Max Papis Claims First Top-10 Finish of 2011 Season at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 3, 2011) – Every driver has certain tracks that he circles on the schedule, knowing that with his past experience, the race can be a highlight reel of good runs. For Max Papis, one of those tracks circled in red is Martinsville Speedway. The Como, Italy native has raced at the Virginia short track four times prior to Saturday’s Kroger 250 – three times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and once in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – recording his second career Truck Series top-10 finish the last time Papis visited Martinsville.

After two successful practice sessions on Friday afternoon, Papis took to the track for his qualifying run under sunny skies on Saturday morning. Papis clocked a lap of 20.212 seconds, placing the No. 9 GEICO Toyota Tundra in the 11th starting position. As the winds picked up, the green flag waved on the 250-lap race and the bumpin’ and bangin’ started early. Papis quickly reported to Crew Chief Randy Goss that his Toyota was tight in the center of the corners. When the first caution was displayed on lap 19, Papis came to the attention of his pit crew for a track bar adjustment and for the rear bumper bar to be cut off as it was flapping from contact in the beginning laps.

Because of the varying pit strategies that each team used throughout the race, Papis was forced to restart on lap 23 from the 31st position. Patience became the name of the game for the GEICO Racing driver as Papis carefully made his way back towards the front. In just six laps, the No. 9 Germain Racing entry was inside the top-25 and by lap 40, Papis had driven his way into 20th-place. The third caution slowed the pace on lap 57 as Papis radioed to Goss that his truck was free on entry and continued to be tight in the center of the corner. The Italian driver came down pit road once again for four fresh tires, Sunoco fuel, and one round down on the track bar.

Due to the changing strategies that continued up and down pit road, Papis restarted on lap 62 from the 22nd position and began his trek to the front once again. In a handful of laps, Papis had returned to the top-15 and wasn’t looking back. A wreck occurred directly in front of Papis on lap 73 and he did a phenomenal job of dodging the spinning trucks, while moving into 13th-place. With help from Spotter Jason Jarrett, Goss made the decision to stay out on the track as no damage occurred. As the majority of the leaders made their pit stop, Papis restarted on lap 78 from the fourth position.

Ten laps passed and Papis battled with defending Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday, while continuing to run in the top-four. As the next yellow flag waved on lap 89, Papis was then stuck on the outside lane for the restart at a track where the inside lane is the preferred groove. The GEICO Toyota lost a few positions on the restart but Mad Max was on a mission and regained the spots and found himself in the sixth position by lap 137. Goss brought Papis to the attention of his pit crew for the final time of the event for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment.

Restarting on lap 144, Papis was ready to attack and move back inside the top-10, where he had run the greater part of the race. In a short 30 laps, the GEICO Toyota Tundra had moved into the top-five and was in position to pounce on an opportunity. That chance presented itself on lap 176 as another caution flew and the trucks in front of Papis came to pit road, placing the No. 9 in second-place. Papis challenged Austin Dillon for the lead over a 10-lap period before another caution flag waved, forcing the driver to restart on the outside lane once again. The final three cautions in the last 50 laps dealt Papis with restarting on the outside each time as the intensity picked up. On lap 250, Papis crossed the finish line and took the checkered flag in the 10th position. This was Papis’ second top-10 finish at Martinsville Speedway and third overall in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“I feel today was one of my best NASCAR races since I started,” said Papis after the race. “My GEICO Racing team and I fought hard on the track and in the pits all race long and I am very proud of the effort. I got caught on the outside lane a lot of times. It killed our momentum and hurt us with the marbles up on the top of the track, but we never gave up and kept fighting. We, as a team, are getting better and it feels great to get a top-10 finish.”

After this strong performance by Papis and the entire GEICO Racing team, Papis remains in the ninth position in the point standings, only one point behind eighth-place Todd Bodine. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will take a two-week break before returning to action at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on Friday, April 22nd.

-PMI-

Contact: Samantha Jones, Player Management International

Email: sjones@pmifirm.com     Web Site:  www.pmifirm.com

AVONDALE, Ariz. (February 25, 2011) – One week after crossing the finish line in 12th-place at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Max Papis and the No. 9 GEICO Racing team trekked cross country to compete at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, the second stop of the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Numerous late race cautions plagued the field, but Papis used patience to bring home a solid 15th-place finish in the Arizona desert.

A normal schedule occurrence saw the Truck Series complete a one-day show on Friday, as practice, qualifying and the race all took place during the same day at the one-mile track. After dialing in the GEICO Toyota in the morning practice session, Papis laid down a respectable lap in qualifying to start the 150-mile race from the 18th position.

The beginning of the Lucas Oil 150 saw the 36-truck field complete laps under green-flag conditions. As Papis faced a loose handling Tundra, the Italian slipped back a few spots in the first 30 laps and was placed one lap down to the leaders. The yellow flag was displayed on lap 43, with the Gecko holding 22nd-place. Crew chief Randy Goss called his driver to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel, and adjustments to help tighten up the Toyota. Restarting on lap 49 from 23rd-place, Papis began fighting for the Lucky Dog award.

The second caution of the night was brought out on lap 59, with Papis in 22nd-place, two spots shy of receiving the Lucky Dog award to return to the lead lap. Papis reported to his GEICO crew that the adjustments made on the first pit stop helped but he was still loose. Remaining on the track, Papis restarted on lap 63 from the same position. Another 40 lap green-flag period ensued as Papis continued to run strong in the 22nd position.

On lap 101, the third caution slowed the pace, sparking a string of six cautions in 40 laps. Goss radioed for Papis to come back to pit road for the final stop of the evening, taking four fresh tires and fuel. Continuing to dodge accidents in front of his GEICO Toyota, Papis swerved and swayed to break into the top-20 by lap 119. Showing extreme patience and driving skills, the driver’s break finally came on lap 133 as he received the Lucky Dog award and regained his position on the lead lap.

The green flag waved for the final time on lap 140, setting up a 10-lap shootout in the Valley of the Sun. With six laps remaining, Papis battled his way into 15th-place. Never looking back, Papis crossed the finish line and recorded his second consecutive top-15 finish. Papis continues to hold the eighth position in the Camping World Truck Series Driver Championship Point Standings, only 10 points behind leader Matt Crafton.

“We battled hard tonight to get that Top 15 finish for GEICO and Germain Racing.  We took what the day gave us and we will move forward to the next race in Darlington,” Papis said.  “I was able to stay out of trouble and we are getting better one lap at a time.  We’re 8th in the point standings and just ten points out of first place, so we are in a good place and we are going to keep fighting and getting better each race.”

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Darlington Raceway on Saturday, March 12.  The Too Tough To Tame 200 will be broadcast on SPEED Channel, Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio and MRN Radio beginning at 5:00 p.m. EST. Visit www.twitter.com/GEICORacing for news and updates throughout the weekend.

-PMI-

Contact: Samantha Jones, Player Management International, Inc.

Email: sammjones1@gmail.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 19, 2011) – The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season kicked off Friday night, under the lights of Daytona International Speedway. Max Papis and the No. 9 GEICO Toyota team prepared for battle as 36 competitors eyed the prestigious trophy at the track that is known for hard racing and big wrecks.

On Thursday evening under cool temperatures, Papis completed his two-lap qualifying attempt and placed his GEICO Tundra in the 36th starting position for the 100-lap race. The buzz around the 2.5-mile superspeedway on Friday night, prior to the green flag waving, was electric as the Truck Series began one of the most competitive seasons in its history of existence. Mad Max pulled the belts tight in his Germain Racing truck and was ready to draft to the front of the field.

The first lap of the race saw Papis gain 13 positions, to 23rd-place on the grid. The field settled in a single-file draft, while remaining caution-free. Crew chief Randy Goss called Papis to pit road under green flag conditions on lap 30 for right-side tires and fuel. Unfortunately, the Toyota didn’t get full of fuel, sending the No. 9 GEICO truck off sequence with the rest of their fellow competitors. A much-needed break for the team came when the first caution was brought out on lap 39. Papis returned to pit road to top off with fuel and restarted on lap 43 from the 25th position.

Papis patiently completed laps, keeping up with the draft but working to stay out of looming trouble. A second caution slowed the field on lap 55 as the Italian was scored in 24th-place. Goss once again brought Papis to the attention of his GEICO crew for Sunoco racing fuel. When the race went back to green on lap 58, Papis was inside the top-20 and the action started to heat up. By lap 65, the Gecko broke into the top-10 on the track.

The third caution came out on lap 67 and Papis returned to pit road for one additional can of fuel. A small issue on pit road with the new fueling system pushed Papis back to the 21st position for the restart on lap 70. The first “big one” happened a short six laps later and the GEICO Tundra received some damage to the right-rear quarter panel. A series of pit stops over the next few laps allowed the team to repair the damage, change four tires, and top off with fuel.

Restarting from 18th-place on lap 82, Papis only had three short laps before the yellow flag was waved for the fifth time. Remaining on the track and keeping his position, Mad Max was lined up in the draft with fellow Germain Racing teammate Todd Bodine. The two Toyotas hooked up nose to tail and worked their way back into the top-10 by lap 90. The drafting dance continued to shuffle with the laps quickly counting down.

The final caution and the second “big one” took place on lap 98, which collected Bodine and Papis. Bodine was unable to continue but Papis came to pit road for repairs and four fresh Goodyear tires. Once the debris and wrecked trucks were cleared from the track, the stage was set for a green-white-checkered finish on lap 102. In the final two laps, Papis gained four spots to bring home a 12th-place finish in the season opener.

“I’m very proud of everyone who works on this GEICO Toyota,” said Papis after the race. “All the guys never gave up and kept working on the truck when we would get some damage from the wrecks. We kept going and I’m very happy with a 12th-place finish, when you consider what type of finish we could have had. I feel very confident that we will contend for a win before this season is over.”

Papis and the No. 9 GEICO team will head to Phoenix International Raceway for the second race of the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season. The race can be seen live on SPEED, Friday, February 25, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

-PMI-

Contact: Samantha Jones, Player Management International

Email: sammjones1@gmail.com

Avondale, Ariz. (November 11, 2010) – With 33 action-packed races completed, only two races remain in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. This week, second year Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett and the No. 15 Germain Racing team are making the trek to the Valley of the Sun for Phoenix International Raceway’s WYPALL 200 powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional, the second race of the season hosted at the sunny, one mile tri-oval.

Annett will veer from a string of races at mile and a half tracks to short track racing this weekend at Phoenix. The series last visited a short track in September for Dover International Speedway’s Dover 200 where Annett secured an 11th place qualifying effort and brought home a 15th place finish on the one mile oval. His best result on a short track this season was at his home track, Iowa Speedway, where he scored a seventh place finish after starting 12th.

Behind the wheel of the No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry, Annett will once again be promoting Pilot Flying J’s “Best Coffee on the Interstate.” The coffee themed Camry was also featured in races at Kansas Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Gateway International Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Pilot Flying J Coffee program has allowed the company to further awareness of their popular coffee brand through the car’s special paint scheme, as well as through at-track sampling of their product at various tracks during the months of October and November.

On-track activity for the Nationwide Series at Phoenix International Raceway heats up with practice on Friday from 12-1:50 p.m. followed by final practice from 3:40-4:20 p.m. Saturday steams up with qualifying at 12:05 p.m. before the WYPALL 200 powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional begins at 4:30 p.m. Practice, final practice and qualifying can be seen live on SPEED. Live race coverage starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN 2 and MRN Radio. All times are ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

# # #

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Fort Worth, Texas (November 4, 2010) – Behind the wheel of Germain Racing’s No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry on Texas Motor Speedway’s 1.5 mile tri-oval, Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett is ready to duel for a successful finish in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge, one of the final three races in the 2010 season.

Annett has three starts on the Fort Worth track and holds an average finish of 16.3. The second year Nationwide Series driver secured an 11th place finish in his first ever attempt at Texas’ Great American Speedway in 2009, and in his most recent performance in the Lone Star State he produced a 16th place finish.

“As an organization, we’re continually showing our strength on mile and half tracks. I’m excited to get back to intermediate track racing this weekend at Texas. We’ve definitely got what it takes to lock in a good finish on Saturday,” said Annett.

Annett will once again be contending with the Pilot Flying J “Best Coffee on the Interstate” paint scheme adorning his Toyota Camry and will continue the promotion of their coffee brand off the track as well.

Fans can visit the Pilot Flying J display in the Texas Motor Speedway fan zone on Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET to get Annett’s autograph and try samples of Pilot Flying J coffee.

With all three of NASCAR’s top-ranked series linked together for the final three race stretch, the Nationwide Series will hit the Texas Motor Speedway track on Friday for practice from 10-11:15 a.m. Final practice will follow from 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m. Both practice sessions can be seen live on SPEED. Nationwide Series qualifying begins at 6:35 p.m. on Friday.

Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge starts at 12:55 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN 2 beginning at 12 p.m. All times are ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

# # # 

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Madison, Ill. (October 19, 2010) – Germain Racing driver Michael Annett will return to Gateway International Raceway this week after posting an 11th place finish on the 1.25 mile oval in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 held earlier in the season on July 17. Sporting a special Pilot Flying J Coffee paint scheme on his No. 15 Toyota Camry, Annett and his team will compete in Saturday’s 5-Hour Energy 250, the final non-companion race of the season for the Nationwide Series.

Pilot Flying J, a longtime sponsor of Annett in the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and currently in the Nationwide Series, maintains one of their over 550 locations just across the street from Gateway International Raceway. Convenient to race fans and travelers alike, the Pilot Travel Center location on State Route 203 at exit 4 off of Interstates 55 and 70, will host Annett on race day from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. for an autograph session. In conjunction with Saturday’s race, samples of Pilot Flying J’s “Best Coffee on the Interstate” will be provided free to race fans and store customers.

Saturday’s 5-Hour Energy 250 will be Annett’s third time featuring the special Pilot Flying J Coffee paint scheme. The second year Nationwide Series driver piloted the car at Kansas Speedway and Auto Club Speedway earlier this month. In addition to his time on the track, Annett will also sign autographs at Gateway International Raceway on Friday from 6:15-7:15 p.m. on pit road.

Eager to return to Gateway, Annett will look to benefit from his previous track experience. In addition to his 11th place effort there earlier this year, Annett boasts a seventh place Rookie of the Race finish on the 1.25 mile oval in the 2009 Nationwide Series event at Gateway. The 24-year-old driver also has experience there in the Camping World Truck Series where he had a ninth place qualifying effort in 2008 and in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards where he started third and finished sixth in 2007.

The 32nd of 35 races in the 2010 Nationwide Series season kicks off with practice on Friday from 2:30-4 p.m. followed by final practice from 4:30-6 p.m. Qualifying begins at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday and drivers start their engines for the 200 lap 5-Hour Energy 250 at 3:30 p.m. Final practice, qualifying and the race will air live on ESPN 2. Race coverage begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday. All times are ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Concord, N.C. (October 12, 2010) – As the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit competes at Charlotte Motor Speedway this week, Michael Annett and his Germain Racing teammates will race just miles from their Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Competing in his No. 15 Toyota Camry wrapped with Valvoline’s classic red, white and blue paint scheme, Annett and his team are again excited to partner with Valvoline and represent their brand for Friday’s Nationwide Series Dollar General 300.

After partnering with the Germain Racing organization earlier in the season, Valvoline will make its second appearance on the No. 15 Toyota Camry after the car carried the familiar Valvoline colors in the Labor Day weekend event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Friday night Dollar General 300 will be the fourth and final race in the Nationwide Series new car before its full integration into the series in 2011. Adapting well to the changes that the new car brings, Annett finished 12th in his new Toyota Camry at its debut at Daytona International Speedway (July 4), 16th at Michigan International Speedway (August 14) and 20th at Richmond International Raceway (September 10). The second year Nationwide Series driver considers Charlotte Motor Speedway his favorite track and really likes the way the new car drives, so Annett looks to capitalize on these attributes with a strong run on Friday.

Longtime sponsor, Pilot Flying J, will continue their “Best Coffee on the Interstate” activation program this weekend at the track with sampling of their renowned coffee brand in the Charlotte Motor Speedway fan zone. Annett introduced Pilot Flying J’s coffee initiative to the sport at the beginning of the month by carrying a special Pilot Flying J Coffee paint scheme on his No. 15 Toyota Camry at Nationwide Series races at Kansas Speedway (October 2) and Auto Club Speedway (October 9). The No.

15 Pilot Flying J Camry will also hit the track at Gateway International Raceway (October 23), Texas Motor Speedway (November 6) and Phoenix International Raceway (November 13).

Crossing paths during the week leading into the May race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Annett and Fisher’s ATV World host, Brian Fisher, met up for an ATV ride at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, S.C. Annett, his crew chief Ryan Fugle, and Pilot Flying J executives Scott Wombold and Brian Mosher participated in the ride and their escapade was featured on Fisher’s ATV World on the Outdoor Channel this summer. To thank Fisher for the one-of-a-kind experience, Annett and the No. 15 Germain Racing team have invited him to be an honorary pit crew member during this week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

With the Nationwide Series in the new car for the first time at Charlotte Motor Speedway, drivers and teams will have an additional day of practice on Wednesday with practice sessions from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Practice will resume on Thursday from 2:15-3:20 p.m. and final practice will run from 6:15-7 p.m. Race day begins with qualifying at 3:05 p.m. and cars hit the track for the Dollar General 300 under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 8 p.m. Tune to ESPN 2 for live race coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. All times are ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Valvoline: Valvoline, a brand of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil. The Valvoline family of products includes Eagle One® appearance products, Car Brite® car restoration products, Zerex® antifreeze, SynPower® performance products and MaxLife® products created for higher-mileage engines. With more than 850 locations throughout the United States, Valvoline Instant Oil Change® is a leader in serving the quick lube market.

# # #

® Registered trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Fontana, Calif. (October 11, 2010) – With a respectable finish in sight, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett was struck with tough luck after a cut tire went down with only 25 laps remaining in Saturday’s 150 lap CampingWorld.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway.

Annett secured a 22nd place starting position for Saturday afternoon’s race and within 10 laps quickly advanced 10 spots to 15th. Determined to battle with the frontrunners, he continued to work his way forward, tapping into the top-10 on lap 25. Although he fought a loose handling racecar, Annett consistently contended with the top-10 cars and continued to run lap times comparable with cars competing in the top-five spots.

In a five lap side-by-side battle with the No. 62 and No. 98 cars, Annett’s top-10 finish in the making was slashed when he cut a right front tire. With the blown tire limiting his control of the car, Annett and the No. 62 were both forced into the wall.

With a caution out for the incident on lap 125, Annett brought his No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry to pit road for his crew to survey the damage. The right side of the Camry proved to need a generous amount of repair, which brought the car to pit road three times during yellow flag conditions.

Commending his hardworking team for getting him back on the track, Annett restarted one lap down in 28th with only 17 laps to go. Despite the heavy damage to the right side of his car, Annett was now in a race for the Lucky Dog. Earning his way back on the lead lap for the restart on lap 145, Annett pushed his way to a 20th place finish in the remaining five laps of the CampingWorld.com 300.

Approaching the final five races of the 2010 season, Annett will head to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the fourth and final race in the Nationwide Series new car before its full introduction into the series in 2011. The Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway commences at 8 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN 2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Fontana, Calif. (October 6, 2010) – West coast bound with 29 of 35 races under their belts, Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team will trek to the Golden State this week for Saturday’s CampingWorld.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway. With an average finish of 13.0 on Auto Club Speedway’s two mile track, driver Michael Annett is seeking another strong finish to polish off his records on the Fontana, California oval.

The Toyota Camry driver scored his best finish of 2009 in last year’s October event at Auto Club Speedway, collecting awards for Raybestos Rookie of the Race, Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver and Featherlite Most Improved Driver. Annett’s sixth place finish earned him one of five Raybestos Rookie awards in 2009. His two other races at Auto Club Speedway resulted in a 16th place (February 2009) and 17th place finish (February 2010).

For the second consecutive week, Annett’s No. 15 Toyota Camry will feature a special paint scheme highlighting sponsor Pilot Flying J’s “Best Coffee on the Interstate.” Annett will also drive the No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry at upcoming races at Gateway International Raceway (October 23), Texas Motor Speedway (November 6) and Phoenix International Raceway (November 13).

“We’re excited about to returning to Auto Club Speedway this week and defending our sixth place finish from last year’s October race. It’s a fun track for me. I really enjoy racing there and our team’s solid finishes at Fontana prove that we have what it takes to score another good finish,” said Annett, “The guys have worked hard preparing for this weekend, and we’re excited to get on track at Fontana.”

Positioned 12th in the Nationwide Series championship point standings, Annett heads into his 30th race of the 2010 season working hard to boost his points ranking. The No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry hits the track for practice on Friday from 2-2:50 p.m. and for final practice from

4:40-6 p.m. Race day begins with Nationwide Series qualifying at 11:35 a.m. Live coverage of practice, final practice and qualifying can be viewed on SPEED. Engines fire for the CampingWorld.com 300 at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can tune to ESPN 2 and MRN Radio for live race coverage beginning at 4 p.m. All times are ET.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com

Kansas City, Kan. (October 4, 2010) – In his 65th career NASCAR Nationwide Series start, Germain Racing driver Michael Annett powered his No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota to a 16th place finish in Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300. In his second Nationwide Series start at Kansas Speedway, Annett began the 200 lap battle with all the pieces in place for a solid finish in the Sunflower State.

After starting 26th, the 24-year-old Midwest native drove over 65 laps under green flag conditions, gaining valuable track position before the first yellow flag was thrown. Pitting under green on lap 54 for four new Goodyear’s, fuel and air pressure adjustments, Annett made his second trip to pit road under caution on lap 68. Pushing towards the front of the pack, Annett restarted 10th on lap 71.

Caution number two of eight was called on lap 76 for debris, and the No.

15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry returned to pit road for a fuel top-off and chassis adjustment. The field was back under green on lap 81, and Annett remained in 10th.

The yellow flag was again displayed on lap 89. Annett made a pit stop for four fresh tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment to improve his tight handling race car. He restarted 18th with just over 100 laps remaining.

Running 13th, a fourth caution came out and Germain Racing crew chief Ryan Fugle opted for Annett to stay out on the track while the majority of the field came to pit road for four tires and fuel. Fugle’s call not only allowed Annett to lead the field to the green for the restart, but as the first place car for five laps of competition, he earned five bonus points.

Looking to tally a solid finish under the Pilot Flying J Coffee banner, Annett was running in fifth when a flat tire caused his car to get loose coming off of turn four, spinning and tagging the wall with the right rear corner of the car. With moderate damage to the car, Fugle directed Annett to pit road where he drove through twice for repairs. First for four tires, fuel and to assess the damage, and second for more repairs.

Not letting the mishap get the best of his day, Annett restarted 23rd on lap 137 and continued to rework his way forward. Running caution-free until lap 189, Annett stayed out while the leaders pitted from lap 175 to

179 under green, and his No. 15 Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota Camry was eighth at the drop of the next yellow. Making their final trip to pit road, the No. 15 pit crew refueled, changed four tires and made wedge and track bar adjustments before the restart on lap 194.

The caution was back out on the restart, leaving the field with a green, white, checkered flag finish to the 200 lap Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300. Annett drove through the checkers in 16th.

The No. 15 Germain Racing team will now head to the west coast for the Nationwide Series CampingWorld.com 300 at California Speedway. With only six races to go, tune to ESPN 2 and MRN Radio to catch the 30th Nationwide Series race of the season at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 9.

For more information on Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, check out www.MichaelAnnett.com and www.GermainRacing.com. Get live updates on Twitter @MichaelAnnett.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

# # #

Contact: Maggie Martin, Rising Star Management Group, mmartin@risingstarmg.com