MEARS OVERCOMES BACKUP CAR TO FINISH 21ST AT CHARLOTTE

Player Management International Media Release

Concord, NC (May 27, 2017) – Whenever Casey Mears enters the infield at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he is quickly reminded of his 2007 Coca-Cola 600 win. He piloted the No. 25 National Guard car to Victory Lane for Hendrick Motorsports on Memorial Day weekend and his relationship with the military continues to run deep. Mears was elated when GEICO announced in February that they would feature the GEICO Military paint scheme on the No. 98 Biagi-DenBeste Racing Ford Mustang. The Charlotte weekend is always special to him and 2017 would elicit those same emotions.

Mears and his GEICO Military team got to work when the NASCAR Xfinity Series took to the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday. A home game of sorts, the teams and drivers are afforded the opportunity to slumber in their own beds during the final week of May.

Mears and the No. 98 GEICO Military Ford Mustang appeared to have speed when practice got underway. Unfortunately, the Bakersfield, CA, native would experience a failure in the right front of his racecar that sent him hard into the outside wall. The heavy contact caused significant damage, resulting in the Biagi-DenBeste Racing team bringing out the backup car. The team hustled to get the GEICO Military Ford ready, but Mears was faced with a formidable challenge when he arrived at the speedway for qualifying. Despite the setback in practice, he managed to secure a 25th place starting position in Saturday’s Hisense 4K TV 300.

When the NASCAR Xfinity Series took the green flag on Saturday afternoon in front of a passionate crowd, Mears looked to remain patient and gather positions as the day wore on. With 200-laps and 300-miles of scheduled racing, the GEICO Military Ford would be afforded time to make progress. He battled an ill-handling racecar, but the Biagi-DenBeste pit crew made adjustments during pit stops to assist in his effort. Mears broke into the top-20 and as the laps continued to count down, he managed to hold his position. 12 caution flags slowed the field over the course of the afternoon, but Mears managed to keep his No. 98 GEICO Military Ford out of trouble and score a solid 21st place, lead lap finish.

“It was a long day, but we managed to salvage a decent finish in the GEICO Military Ford,” Mears said after the race. “We obviously had the problem in practice, forcing us to go to our backup car. I’m proud of the effort that our Biagi-DenBeste guys put in to get the GEICO Military Ford ready for the race today. We fought handling issues all day, but the team made great decisions when it counted. I thought we did the best we could with what we had. Now we have to start focusing on putting together our car in order to be ready for Pocono.”

Casey Mears and the Biagi-DenBeste Racing team will hit the track at Pocono Raceway for the weekend’s opening practice session on Friday, June 9th, at 1:00 PM (ET). Qualifying will follow on Saturday at 9:35 AM (ET).

The Pocono Green 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race is on Saturday, June 10th, 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.

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

To learn more about Biagi-DenBeste Racing, please visit: www.biagidenbesteracing.com

CASEY MEARS SCORES NINTH PLACE FINISH IN THE GECKO’S BACKYARD

Player Management International Media Release 

RICHMOND, Va. (April 29, 2017) – As the NASCAR Xfinity Series entered Richmond International Raceway, Casey Mears and the Biagi-DenBeste Racing team looked to continue building a strong foundation, as Saturday’s 250-lap race would mark only their third race together this season.  With Richmond, Virginia sitting less than 100-miles from GEICO’s corporate headquarters, Mears and company aimed to have a solid day. After qualifying in the 21st position, Mears battled back from one lap down, avoided close wrecks and crossed the finish line in ninth-place. This marks the No. 98 team’s first top-10 result of the 2017 season.

After taking off from the 21st starting position, Mears quickly picked up three spots to solidly place the GEICO Military Ford inside the top-20. Due to a combination of Mears needing more “rear grip” in the No. 98 Ford Mustang and the leader setting a blistering pace, the Bakersfield, California native would go one lap down in the opening, caution-free stage. When the yellow flag waved on lap 75 to slow the field at the conclusion of Stage 1, the Biagi-DenBeste Racing pit crew quickly serviced the GEICO Military machine with four fresh tires, fuel, wedge and air pressure adjustments.

Restarting from the 19th position on lap 87, Mears hastily passed his competitor within one lap to not only take over 18th-place but insert himself into the free pass position should another caution be displayed. On lap 115, the timely yellow allowed Mears to receive the Lucky Dog Award and return to the lead lap. With limited sets of tires in the pits, Mears took care of his Goodyear rubber and held his spot in the 18th position at the conclusion of Stage 2.

Over the final 100 laps, the GEICO Military Ford began to come to life as the adjustments made the machine the “best the car has taken off yet.” The over-the-wall crew picked up four positions on pit road, allowing Mears to restart from the 15th position with five laps remaining. A wreck would take place directly in front of Mears the next lap, forcing the caution once again and placing the No. 98 Mustang in the 11th position for overtime. Once the leaders passed the overtime line deeming the race official, another spin would bring the yellow flag. Mears picked up two spots on that final half lap, recording a ninth-place finish.

“The guys worked really hard to make good adjustments to the GEICO Military Ford as the race wore on today,” Mears said after the race. “It paid off and I was able to pass some cars and put us in position to have a solid day. The Biagi-DenBeste pit crew did a nice job of getting me on and off of pit road and we were able to pick up some positions during pit stops.  We beat some good cars today and I appreciate the work this team has put in to make sure we’re competitive. It’s great to get a top-10 finish, especially since we’re just down the road from GEICO’s corporate office.”  

Mears and the GEICO Military crew will now shift their attention to Charlotte Motor Speedway, as the NASCAR Xfinity Series will stay in North Carolina in two short weeks. The Biagi-DenBeste team will hit the track in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, May 25 for opening practice at 4:00PM Eastern. Qualifying will take place on Saturday, May 27 at 10:05AM Eastern.

The green flag will fly for the Hisense 4K TV 300 on Saturday, May 27 at 1:00 pm ET. FOX Sports 1 will carry the live television broadcast, with the Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 carrying the live radio broadcast.

Please visit www.GEICO.com to learn how you could save money on more than just auto insurance.

You can follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

To learn more about Biagi-DenBeste Racing, please visit: www.biagidenbesteracing.com

HARD-CHARGING MEARS DERAILED BY MECHANICAL ISSUE AT TEXAS

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 underwayon 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 26thfor 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 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.

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

To learn more about Biagi-DenBeste Racing, please visit:www.biagidenbesteracing.com