MEARS TURNS TABLES ON KANSAS, DEPARTS WITH SOLID 21ST PLACE FINISH

Player Management International Media Release

KANSAS CITY, Kans. (May 7, 2016) – After a week of unpredictable restrictor plate action at Talladega, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returned to a mile-and-a half-track for racing under the lights at Kansas Speedway. The Germain Racing team brought a brand new No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS for driver Casey Mears to pilot during the GoBowling.com 400 on Saturday night. Despite starting at the rear of the field after changing a rear gear prior to the green flag, Mears gained a total of 19 positions to cross the finish line in 21st-place. This marked Mears’s sixth top-25 performance of 2016.

“I’m proud of the effort the entire GEICO Racing team put forth,” said Mears after the 267-lap race. “Our Chevrolet was just too tight at times, but I also had a lot of speed at different points of the race.  Tonight was a solid race and it’s what we need to do consistently every week and this is definitely a good start.”

After qualifying in the 31st position on Friday evening, the GEICO Racing team had to change a rear gear prior to the green flag, which forced Mears to start from the tail end of the field in 40th-place on Saturday night. Quickly the veteran driver reported the Chevrolet was “plowing tight;” but despite this ill-handling condition, Mears collected ten positions and broke into the top-30 just 17-laps into the event. After the first caution slowed the pace on lap 23, Mears brought his GEICO machine to pit road for four tires, fuel and an adjustment. A solid stop by the pit crew allowed Mears to gain positions and knock on the door of the top-25 by lap 35.

As the field began to separate during a long green flag run, Mears ran in the 23rd position. The caution flag waved on lap 103, allowing the Bakersfield, California native to return to pit road for fresh rubber, fuel, and no adjustments, as the GEICO Chevrolet had found a sweet spot for Mears. Another quick stop from the pit crew allowed Mears to restart from 19th-place on lap 109.

Mears continued to hold a spot inside the top-20 for the next 70 laps, before the tight handling condition returned to the GEICO Chevrolet. While another green flag run was underway, Mears completed his scheduled green flag pit stop on lap 217, getting four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. “The car is much better this run,” reported Mears, who was scored in the 26th-place with 37 laps to go. Over the final stretch, Mears began dicing through the field and passed five competitors to finish in the 21st position when the checkered flag concluded 400-miles of racing.

The Sprint Cup Series now heads to the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway for a date with the high-banked, one-mile concrete oval. Mears and the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS will hit the track on Friday, May 13th for opening practice at 11:00AM ET. Qualifying will follow at 3:45PM ET.

The AAA Drive for Autism 400 will take place on Sunday, May 15th, with FS1 carrying live television coverage beginning at 1PM ET. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio channel 90 will also have the live radio broadcast.

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

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