Casey Mears - GEICO Racing

Mooresville, NC (February 3, 2012)

This year, Mears enters the season as the undisputed driver of Germain Racing’s Sprint Cup Series entry, and also rolls into Daytona with a new paint scheme, a new manufacturer in Ford and a sponsorship extension that will see GEICO adorning the hood of the #13 Ford Fusion through 2014.  Two engine failures in two days sent Mears and his Germain Racing team packing in 2011, but they are guaranteed a starting position for this year’s 500-mile race.

The stars are aligned and Mears is eager to hit the track on February 18th for the opening practice session.

He has attempted to escape the madness and seek refuge everywhere from Phoenix to Aspen to the country of Mexico.  But, it is to no avail.  He cannot clear his mind of what he felt at the Daytona test in January; the horsepower that rumbled beneath him during his first days in the new #13 GEICO Ford Fusion.  Just a week ago, Mears’ sponsor GEICO held a television commercial production at the Germain Racing shop in Mooresville, NC, and the energy was evident.  The team and its driver frequently commented on their desire to move quickly through the month of February and get to Daytona.

“I am tired of twiddling of my thumbs, I can only do it for so long,” Mears said.  “We’re very excited about our new relationship with Ford and having Roush-Yates power, and it gave us a boost in confidence when GEICO announced their extension.  It’s a totally different atmosphere around here and the new blue and green paint scheme has freshened everything up and gave us the chance to relaunch our program.  It’s hard to hide my excitement and I’m sure Trisha (wife) and other people close to me are starting to get tired of hearing me talk about it.  We’re going to be fast and I’m counting the days until first practice.”

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

Source: Player Management International, Inc., for GEICO Racing, Press Release

Todd Bodine - Photo Credit: Jason Smith / Getty Images for NASCAR

The two-time Truck Series champion was left without a ride for 2012 after the Germain Racing team he drove for since 2004 closed down its Truck team in December due to lack of sponsorship.

Bodine, of Mooresville, N.C., said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Tradin Paint on Tuesday that the team is committed to running him for the full season if it can secure the sponsorship. Bodine said they have a sponsor for the Daytona race and an announcement will be made soon.

Bodine finished sixth in the series in 2011. The 21-race Truck Series winner won titles in 2006 and 2010.

- Elmira Star-Gazette

Richard Petty Motorsports

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, comes to Richard Petty Motorsports after spending last season at Rusty Wallace, Inc. He has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 105 Nationwide Series starts and drove to a ninth-place finish in the championship points standings last season.

“They say that when one door closes, another door opens, and that is most definitely true,” said Annett. “We were left scrambling a bit because of the situation with RWI and were unsure what the future held, but I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out. To have the chance to race for Richard Petty and to be under the RPM umbrella is amazing. It has all come together really quickly, but together with Pilot Flying J and Ford, this is the best opportunity I have ever had to race a Nationwide Series car. There’s a lot to be done before we get to Daytona in a few weeks and I can’t wait to dive in and get started.”

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to partner with a brand as prestigious as Pilot Flying J,” said team Co-owner Richard Petty. “We are happy to welcome them to the Richard Petty Motorsports family and to our partner family as well.

“This has been an exciting couple of months for Richard Petty Motorsports,” continued Petty. “We are looking forward to getting back into the Nationwide Series full time and seeing what Michael Annett can do in an RPM Ford Mustang. Michael has improved every season he has raced in the Nationwide Series and has the dedication and drive to be a success.”

“Pilot Flying J is excited for Michael and our new partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports,” stated Mark Hazelwood, Executive Vice President, Pilot Flying J. “PFJ has had a longstanding relationship with both Michael and the Petty family. Richard Petty is a NASCAR legend and this opportunity further extends our commitment to Michael and the sport. We look forward to a great partnership.”

Born into a family with a rich racing heritage, Annett began his own racing career in 2007 competing in the ARCA Series. In only his fourth start, Annett drove his Pilot Travel Centers machine to victory lane at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He drove to victory once again in the ARCA Series the next season at Daytona International Speedway and also piloted an entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in eight events that season. In 2009, he moved to the Nationwide Series with Germain Racing and posted four top-10 finishes en route to a 10th-place effort in the point standings. He remained at Germain through 2010 and in 2011 competed for RWI.

About Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J, the driver driven company, is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 retail locations across North America. Pilot Flying J is also one of the nation’s largest wholesale fuel providers, delivering over 500 million gallons of fuel to thousands of customers in 47 states and eight Canadian provinces. The company employs approximately 18,000 people and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information.

About Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty Motorsports (www.richardpettymotorsports.com), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with sponsorship from Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.

- Richard Petty Motorsports Press Release

Hattori Racing Enterprises

Pena, an 18-year old Winchester, VA native will enter his 3rd season on the K & N Pro Series East in 2012, his first two were as part of the NASCAR Diversity Program. Pena made the racing world take notice in his NASCAR debut at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in 2010 when he beat Sprint Cup veteran Joey Logano for the pole award and finished 2nd in the event – his first time in a K & N Pro Series car. Last season, in just 12 races, he scored three wins, seven top-10 finishes and finished 5th in the series point standings.

“I am so excited for this opportunity,” stated Pena, a current Radford University freshman. “I couldn’t be more thankful to Shige and the best group of guys behind me such as Matt Goslant and Andy Santerre. We all work together very well and with them behind me, I know we will definitely be one of the teams to beat this year.”

Pena will be driving for Hattori Racing Enterprises. Formed in 2005, this will be the first year they have competed full-time on a NASCAR touring series. Owner, Shigeaki Hattori is a Championship-winning former racer. He earned the Formula Toyota title in 1994 and competed in the Indy Racing League’s Indy Lights and IndyCar Series. He also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Born in Okayama, Japan, Hattori currently resides in Cornelius, NC and knows what it takes to win. “People in an organization are the key to the organization’s success . If you hire the right people with knowledge and experience, success will follow,” explains Hattori.

Setting the foundation for Hattori Racing Enterprises are four-time NASCAR K & N Pro Series Champion Andy Santerre, who will manage the race team and Championship-winning Crew Chief, Matt Goslant. Goslant and Pena were a team last season where Pena won three of 12 races, scored seven top-10 finishes and finished 5th in the series point standings.

“I am excited to be working with Sergio again this season,” Said Northfield, VT native, Goslant. “He has the talent to be a champion and we are a good team together. We communicate well and he trusts me to put the car under him. He gives me 100% and I could not ask for anything more in a driver.”

HRE will field Toyota Camry’s with manufacturer backing from Toyota Racing Development . “We are thrilled to have Toyota on board,” stated Hattori, who has had a long-standing relationship with the brand. “Toyota cars won every race in the series last year and I don’t expect this season to be any different.”

HRE is located in a state-of-the-art building owned by Germain Racing in Mooresville, NC and was designed by Hattori so he could continue to enjoy American stock car racing while developing young, talented drivers.

- Hattori Racing Enterprises Press Release

No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors / fleetHQ.com Chevrolet Silverado - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

The team’s schedule could expand if more sponsorship is secured.

“The truck series is where I got my start,” said Reutimann. “It’s a very competitive series and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to run some races with a good team that is in the process of building.

“There is definitely the potential to run well (at RBR Enterprises). I wouldn’t have accepted this opportunity if I didn’t believe that. It’s going to be a challenge, but I like the fact that they are committed to bringing the best piece to the track at the races we run instead of taking less than our best to every race.”

The move to RBR Enterprises reunites Reutimann in the truck series with recently hired crew chief Jason Overstreet, with whom he worked at Darrell Waltrip Racing and Germain Racing. Together the duo combined for six poles and one race win in the series with Waltrip from 2004-06.

“Having worked with David and having a great working relationship with him definitely flattens the learning curve,” Overstreet said. “We have a lot of experience working together, so we have already hit the ground running and can’t wait for Daytona to get here.”

The driver agrees.

“It definitely makes things easier having that relationship with Jason,” Reutimann said. “It really is neat to be working with him again and not having to go through the whole process of learning someone new.”

Team owner Ricky Benton is looking forward to what Reutimann and Overstreet bring to the fledgling organization for the 2012 season.

“Over the last two years, we have made great progress in our truck program and are thankful for everyone who has been involved,” said Benton. “But putting a winning driver the caliber of David Reutimann behind the wheel and having Jason (Overstreet) managing the team and making the race day calls is going to take us to the level where we are running up front consistently and contending for wins.

“Now we just need to get a few more partners on the truck to make a run at the championship.”

Driver Clay Rogers finished 20th in the 2011 NCWTS points standings driving the No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors / fleetHQ.com Chevrolet despite only making 15 of 25 starts in the series.

About RBR Enterprises

Based in tiny Cerro Gordo, N.C. (population 244), RBR Enterprises has been racing in numerous touring series throughout the Southeast for over 20 years. Competing extensively in the USAR Pro Cup Series – winning a championship in 2002 and two Rookie of the Year honors – the team has made forays into the ARCA Series and several NASCAR Touring Series. In 2010, RBR joined the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with driver Dennis Setzer, competing in eight races.

RBR teamed up with Clay Rogers for the 2011 season finishing 20th in the driver standings and 25th in the owner standings despite only running 15 of the 25 races. The season was highlighted by a third place finish in the season-open NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

- RBR Enterprises Press Release

Germain Racing

Mooresville, NC (January 6, 2012) –

“The Germain’s have a long history with Ford Motor Company. My grandfather worked with Henry Ford as an accountant and my father worked as a guide in the Henry Ford Museum. Our family currently owns and operates both Ford and Lincoln dealerships and we have many friends at Ford Motor Company. I’m excited to join the Ford Racing team,” said Germain.

Ford Racing has been competing for more than 110 years. That adds a significant amount of experience to Germain Racing’s seven-year tenure in the NASCAR community. Germain Racing has secured two NASCAR championship titles and 22 victories over the years. In 2012, the team is focused on getting top finishes with their GEICO Fusion program.

“Germain Racing is focused on getting strong results for our GEICO Fusion program. Heading into NASCAR’s first season of electronic fuel injection, we are extremely confident in the technology and engines from Roush & Yates Racing Engines that we will race this season,” said Germain, whose team has services agreements with Roush & Yates Racing Engines and Roush Fenway Racing for the coming year.

Germain Racing will again feature the talent of driver Casey Mears behind the wheel of the No. 13 GEICO Fusion entry. Mears joined Germain in 2010.

For more information on Germain Racing, visit www.GermainRacing.com or follow the team on Twitter @GermainRacing.

Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/caseymearsracing or follow Casey on Twitter @CJMearsGang.

- Germain Racing, Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR)

What he didn’t envision was perhaps a three-truck operation as soon as 2012.

But when team owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick opted to sell their organization’s equipment in June 2011, Sharp accelerated his plan, and as a result, Eddie Sharp Racing will field three trucks starting with the season-opening race in February.

“This is a huge jump and I have a tremendous amount of respect for that,” Sharp said after buying the assets to two KHI trucks in September. “But all of the lessons I’ve learned over the eight or nine years has been preparing me for this opportunity.

“This is an opportunity to do something positive, keep people working and put ourselves on the map where we need to be, where I fully intend to be. I’m not here just to be here. I want to make this a very successful, thriving team. I want to put ESR on the map and to utilize what KHI built is almost a no-brainer.”

Sharp hopes that his Eddie Sharp Racing will be talked about in the same conversations that included KHI and the likes of Kyle Busch Motorsports as far as the teams to beat in the trucks.

He will field three trucks in 2012 with Justin Lofton, Cale Gale and one other driver. Lofton won the 2009 ARCA title for Sharp and ended the 2011 season driving for Sharp after breaking away from Germain Racing.

“We’re here to compete for wins and compete for championships,” Sharp said. “I could have not made this big of a leap and we could have slowed everything down – and it would have been much more expensive and a much longer time frame to get where we want to be.”

- SPEEDtv.com

No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors / fleetHQ.com Chevrolet Silverado (Clay Rogers) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR Veteran Jason Overstreet has been named crew chief and team manager for the Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) entry. His first race with the team will be the season-opener in Daytona on February 24, 2012.

“I can’t wait for February,” said Overstreet. “I am looking forward to the challenge of helping build this race team in the truck series and having success at the track. There is a great foundation in place at RBR and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Overstreet spent 2010 and 2011 at Rusty Wallace, Inc. (RWI) where he served various roles, including crew chief and car chief for Michael Annett, Brendan Gaughan and David Reutimann. Prior to moving to RWI, Overstreet served as crew chief for Johnny Sauter at ThorSport Racing and at Germain Racing for Justin Marks. From 2004-08, Overstreet was the crew chief for Reutimann at Darrell Waltrip Racing.

“We are very excited to have someone of Jason’s caliber on board with us for 2012,” said RBR Enterprises owner Ricky Benton. “We have made great strides over the last two years with our truck program and look to grow those successes with Jason’s leadership at the shop and at the racetrack.”

Driver Clay Rogers finished 20th in the 2011 NCWTS points standings driving the No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors Chevrolet despite only making 15 of 25 starts in the series.

A driver for the No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors / fleetHQ.com Chevrolet for 2012 has yet to be determined.

About fleetHQ.com

fleetHQ is a business solutions provider for commercial trucking fleets and service tire dealers all across North America. fleetHQ provides 24-hour support, and helps fleets reduce operating cost while making it easier to do business.

About BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors

BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors offers wholesale distribution services to tire and automotive dealers across the Southeast, operating out of locations in North and South Carolina.

About RBR Enterprises

RBR has been racing in numerous touring series throughout the Southeast for nearly 20 years. Competing extensively in the USAR Pro Cup Series – winning a championship in 2002 in that series – the team has made forays into the ARCA Series and several NASCAR Touring Series. In 2010, RBR joined the NCWTS with driver Dennis Setzer, competing in eight races.

RBR teamed up with Rogers for the 2011 season. Originally, the team was committed to the first five races and 15 races total for the year. The schedule could expand more if additional sponsorship can be secured.

- RBR Enterprises Press Release

No. 9 GEICO Toyota Tundra (Max Papis) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

“I want to give a big thanks to everyone on this GEICO Racing team,” said Papis. “All these guys work so hard and do a great job. The season has had its good times and its rough moments, but we always stuck together and finished strong. I’m sad to see the year come to an end but looking forward to what 2012 will bring. Also, would like to thank my teammates for all of their help this season.”

With a one-day show on tap for the Truck Series, Papis took to the 1.5-mile south Florida track Friday morning for practice. Rain forced the teams to work quickly as the session was halted on numerous occasions. The precipitation continued for the majority of the day, leading to the cancellation of qualifying, which would result in the field being set according to practice speeds. Papis started the final race of 2011 from the 24th position.

Quickly the first caution came on lap five for oil on the track, while Papis continued to run inside the top-25. Once the field went back to green flag racing, the Como, Italy native showed a vast amount of patience knowing that the competition caution was coming around lap 20.

When the yellow flag was displayed for the second time, Papis came to pit road for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. On lap 24, Papis restarted from 23rd-place. The driver reported to crew chief Randy Goss that the adjustments helped the GEICO Tundra but he was still fighting a tight-handling condition.

The third caution slowed the pace on lap 31 for a two-truck accident in turn four. With less than 10 laps on the fresh tires, Papis stayed on the track. However, a long green-flag run ensued, forcing Papis to deal with the handling conditions. When the field passed halfway, the GEICO machine was scored in the 19th position. Shortly thereafter, the leaders began to make green-flag pit stops. Papis was able to stay out a little longer than the frontrunners, which allowed the No. 9 truck to move into the second position on lap 77.

Max Papis - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

Papis was unable to pass any competitors before the rain started to fall on lap 119. With only 15 laps remaining and no sign of the weather letting up, NASCAR called the race, ending the 2011 Truck Series season. Papis and the GEICO team were left with a 21st-place finish.

Papis finished the season in the 18th position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. The No. 9 GEICO team recorded a total of 10 top-15 and 17 top-20 finishes during the 2011 campaign.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, visit: www.geicogarage.com

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

- Player Management International, Inc. Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

Homestead-Miami Speedway – November 18, 2011

- Denny Hamlin (second) was the highest finishing Toyota driver in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

- Hamlin finished runner-up to race-winner Johnny Sauter in an event that was shortened to 119 laps (from 134) due to rain.

- In his most recent start in the Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) No. 18 Tundra, Hamlin picked up the victory at Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 29).

- Timothy Peters (eighth) also registered a top-10 finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

- Other Tundra drivers in the field included David Starr (11th), Dusty Davis (15th), Todd Bodine (16th), Brendan Gaughan (20th), Max Papis (21st), German Quiroga (26th), Miguel Paludo (32nd) and Johnny Chapman (36th).

- The race at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked the 200th race in the NCWTS for the Tundra.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 18 Dollar General / DIRECTV Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Finishing Position: 2nd

Are you happy with your second-place finish?

“Yeah, it was good. We didn’t practice that well with the Dollar General Toyota, and we just weren’t all that great during the course of the race. But we did get better as we went, and obviously the last run I was just trying to be patient. I knew I had a truck that could get around Johnny (Sauter), but I just wanted to be patient and wait until later stages of the race, and also to ensure that we kept the third-place guy behind us and tried to use the draft. Strategy didn’t work out. It probably cost us a win today, but they told me one lap before the rain came that it looks like rain is coming, so if I got anything, I’d better go. That was my last-ditch effort on the corner to try to get around him. He slid up and got into us and we got in the wall, and it was one of those things. We were not in a position to really race him that hard anyway.”

How slippery was the race track in turns 3 and 4 when you tried to make the move on Johnny Sauter?

“I didn’t think it was too bad, it seemed, relative to what we had before. But he (Johnny Sauter) slipped up quite a bit, so he was the first one to evidently get to any moisture that was there. I had already committed to run really wide open on the outside — whatever happens, happens. For us, I didn’t think it was that much different. You know, he would probably be a better guess for that. But it was coming down. You could definitely see as soon as we let off the caution it was pouring pretty bad.”

How difficult was the track at the start of the race and what does it mean for the Cup cars if there is more rain?

“It wasn’t too bad. It was relatively similar to what we had in practice because we kept practicing on green surfaces — not much changed. Every time we’d run our practice session, rain would come, so every new practice session was on a green race track. So, I t hink the Cup cars kind of having a clean slate tomorrow should be relatively fine. I thought the track was very consistent from day to night.”

Would you consider doing any additional Truck Series races next year?

“Maybe a few. It definitely wouldn’t be on a triple weekend or anything like that. But I always try to do just one a year. But yeah, I mean, driving these trucks that KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) has just been really good. Those guys put together some awesome race trucks, and I sit in it and I look around and it’s as good as what my Cup car looks like on the inside. They put together some really nice trucks, and obviously they’ve given me, the two times I’ve been in it, two chances to win. Yeah, maybe three or four or something like that, but as long as the schedule all works out. Ain’t going to be on a weekend like this.”

TIMOTHY PETERS, No. 17 Service Central, Red Horse Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

DAVID STARR, No. 81 Zachry Tundra, SS Green Light Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

DUSTY DAVIS, No. 15 Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports

Finishing Position: 15th

TODD BODINE, No. 5, International Trucks / Monaco RV Tundra, Randy Moss Motorsports

Finishing Position: 16th

BRENDAN GAUGHAN, No. 62 Tire Kingdom / Service Central Tundra, Germain Racing

Finishing Position: 20th

MAX PAPIS, No. 9 GEICO Tundra, Germain Racing

Finishing Position: 21st

GERMAN QUIROGA, No. 51 TELCEL Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Finishing Position: 26th

MIGUEL PALUDO, No. 7 Duroline Tundra, Red Horse Racing

Finishing Position: 32nd

JOHNNY CHAPMAN, No. 07 ASI Limited Tundra, SS Green Light Racing

Finishing Position: 36th

- Toyota Motorsports Press Release

Todd Bodine

One year after winning his second Camping World Truck Series championship, the Chemung native lies sixth in the standings, without a victory, heading into Friday’s season finale Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With sponsorship tight for 2012, the 47-year-old faces an uncertain future.

Bodine was dominant in 2010, earning four wins and 17 top-5 finishes with his No. 30 Germain Racing Toyota Tundra. With 24 of 25 races complete in 2011, the youngest of the three racing brothers — along with Geoff and Brett — has five top-5s.

Perhaps more telling of Bodine’s lack of competitiveness is the 40 laps he has led this year compared to 479 in 2010.

Any thoughts of a repeat title was erased early on when Bodine scored one top-five in the first seven races. He was mired outside the top 10 in points for much of the first half of the season thanks to equipment that let him down and some bad luck.

- Elmira Star-Gazette

No. 5 International Trucks / Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This Week’s Tundra… The No. 5 International Trucks/Monaco RVs team and Germain Racing driver Todd Bodine will utilize TRD-092 in Friday’s 134-lap NCWTS race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Chassis TRD-092 is a freshly rebuilt truck from the Germain Racing stable, and Mike Hillman Jr. will once again be atop the pit box calling the shots for the defending series champion as this marks the 15th race of a collaborative effort between Germain Racing and Randy Moss Motorsports to field the No. 5 Tundra. Bodine has finished no worse than 13th in those 14 previous races, with an average finish of 8.9.

Track Stats… Bodine is the only repeat winner at HMS in the series’ 15 races, leading all active drivers with two wins his seventh and 15th of 21 career Camping World Truck Series victories. Bodine has also accrued the most points of any driver in the three previous truck series races at HMS (510 points). In total, Bodine has four top-five and four top-10 finishes in six NCWTS starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In addition to his Truck Series statistics, Bodine has 12 Nationwide Series starts and four Cup Series starts at HMS.

Closing the Gap… Bodine has not finished outside of the top four in the final truck series point standings since he began competing full-time in the series in 2005. With his 12th-place finish last race at Texas Motor Speedway, Bodine maintained his sixth-place standing in the driver points and is 21 points behind fifth-place Timothy Peters and 31 points out of the top four entering the season finale at HMS.

Watch and Listen… The Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, on Friday night. SPEED kicks off its pre-race coverage at 7:30 p.m. EST, and MRN Radio will begin its live broadcast at 7:45 p.m. EST on Friday, November 18. SPEED will also carry live broadcasts of final practice (11 a.m. EST) and qualifying (4:30 p.m. EST) on Friday.

Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 5 International Toyota Tundra - Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR

“We plan to go to Homestead and do the best we can. We’re taking a newly rebuilt race truck and that shows we haven’t given up. We’re looking to get the best finish we can get with our International Trucks/Monaco RVs Tundra.”

“International has been a big supporter of our sport for a long time. To be able to represent them has been great. They’ve been awesome people to work with. I wish we could’ve gotten them a win by now but hopefully we can get it done this week at Homestead.”

Crew Chief Mike Hillman Jr. on setting up the race truck for Homestead-Miami Speedway:

“Setting up for Homestead, with so many available racing grooves, a lot of it is getting there and understanding which line your driver is most comfortable racing. From there, you have to make your truck handle right, and build in enough adjustments that you can adapt your truck throughout the race. We’re taking what’s really a fresh race truck to Homestead. The chassis is one we haven’t raced in a while, but we’ve done a big rebuild on it and we’re hoping it will be very fast as the International Trucks/Monaco RVs Tundra at Homestead.”

- Randy Moss Motorsports / Germain Racing Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

KAHNE COLLECTS CHECKERS:

PHOENIX FLASHBACK: Along with Kahne’s win, Camry driver David Reutimann also earned a top-10 result at the one-mile Phoenix race track with a seventh-place result. In Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Phoenix, Joey Logano was the highest-finishing Toyota driver with a fourth-place result. Camry drivers Ryan Truex (eighth) and Michael Annett (10th) also registered top-10 finishes at the Arizona oval. In six races driving for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) during the 2011 season, Truex recorded four top-10 results and never finished lower than 13th-place.

SEASON-FINALE CHASE RACE: Sunday’s NSCS race at Homestead-Miami Speedway is the 10th and final race in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff. Camry drivers Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have both competed in this year’s Chase. Hamlin sits 10th in the standings, 110 points behind series leader Carl Edwards, and Busch is 12th, 135 points back.

HOMESTEAD HIGHLIGHTS: Hamlin earned the first NSCS win at Homestead for Toyota in 2009, leading the field three times for a race-high 71 laps (of 267). Hamlin has posted three top-three finishes in six career starts at Homestead. JGR teammate and fellow Chase competitor Busch recorded his only top-10 finish in six starts at Homestead with an eighth- place result that year. Camry drivers have earned two poles at the 1.5-mile oval — Reutimann in 2008 and Kahne earned the pole last year. Last year, Kahne led the first 10 laps and fellow Camry driver Martin Truex Jr. led the field six times for 62 laps.

TRIPLE PLAY: Hamlin will compete in all three NASCAR races in the same weekend for the first time in his career at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hamlin is set to drive the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Tundra in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race and will then climb behind the wheel of the JGR No. 18 Camry in the NNS race on Saturday to help JGR battle for the Nationwide Series owner’s championship. He will then pilot the No. 11 Camry in the season-ending NSCS event Sunday at the 1.5-mile oval.

TUNDRA TALLY: Tundra drivers have had a great deal of success in NCWTS competition at Homestead, winning four of the seven NCWTS races they have competed in at the track, including victories by Busch (2010), Todd Bodine (2008 and 2005) and Johnny Benson (2007). Tundra drivers have also captured the pole position four times with Reutimann earning back-to-back poles in 2004 and 2005, and Mike Skinner captured the top starting spot at Homestead in 2008 and 2006.

BACK STORY: Follow Toyota Racing on Twitter (@toyotaracing) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/toyotaracing). Background and images about the Toyota NASCAR program are available at www.toyotamotorsportsmedia.com.

NOTES, QUOTES & NUMBERS

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS): Since the start of the 2011 season, Toyota drivers have combined for six victories, 38 top-five results, 75 top-10 finishes and have led 2,473 laps … Red Bull Racing Team will field a third Camry race car for the second straight week at Homestead with Cole Whitt … Whitt earned a 25th-place finish in his NSCS debut last Sunday at Phoenix … Former University of Miami walk-on quarterback Trey Burklin is the jack man for the Red Bull Racing Team No. 4 Camry … Kyle Busch will run a TRD-built engine in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Camry at Homestead.

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Camry, Red Bull Racing Team

How has your team been able to run so strong at the end of the season? “We’re lucky that everybody is working hard and has stayed after it, preparing great race cars. We’re bringing awesome cars to the track. I wouldn’t say there’s anyone out there that’s building better cars at this time. The Red Bull guys are doing an awesome job and they haven’t given up. I think it’s just the people. They’re doing a great job and we’ve been able to stay focused. I love racing. If I’m in a race car, I want to do the best that I can. Kenny Francis (crew chief) has given me some cars in the last few months that we’ve been able to perform with and run with Carl (Edwards) and Tony (Stewart), who have been probably the two best.”

What does it mean to possibly get the Red Bull Racing Team its last win as an organization? “It feels really good. Hopefully, it’s not their last win. I think we’re going to have a shot at Homestead too. I’m looking forward to Homestead. It feels great to get a win for Red Bull and get a win in the No. 4 car. It’s something new for both of us to come over and have a one-year deal. It takes time to get familiar with things and the people and working together. To win a race at this level, as competitive as everything is right now, for myself, to see how happy all the pit crew guys were, the guys preparing the race cars at Red Bull, it was pretty cool. Makes you feel pretty good to be part of that.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What do you need to work on at Joe Gibbs Racing to get ready for 2012? “I think everyone is ready to do what it takes. One thing about Joe Gibbs (team owner) is he’s never short on resources. If we feel like we need to get something and we don’t have it, he’ll go buy it and go do it. He’s one of those owners where he’ll do whatever it takes, hire whoever he has to hire, and I feel like that’s hard to come by in our sport. You’re not going to hold down JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) for so long. They’ve done a really good job over the last 20 years of existence of staying one of the elite race teams and they will in the future.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What does it take to be fast at Homestead? “It’s been a good track to us in the first third of a race, but then in the last two thirds it’s been tough. I like going to Homestead. To be fast there, you have to be able to get your car comfortable getting into the corner — that’s the biggest thing. The corners there, you can build so much speed through them that you have to be comfortable carrying that speed into the corner just as much as coming out of it.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

How much do you want to win a race? “A win this year would be huge, it’s not over yet. We’ve been in position this year to have a shot at winning two or three of these things and we just haven’t taken advantage of it. We’ve had good speed in our cars and it’s just a matter of us racing smarter, being better prepared and making better decisions. I’m confident in this team and that we can get the job done. Homestead last year was probably our best run of the year. We led a bunch until we got a flat. It would be awesome to close the year out with a win.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS): During the 2011 season, Toyota drivers have combined for 10 wins, 37 top-five results, 83 top-10 finishes and have led 1,610 laps … Kenny Wallace (seventh) is the top Toyota driver in the NNS point standings … Michael Annett (eighth), Brian Scott (ninth) and Steve Wallace (10th) are also in the top-10 in points … Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Camry team leads the NNS owner championship standings by one point going into Homestead.

BRIAN SCOTT, No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How would you evaluate your first season at Joe Gibbs Racing? “The first half of the season we really weren’t finishing and running to our expectations. We had good performances fairly often, but we were never there to capitalize on it at the finish. We scratched up a lot of good race cars. Then, in the sec ond half of the season, we’ve done much better and we’ve really come a long way with this whole team. It gets me fired up because of how we’ve been running lately going into next year and having a legitimate shot at being a title contender.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS): Since the start of the 2011 NCWTS season, Tundra drivers have registered nine wins, 34 top-five results, 71 top-10 finishes and have led 1,111 laps … After 24 races, Timothy Peters (fifth) is the top Toyota driver in the NCWTS points standings … Tundra drivers Todd Bodine (sixth), Brendan Gaughan (12th), David Starr (13th), Miguel Paludo (17th) and Max Papis (18th) are also in the top-20 in the points … The Toyota Tundra will make its 200th NCWTS start this weekend at Homestead since joining series competition in 2004 … Bryan Berry, crew chief on the Germain Racing No. 62 Tundra, hails from Homestead, Fla. … NASCAR Mexico Series Champion German Quiroga will make his second career NCWTS start at Homestead in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 51 Tundra.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN, No. 62 Tire Kingdom/Service Central Toyota Tundra, Germain Racing

Are you looking forward to racing at Homestead? “I’m excited about getting to Homestead with the momentum this team has built in the last few weeks. We hope to finish off the year strong. The racing groove has really opened up a lot. You can run around the top, bottom, or middle. It gives the driver and the crew chief a lot of options for chassis setup and chassis adjustments. One thing about Homestead is that it’s not like any other 1.5-mile track on the circuit. There’s no dog-leg, so the corner entry and exit is different than any other intermediate track we race.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

Mears led more laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway than any other Sprint Cup Series track

Mooresville, N.C. (November 15, 2011) - Germain Racing is closing out the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season by premiering a fresh sponsorship relationship. Driver Casey Mears will pilot the No. 13 Hard Rock Vodka Camry at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the season finale on Sunday, November 20th. This will be the first time the No. 13 Camry has raced in colors other than those of long-time primary sponsor GEICO.

“Obviously it’s very exciting to have a sponsor like Hard Rock Vodka come on board our No. 13 Camry for the Homestead-Miami Speedway race. GEICO remains our primary sponsor for 2012 but we’d certainly like to see the Hard Rock Vodka Camry race again for a number of the open weekends on next season’s schedule,” explained Mears, who has competed in eight Sprint Cup Series events at Homestead. “This team has built a lot of momentum in the last few weeks and we hope to carry that into Homestead for a great weekend with the Hard Rock Vodka Camry.”

Crew chief Bootie Barker has prepared chassis 702 for Mears for Homestead competition. The Florida race will be the second event for the fresh Camry chassis.

“This race car is new to our fleet. We ran it at Texas and liked the characteristics we saw. It is a different chassis design than we’ve had in the past and it is truly a joint effort between Michael Waltrip Racing and Germain Racing that went into the build of this race car,” said Barker.

Hard Rock Vodka, launched this summer by Ultimate Beverages of Boca Raton, FL, is a new sponsor in the NASCAR ranks. O.B. Osceola, co-founder, explains that the NASCAR fan base really is the perfect audience for Hard Rock Vodka.

“Hard Rock Vodka has been enjoying a great launch this year. In setting up the product at retail partners such as ABC, Crown, Discount Liquors and several others, what we’ve come to realize is that Hard Rock Vodka is a perfect fit for marketing to the NASCAR fan base. The product is based out of Florida, so putting Hard Rock Vodka on Germain Racing’s No. 13 Camry at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a great opportunity to showcase the brand this season,” explained Osceola, who also encourages fans to enjoy Hard Rock Vodka responsibly.

Hard Rock Vodka…Splashed with Rock ‘n’ Roll: Hard Rock Vodka is a premium, world class vodka imported from England. The vodka is distilled from the highest quality grain and filtered six times for exceptional smoothness and taste. Hard Rock Vodka image: http://piersongrant.com/images/hrv_1.75liter_front.jpg Learn more about Hard Rock Vodka on Facebook.com/hardrockvodka or follow the brand on Twitter.com/HardRockVodka

About Ultimate Beverages: Ultimate Beverages, headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., was founded in 2009 to manufacture, produce, promote, and distribute vodka and other spirits. Ultimate Beverages is fully integrated to evolve and redefine the Premium Spirits industry with its revolutionary approach and quality products.

Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing or on the web at Germainracing.com

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

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Mears Quotes: Homestead-Miami Speedway Race Weekend, Race No. 36

On Hard Rock Vodka Sponsorship…

“Obviously it’s very exciting to have a sponsor like Hard Rock Vodka come on board our No. 13 Camry for the Homestead-Miami Speedway race. GEICO remains our primary sponsor for 2012 but we’d certainly like to see the Hard Rock Vodka Camry race again for a number of the open weekends on next season’s schedule”

On Team’s Performance Leading into HMS…

“This team has built a lot of momentum in the last few weeks and we hope to carry that into Homestead for a great weekend with the Hard Rock Vodka Camry.”

On Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway…

“Homestead-Miami Speedway is a fun track to race. It’s really opened up a lot. You can run around the top, bottom or middle of the race track—the progressive banking gives you a lot of options.

Crew Chief Bootie Barker on Setting up for Homestead Racing

“The progressive banking at Homestead-Miami Speedway really lets the driver dictate how the crew chief needs to prepare the race car. The driver has to decide which line he wants to run, and then you setup the chassis from there. Each year, more and more drivers are moving to the higher line as the track gets more wear. We’ll see which one Casey prefers and setup the Hard Rock Vodka Camry for racing in that groove.”

Barker on Team’s Progress…

“NASCAR competition is tight. This Germain Racing team has proven in the last few races we’ve grown into a top-20 race team and that’s the kind of performance we’ll need at Homestead to feel like we’ve had a good weekend.”

No. 13 Hard Rock Vodka Camry—Recent Performance Highlights

At Talladega Superspeedway, Race No. 32: Mears had the No. 13 Camry in the top-ten and top-fifteen for the majority of the race. Coming to the final restart of the race, he was 8th with no drafting partner. The 17th-place finish, at that point in time, tied the team’s best finish of the year—a mark that would be shattered in one week’s time.

At Martinsville Speedway, Race No. 33: Mears and the No. 13 Camry team had practice time cut short due to weather. Still, the team put together a race car that started in 33rd and motored into 7th position just 75 laps into the 500 lap event. At the close of the 263-mile race, Mears finished 12th, earning his best finish of the 2011 season.

At Texas Motor Speedway, Race No. 34: The team debuted chassis No. 702. There were no new-car blues. The No. 13 Camry was within 4/10’s of a second of the fastest car in its first visit to the race track. Mears qualified 33rd in the field of 43 cars, raced just outside the top-20, and logged the important information the crew needed to know about this new racing chassis. Mears finished 25th.

- Germain Racing, Press Release

Casey Mears - GEICO Racing

Avondale, AZ (November 13, 2011)

Taking to the racetrack on Friday afternoon, Mears ended up 39th in the opening practice session. Final practice saw the #13 GEICO Camry improve ten spots to 29th as the team headed into qualifying. When qualifying got underway on Saturday, Mears wheeled around the newly paved 1-mile oval in 27.062-seconds, landing him 38th on Sunday’s starting grid.

Though Mears started in the rear of the field, he did not remain their long once the green flag waved on Sunday afternoon. Starting 38th, Mears jumped to 33rd on the opening lap and had captured 31st before the event’s first caution flag of the day was displayed on lap two. He restarted 30th on lap five and would continue moving the #13 GEICO Camry through the field. He spent most of the day skirting the Top 25 before cracking the Top 20 on lap 173.

Mears eventually muscled his way into the Top 15 before heartbreak struck the GEICO driver. He was running in the 14th position with just 27 laps remaining in the race when he radioed to crew chief Bootie Barker that his fuel tank was empty. With no power in his GEICO Camry as he entered pit road, Mears was rendered helpless in determining his pit road speed. His situation became more complicated when NASCAR issued Mears a speeding penalty for being too fast on entry. After the GEICO crew replenished his racecar with much needed Sunoco racing fuel, Mears was forced to serve a pass-through penalty, sending the #13 GEICO Camry three laps down to the field.

After running 14th on the lead lap with just a couple of dozen laps to go, Mears was relegated to a 26th place finish when the checkered flag halted the field on Sunday afternoon. The finish allowed the Germain Racing team to retain their 32nd position in the Owner Point standings.

“It’s very frustrating because we had such a great run going today; maybe one of the best of the year,” Mears said after exiting the GEICO Camry. “We honestly didn’t know how today would turn out, but the #13 GEICO Camry was really good and we were there at the end. Unfortunately, racing issues you some tough breaks sometimes and today we experienced one. We have had a great four weeks now, and today will not take away from that. Even though we ended up 26th, we were definitely headed for a Top 15 finish. I wish we could go to Homestead tomorrow. We’re excited to get down there and continue building the momentum for 2012. Our team is in a good place right now.”

Next week, Mears and the GEICO team travel to Homestead, FL, for the final race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 1.5-mile oval of Homestead-Miami Speedway for the opening practice session on Friday, November 18th, at 3:00 PM (ET). Qualifying will follow on Saturday, November 19th, at 2:40 PM (ET).

The Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, November 20th, and it will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3:00 PM (ET). The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

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

- Player Management International, Inc., for GEICO Racing, Press Release