GEICO & Mike Wallace Back Together Again

Concord, NC (October 13, 2006) – Mike Wallace, who has been behind the wheel of the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge for Phoenix Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006, will remain with Phoenix Racing for the next three seasons, but instead he will be piloting the #7 GEICO Chevrolet.  Phoenix Racing and Wallace have experienced considerable success together and they are looking to help GEICO get their race program back on track and put the GEICO car up front in the NASCAR Busch Series. 

A restrictor plate specialist, Wallace went from fifth to first on the final lap in the Winn-Dixie 250 in Daytona on July 2, 2004, and passed Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jason Leffler coming out of Turn Four to score a NASCAR Busch Series victory at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway.  While the win marked Wallace’s third at the famed tri-oval, it was the first for GEICO. 

Mike Wallace is looking forward to reuniting with GEICO.

“I am extremely excited to be working with GEICO again,” Wallace said.  “We had a great relationship previously and we were able to experience success both on and off the race track.  I’m looking forward to being involved with their marketing program away from the track and producing good finishes on the track,” he continued.  “I am thankful for the opportunity they are giving me and I will do whatever I can to put the #7 GEICO Chevrolet up front each week.”

In regard to Phoenix Racing, Wallace said, “I’ve driven part-time for Phoenix Racing over the past couple years in both the Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series and we always seem to run well together.  I enjoy working with James Finch, Marc Reno and the entire Phoenix Racing team and they always give me a great car that allows us to be really competitive.” 

Ted Ward, Vice-President of Marketing for GEICO, was equally excited at the partnership.

“We worked with Mike Wallace previously and we enjoyed our relationship with him and appreciated what he did for us from a marketing perspective on the regional level,” Ward said.  “We have enjoyed our experience in NASCAR over the past six seasons and we are looking forward to using our relationship with Mike Wallace to put our brand in front of the most passionate fans in sports.  Most importantly, we want to make the 75 million NASCAR fans fully aware of our products, services, and our commitment to safety.” 

You can visit the new GEICO Racing/Mike Wallace web site at: www.geicoracing7.com.

For more information, please visit www.geico.com.