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Geico Inks Deal With Mike
Wallace, Not With Race Team |
In a “unique arrangement,” NASCAR driver Mike Wallace has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Geico, under which the company will pay Wallace, who is in turn contracting with Phoenix Racing for at least two seasons, according to Lee Montgomery of NASCAR SCENE. Geico Exec VP Bill Roberts said, “We’ve established a relationship directly with Mike Wallace the driver, not through a team. In the auto insurance business, we work directly with our customers. We felt we wanted that same type of relationship with Mike in NASCAR.” Wallace noted that Phoenix will “take care of the performance side of the deal,” with Geico and Player Management Int’l handling marketing. Wallace said the sponsorship has a “really high budget.” He added that he “shopped the Geico deal to Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. before settling on the No. 1 Phoenix team he currently drives for” in the Busch Series. Wallace said the deal could include 10-12 Nextel Cup races in ‘07 (
NASCAR SCENE, 10/19 issue).
