PLACE FINISH

Player Management International Media Release

Richmond, VA (April 24, 2016) – Casey Mears and the Germain Racing team arrived in Richmond, VA, fresh off of two solid runs and a new sponsor announcement that saw Duracell climb aboard their No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS for the 2016 season.  While they looked to turn in another strong performance, Richmond International Raceway would put up resistance and send the team home with a 29th place finish.

“We struggled all day and just couldn’t get the car where we needed it to be,” Mears said.  “It’s been a tough year so far, but not from a lack of effort.  We’re hoping we can get it turned around next week at Talladega, where we’ve always been strong.  It’s also the GEICO 500, so everyone’s excited to get there and get the No. 13 GEICO Chevy on-track.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hit the track on Friday, but so did Mother Nature, causing the cancellation of qualifying after heavy rain blanketed the ¾-mile oval.  Mears and his GEICO Chevy would be forced to start from the 25th position when the ninth race of the 2016 season went green on Sunday afternoon.

When the racing action got underway on Sunday, Mears quickly encountered a handling issue that would plague him for most of the afternoon.  After going a lap down to the leaders, he would hustle throughout the day and work his way back onto the lead lap by lap 364.  After a long day of racing, Mears and Germain Racing would be credited with a 29th place finish.

Mears and Germain Racing will now head to Talladega Superspeedway where they will take part in their sponsor’s namesake race, the GEICO 500.

Casey Mears and the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS will hit the track at Talladega Superspeedway for the weekend’s opening practice session on Friday, April 29th, at 2:30 PM (ET).  Qualifying will follow on Saturday, April 30th, at 12:30 PM (ET).

The GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, May 1st, and it will be televised live on FOX beginning at 1:00 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.

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

DURACELL TO POWER GERMAIN RACING IN THE 2016 SEASON

Player Management International Media Release

Mooresville, NC (April 21, 2016) – Germain Racing is excited to announce that battery market leader Duracell has signed on to become an associate sponsor of the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS and driver Casey Mears in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  Duracell will be a full-season associate sponsor and will appear on the car beginning this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

“Duracell is a leader in their industry and we’re excited to have them on-board and look forward to working with them to help build their brand through NASCAR,” team owner Bob Germain said.  “We’ve worked hard to develop our Sprint Cup Series program over the last eight years and adding a company like Duracell only serves to assist in our growth.  We’re also proud to have two Berkshire Hathaway companies as partners and I think it says a lot about the progress we’ve made.  We appreciate the relationship with Duracell and are thankful for their support.”

Germain Racing entered the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with a host of sponsor commitments.  Most notably was a three-year extension from primary sponsor GEICO that will see the Gecko on the hood of the No. 13 entry through at least the end of the 2018 season.  Now, Duracell will ride along with Mears on the B-post of the GEICO Chevy and will appear on the decklid during the races where the GEICO Military livery adorns the racecar.  GEICO and Duracell are both members of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies.

Duracell has a long history with the military and is looking to continue to build upon their relationship through their partnership with Germain Racing and GEICO Military.  The trio will be hosting service members at the racetrack during race weekends, while also featuring the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS showcar at various military exchange and commissary locations.

“Duracell is extremely excited about partnering with Germain Racing to raise awareness of the sacrifices our military men and women undergo on a daily basis. This is another great opportunity to bring honor to our country’s soldiers,” said Jeff Jarrett, SVP of Marketing for Duracell. “Our history is rooted in the military – providing batteries that powered walkie-talkie’s used in military operations during WWII.  Just as then, Duracell is trusted to deliver long-lasting power when needed most.”

“Adding Duracell as a sponsor is exciting news and the opportunity to deepen our work with the military is something we all look forward to,” said Mears, who drove a National Guard Chevrolet to victory lane at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2007.  “Duracell is the most recognized and trusted battery brand by consumers and I’m honored to be able to represent them on the racetrack.”

About Duracell

Started in the 1920’s, the Duracell brand and company was recently acquired by the Berkshire Hathaway Company (NYSE-BRK) and has grown to be the leader in the single-use battery market in North America.  Its iconic brand is known the world over. Our products are trusted in the devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them, and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles.  Berkshire Hathaway is a $210B holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in diverse business activities. Visit www.duracell.com for more information; follow us on Twitter.com/Duracell and like us on Facebook.com/Duracell.

Germain Racing is headquartered in Mooresville, NC.  For information on the team and team sponsors, please visit www.GermainRacing.comor follow the team on Twitter @GermainRacing.