Mooresville, NC (August 18, 2010) – Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5th, NASCAR star Casey Mears will slide behind the wheel of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry.
 
Mears will be entered as the driver of the #13 GEICO Camry in the seven remaining GEICO sponsored races in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.  The 2011 season will feature Mears and the Gecko in the #13 Germain Racing entry at 18 events.  
 
Effective immediately, Mears will put the Gecko on his chest and attempt to expand the Sprint Cup Series program that Max Papis and the Germain Racing team have worked hard to establish.
 
Mears carries with him one of the most recognized names in the sport of auto racing, while his resumé makes him the obvious choice to be the new wheelman of the #13 GEICO Camry.  He has experienced success at each of NASCAR’s top two levels, winning races in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series.  Versatility being a cornerstone for Mears, he has also won races in the Indy Lights Series, ARCA Series, and in 2006 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to achieve an overall victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
 
While Mears boasts a distinguished resumé, his family dinner table features a banquet of successful careers.  He is flanked by father, Roger Mears, who is a championship off-road racer, while his uncle, Rick Mears, has netted four Indianapolis 500 wins.  
Germain Racing will most benefit from Mears’ experience at the top level of NASCAR.  Since making his NASCAR debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 10, 2001, Mears has been employed by NASCAR’s best and brightest, including Chip Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.  
“I’m excited at the opportunity to drive the #13 GEICO Camry for Germain Racing,” Mears said.  “It’s a great opportunity and I believe with all the hard work that Germain Racing has put into their Cup program, as well as our relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing, that we’ll be able to do good things.  I’ve known Bootie Barker (crew chief) for a long time, so I think we’ll work well together.  I’m ready to get to work and do a good job for GEICO.”  
Mears’ experience combined with Germain Racing’s technical relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing should result in marked improvement as the GEICO Racing program heads into the 2011 season.
 
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
 

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Contact: Doug Barnette, Player Management International
Email: dbarnette@pmifirm.com  

Mooresville, NC (August 18, 2010) – Max Papis, who has occupied the seat of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will take a new opportunity to race full-time in NASCAR.  Papis will be piloting the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2011.  
 
The effort is fielded by Germain Racing, who, aside from winning the 2006 Truck Series championship, currently holds the points lead in the Truck Series with driver Todd Bodine.  
 
Papis will turn his attention to the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra effective immediately beginning this week in Bristol.  In addition, Papis will compete in three additional races of the remaining 2010 Camping World Truck Series season in an effort to lay a solid foundation heading into 2011.  
 
Papis has spent the previous year and a half piloting the #13 GEICO Camry, which was slated to compete in 18 races each season.  ‘Mad Max’ has taken full advantage of his opportunity, notching an 18th at Talladega, a 12th at Infineon Raceway and he recorded his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 10 when he finished 8th at Watkins Glen last year.  
 
Aside from NASCAR, Papis is known to be one of the most versatile racecar drivers in the world. He sits among racing’s elite, as he has competed in the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  In addition to recording three wins in the former CART Series, Papis has posted wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 and 2002, as well as a Grand-Am Series championship in 2004.  As a member of GM’s Corvette Racing team, Papis has recorded two wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, as well as two runner-up finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
It only makes sense that Papis will now try his hand at Truck Series racing where he has already experienced considerable success.  Along with a Top 10 at Fontana and an 8th place finish at Martinsville, Papis nearly recorded his first Truck Series victory at Daytona in February 2010.  Unfortunately, Nelson Piquet, Jr, ended his day late in the race after Papis led his first laps as a NASCAR driver.

"Since I came to NASCAR one of my goals has been to have the opportunity to run a complete racing schedule. When GEICO and Germain Racing, a Truck Series championship team, approached me with an offer to represent them for a full season in the Camping World Truck series, I saw it as a unique opportunity that I simply could not turn down,” Papis said.  “I am very proud to have been part of the development of a brand new Sprint Cup team that has already made their mark when we recorded our first Top 10 finish at Watkins Glen last year, while running only part time over the last year and a half.”  
 
He continued, “I look forward to watching the #13 team continue to grow and mature, while being a special part of GEICO’s expanded commitment to NASCAR through their Truck Series sponsorship.  I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the fans, both new and old, who have supported me throughout my career and who are an important part of the success I have experienced.  I am very excited by this opportunity and you can bet on my doing everything I possibly can to bring success to GEICO and Germain Racing."
 
Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Atlanta on September 5th, Casey Mears will take over driving duties of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry fielded by Germain Racing.
 
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
 

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Contact: Doug Barnette, Player Management International
 Email: dbarnette@pmifirm.com 

Bristol, Tenn. (August 17, 2010) – Despite the summer heat, high temperatures and humidity, Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 Nationwide Series team will head to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, hitting the home track of sponsor, Pilot Travel Centers, for the second time this season in the Food City 250. Competing on the high banked .533 mile oval known to race fans as Thunder Valley, the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers team looks to replicate their eighth place performance there in last year’s summer race at Bristol. Annett also collected the Raybestos Rookie of the Race award in 2009’s Nationwide Series Food City 250.

The last short track race for the Nationwide Series was at Annett’s home track, Iowa Speedway, on July 31 where the 24-year-old driver was credited with a seventh place finish. This time around, Annett’s sights are set on securing another strong finish on a track that is additionally significant to him. Headquartered in close by Knoxville, Tenn., primary sponsor Pilot Travel Centers will be contending in the No. 15 Camry on their home turf at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“We’ve got a big group of supporters coming to the track this weekend from Pilot, over 80 people, so we really want to put on a good show for them. Bristol is always exciting. There’s no better place to see a race then under the lights at Bristol, so it should be a fun time,” said Annett. “We’ve got a lot of momentum built up leading into this race and we’ve got the confidence from last year’s eighth place finish behind us too. I’m really looking forward to bringing home a strong finish for Pilot Travel Centers and Germain Racing this weekend.”

Not only has Pilot been behind Annett throughout the 2009 and 2010 seasons with Germain Racing, but the longtime partner has sponsored him for the past four years of his career in motorsports while competing in the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and currently in the Nationwide Series. Annett and Pilot entered the sport together in 2007 and since their start have visited Victory Lane twice, tallied six top-five finishes and earned 16 top-10 finishes. Carrying the colors of loyal sponsor Pilot Travel Centers, Annett finished tenth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship point standings in 2010.

“Pilot has played a huge role in getting me where I am today. I couldn’t have ever made it this far without their support. It’s been fun partnering with them every step of the way. I’m very proud to carry the Pilot Travel Centers colors each week,” said Annett.

The No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry hits the track for a one-day show at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday beginning at 9 a.m. for final practice which airs live on SPEED. Nationwide Series qualifying gears up at 4:10 p.m. and the Food City 250 starts at 8 p.m. Tune to ESPN for live qualifying and race coverage. A live broadcast of the Food City 250 begins at 7 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.

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

 - Bodine Leads Truck Series Championship Battle by 231-point margin

 - Has Earned Three Wins this season, 20 in his Truck Series Career

 - Germain Racing has 21 Truck Series Victories and Eight Pole Awards

August 16, 2010 (Mooresville, N.C.) - In June, when Germain Racing was heading to Texas, the team announced their new partnership with Valvoline. To give that announcement some extra energy, Todd Bodine drove the Valvoline logo into victory lane at Fort Worth, capturing his first win of the 2010 season. Since then, Bodine and the No. 30 Tundra team of Germain Racing have collected two more victories and they are looking very forward to having the Valvoline logo back on board this week at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Having Valvoline join the Germain Racing team has been a great partnership. Bristol is our first race with Valvoline as the primary sponsor on the No. 30 Valvoline Tundra. The truck looks great and we think it will look even better running up front, under the lights, at Bristol ,” said Bodine, who has competed in 37 NASCAR races at Bristol, scoring two victories in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and three top-five finishes in five Truck Series starts.

Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. will lead the Germain Racing team into battle on Wednesday at Bristol. The team will race chassis TRD-106, which last saw action this season at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

“What this team has accomplished this season has been a testament to the commitment of everyone that works at Germain Racing, Toyota and Triad. We hope to continue to get results that truly measure up to the extra efforts that everyone has put in to make this No. 30 Valvoline Tundra team what it is today. We are heading to Bristol with one thought in mind, and that is to get the Valvoline logo back into some victory lane photographs,” said Hillman.

With a 231-point lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, two wins in a row and three wins total along with a pole award this season, Hillman has been asked if it’s time to start focusing on winning the Truck Series title rather than being aggressive and going for the wins.

“With the equipment we have, it would be a shame to tell our driver he can’t put his Toyota Tundra out front. So, no, we aren’t changing our strategy. Germain Racing will put the No. 30 Valvoline Tundra on track at Bristol with the goal to win the race. It’s the best way to get the most points and the best way to thank Valvoline, Toyota, Triad and everyone back at the shop for all the work they put into this truck,” said Hillman.

Watch Bodine the No. 30 Valvoline Tundra on Wednesday, August 18th at Bristol Motor Speedway. Qualifying will be on SPEED at 4:30 PM ET, with race coverage starting at 7:30 PM. Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing or on the web at Germainracing.com or become a Facebook fan.

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.

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®  Registered trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries

Brooklyn, Mich. (August 16, 2010) – Michael Annett returned to the Irish Hills looking to improve his standing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship point race. Heading into Saturday’s Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway, Annett stood 11th in points, just 53 markers away from the top-10. With his 16th place finish in this weekend’s 125 lap event, the young driver positioned himself even closer to the top-10 with just four points now separating him from tenth place.

Driving the Nationwide Series new car for the second time in NASCAR history, Annett made a 17th place qualifying effort, starting on inside of the ninth row. The Germain Racing driver steadily raced in the top-15 fighting a tight handling racecar before the team’s first pit stop on lap 36. Under green flag conditions, the No. 15 pit crew changed tires and refueled in addition to making air pressure adjustments to alleviate the tight condition.

After the first cycle of pit stops, Annett was riding 13th when the first of only two cautions was thrown on lap 61. Still fighting a tight condition, Annett came to pit road for another set of tires, fuel, track bar and air pressure adjustments before restarting 13th.

The No. 15 Germain.com Toyota Camry was on the move and broke into the top-10 on lap 77. With clean air to his advantage under green flag conditions, Annett continued to gain track position, moving into seventh on lap 103.

With only 14 laps remaining, the second and final caution came out.

Visiting pit road for a two tire pit stop, the No. 15 team looked to restart in the top-10 and make their way to a top-10 finish in the final laps of the Carfax 250. Confronted with a penalty issued by NASCAR for a tire violation on pit road, the No. 15 was forced to reenter pit road on the following lap. Annett was regulated to the end of the field to restart the final laps and drove through the checkered flag in 16th.

Leaving Michigan International Speedway behind him, Annett will now head to the home track of his sponsor, Pilot Travel Centers, at Bristol Motor Speedway, just miles from Pilot’s headquarters in nearby Knoxville, Tenn. The Nationwide Series hits the high banked .533 mile track for the Food City 250 under the lights on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. Live race coverage airs on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. 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.

For more information on sponsors of the No. 15 Toyota Camry, please visit www.pilottravelcenters.com and www.Germain.com.

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

Mooresville, N.C. (08-13-2010) - Germain Racing is adding more international flair to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Brazilian racer and two-time Porsche GT3-Cup champion Miguel Paludo to its Truck Series lineup. Paludo has driven this year in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East for Hattori Racing Enterprises. While he looks forward to the final three races of the K&N Pro Series East with HRE, Paludo will now broaden his NASCAR experiences. He will race the No. 77 Stemco Duroline Toyota Tundra in four Truck Series events and the No. 77 Stemco Duroline Camry in one ARCA RE/MAX Series event for Germain Racing.

"Since I was a little boy, I have dreamed of being a professional race car driver, and my goal has been to race in NASCAR. I often get asked about driving in open-wheel competition, but, for me, my love is truly stock car racing. It’s what I’ve done for many years and it’s what I want to do for my career. I’m very fortunate to have Stemco Duroline on this journey with me to drive for Toyota and Germain Racing in the Truck Series and ARCA,” said Paludo, a native of New Silver, Brazil, who’s first NCWTS race will be Bristol Motor Speedway, Wednesday, August 18th.

Germain Racing has actively watched Paludo develop this season, as the team maintains a technical partnership with HRE. Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. leads Germain Racing’s championship-winning No. 30 Germain.com Tundra team. Hillman has spent some time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East garage this year, and in years past, he has worked with Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve. Hillman says that Paludo displays a natural, raw driving talent.

"When accomplished race car drivers come to NASCAR from road racing, communication and driving style are usually their biggest challenges. Miguel has been very quick to adapt to the oval race tracks. He has been consistent and competitive each time he is behind the wheel of his Toyota and his communication with his crew has gotten better each race. We look forward to continuing to see his NASCAR career develop with Germain Racing,” said Hillman.

For Paludo, adding five events with Germain Racing to his 2010 racing schedule has been another great step toward his goal of being the first full-time Brazlian race car driver in NASCAR’s highest level.

“I’m really excited to take these next steps in my career. I am preparing to race full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I hope that we can do a good job for Stemco Duroline and Toyota in these five races this year to build a good foundation for the 2011 racing season. My goal is to learn something new with every single lap,” said Paludo.

Follow Miguel Paludo at miguelpaludo.com or on Twitter @mpaludo77. Follow Germain Racing at www.germainracing.com or on Twitter @germainracing.

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 - Bodine Leads Truck Series Championship Battle by 174-point margin

 - Has Earned More Top-10 Finishes at Darlington than Any Other NASCAR Track

 - Collected Germain Racing’s First NNS Top-Five Finish at Darlington (2008)

August 11, 2010 (Mooresville, N.C.) - The return of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to Darlington Raceway has more than just a few folks very excited. Germain Racing has a driver that has nothing but respect for the race track that is “Too Tough to Tame.” With one win at Darlington, Bodine has collected more top-ten finishes there than at any other NASCAR track.

“Darlington isn’t like other tracks. Every corner is different. It’s fast, it’s aggressive…it’s Darlington. I love it,” said Bodine, who has been atop the Truck Series points since May and has 16 top-ten’s at the historic SC track. “Darlington is a driver’s track. It takes a lot of patience and at the same time you’ve really got to get after it. I’ve always enjoyed Darlington from the first race I ever ran there and finished 5th in a (Nationwide Series) race car.”

Bodine also finished in the top-five in his last NNS race at Darlington—he started 15th and finished fourth, earning Germain Racing’s first NNS top-five.

“A lot has changed since the Truck Series raced at Darlington last. The track has been repaved, which means you should see a race with fewer pit stops. Tires won’t wear out like they used to but it’s still not a regular race—it’s Darlington,” said crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., who has chosen chassis TRD-122 to race at the “Lady in Black.”

Bodine has raced Darlington in each of NASCAR’s three national divisions. He has led laps in the two highest divisions, and in his one Truck Series race there, he spent most of the 150-lap event running in the top-five before finishing 20th. The points leader says every moment at Darlington is thrilling.

“There’s never a corner, a straightaway, not a single moment when you are under green at Darlington that you can forget about that race track. You race it every lap and you are racing the 35 trucks around you. It’s as thrilling for the drivers as it is for the Truck Series race fans watching from the grandstands and seeing the action on SPEED,” said Bodine.

Watch Bodine race 147 laps/200.8 miles at Darlington on Saturday, August 14th at 7:30 PM Eastern. Buy a ticket, watch the action live on SPEED or tune in to your local MRN affiliate.

Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing or on the web at Germainracing.com or become a Facebook fan.

When shopping for your new or used car or truck, head directly to Germain.com to find the perfect vehicle or visit your local Germain dealer in Ohio, Florida, or Arkansas. Germain.com is part of Germain Motor Company, a top-25 automotive retail network with 21 dealerships and more than 60 years of experience.

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Brooklyn, Mich. (August 11, 2010) – Nestled in the Irish Hills in the southeastern region of the Great Lakes State, Michigan International Speedway will host the second race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car this weekend before the car’s full integration into the series in 2011. With a four leaf clover affixed to the back of his helmet, Germain Racing’s Michael Annett will make his second ever appearance on Michigan International Speedway’s two mile D-shaped oval in Saturday’s Nationwide Series Carfax 250.

The Carfax 250 serves as the second of four Nationwide Series new car races this season after its debut race at Daytona International Speedway in July where Annett earned a 12th place finish. The Nationwide Series new car will have two more races this year at Richmond International Speedway in September and Charlotte Motor Speedway in October.

“I got a lot of seat time in the new car at Daytona during our test in May and throughout the race week there in July. I’m really excited about the direction NASCAR is taking on safety with these new cars. Not only have they made improvements in making our competition safer, but they are fun to drive and look really sporty too,” said Annett.

Currently sitting 11th in Nationwide Series points, just 53 markers outside of the top-10, Annett looks to improve his standing in the points race with another respectable finish in this weekend’s Carfax 250. Annett finished 13th at Michigan International Speedway in 2009 and has good results at Auto Club Speedway which is comparable to the Brooklyn, Mich. track. The 24-year-old driver has an average finish of 13th at Auto Club Speedway and notched his career best Nationwide Series finish of sixth there in October 2009.

Adding to the on-track excitement in the new car at Michigan International Speedway, race fans will be given the opportunity to meet Annett during an autograph session on Thursday. He and several of his Nationwide Series competitors will participate in an autograph signing from 4:30-5:15 p.m. outside the Turn One Grandstand Pavilion.

Nationwide Series track activity will begin with an extended day of practice in the new car on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Practice on Friday runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. with live coverage on SPEED. Saturday kicks off with qualifying at 10:10 a.m. on SPEED, and the green flag waves signaling the start of the Nationwide Series Carfax 250 at 2 p.m. Tune to ESPN and MRN Radio for live race coverage beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. 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.

For more information on sponsors of the No. 15 Toyota Camry, please visit www.pilottravelcenters.com and www.Germain.com.

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