Hampton, Ga. (September 2, 2010) – Adding another esteemed partner to their 2010 sponsorship lineup, Germain Racing’s No. 15 Toyota Camry driven by Michael Annett will feature primary sponsorship from Valvoline this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. As a leading provider of automotive lubricants, Valvoline came on board as a sponsor of the team after a partnership with Germain Racing and Germain Motor Company was formed in June.

"Valvoline is very excited to be associated with Germain Racing and the Germain Motor Company," said John Scanlon, Valvoline's director of national accounts. "We have been impressed with Bob and Steve Germain's commitment to excellence and we are looking forward to a long relationship."

Annett reiterated that sentiment and noted Valvoline’s strong stance in the sport of racing and great presence in the consumer market, “Valvoline has a great reputation on the race track and on the highways across America, so having them on board as a partner means a great deal.

Our organization has support from several valued businesses and we’re excited about adding another respected sponsor to our program. I look forward to driving the red, white and blue No. 15 Valvoline Toyota at Atlanta and giving Valvoline and Germain Racing a great finish this weekend.”

With only 10 races left in the 2010 season, Annett stands 12th in the Nationwide Series points race with only 77 points separating him from the top-10. Working to score another strong finish at Atlanta after earning a 14th place finish and being awarded Rookie of the Race in his only start there in the 2009 Nationwide Series event, Annett hopes his skill on mile and a half tracks paired with the Germain Racing organization’s reputation for having a strong intermediate track program proves successful.

Nationwide Series cars hit the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway for a one day show on Saturday beginning with practice at 8 a.m. with final practice following at 9:30 a.m. Qualifying will kick off at 2:40 p.m. with live coverage airing on SPEED starting at 2:30 p.m. The green flag waves for the Nationwide Series Great Clips 300 at 7 p.m. Watch a live broadcast on ESPN 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. 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

Montreal, Canada (August 30, 2010) – In the NASCAR Nationwide Series’

only race outside of United States borders, Michael Annett and the No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza team anticipated a  promising finish in the 74 lap NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Halted by a late race accident when Annett experienced a mechanical issue, the Germain Racing team’s hopes were deflated with less than ten laps to go.

In his fifth ever road course attempt, Annett started 36th, but quickly gained ground on the pack making it into the top-20 on lap 19. A yellow flag was thrown on lap 20, and crew chief Ryan Fugle opted for Annett to stay out on the track rather than come to pit road.

Running on tires that were last changed on lap 8 and fuel that was topped off on lap 15, Annett restarted 13th on lap 24. He drove steadily in the top-20 before pitting under green on lap 44 for four fresh tires, fuel and a tear off. Back on the 2.71 mile track, he maintained a top-15 running position before trouble hit nearing the end of the race.

With nine laps to go, Annett’s top-15 run was slowed by a mechanical part failure causing a blown right front tire leading him to smack the wall in turn four. The caution came out and the day was ended early for the No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza team. Annett was scored 25th at the finish. He remained 12th in Nationwide Series championship owner points, just 77 points outside of the top-10.

The next stop on the Nationwide Series circuit is Atlanta Motor Speedway where the second tiered series will link back with the top ranked Sprint Cup Series. Annett, who reins as the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Race at Atlanta, looks to earn a respectable finish on the 1.54 mile track where he finished 14th last season. The Nationwide Series Great Clips 300 at Atlanta gets underway at 7 p.m. on Saturday with live coverage on ESPN 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Visit www.hype.com for the latest HYPE Energy buzz and product information.

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

Montreal, Canada (August 25, 2010) – Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza team will make their one and only stop outside of the United States this weekend as the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit ventures to Montreal, Canada for the Napa Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The 74 lap race will be the third and final road course race for the Nationwide Series before their final ten races of the 2010 season.

Annett’s trip to Montreal for Sunday’s race will be the second time he’s competed in a NASCAR event north of the border after he finished 18th in last year’s Nationwide Series race on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s 2.71 mile road course. But stock car racing hasn’t been the only sport that the 24-year-old driver has competed in outside of the United States. The former AAA ice hockey defensemen for Team Illinois performed on the rink in games versus Canadian teams in Calgary and Toronto at the age of 16.

Annett’s transition from the rink to the racetrack at the age of 18 has allowed him four previous road course starts. Although he was plagued with transmission issues in both of this year’s previous road course races, Annett battled to finish 24th at the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Road America and 19th at Watkins Glen International this season in his No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry.

With international ties to Pilot Flying J and HYPE Energy, Annett will pilot the No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza Toyota Camry in Sunday’s Napa Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge. With loyal sponsor Pilot Travel Centers’ recent acquisition of Flying J, Sunday’s Nationwide Series event will be the first ever appearance of the No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza Toyota Camry. Over 60 of Pilot Flying J’s 550 locations are centered in Canada. HYPE Energy, an associate sponsor of the No. 15 Germain Racing team, will feature their HYPE Energy Organic product on the deck lid of the car.

“I’m really excited to have Flying J on our No. 15 Toyota Camry for the first time this weekend. It’s an honor to have an excellent company with two great brands behind me,” said Annett. “I appreciate all the support that the Pilot Flying J team provides me. They have truly fueled my dream of building a successful career in motorsports. I’m looking forward to getting on track this weekend and giving Pilot Flying J and Germain Racing a great finish.”

The No. 15 Flying J Travel Plaza Nationwide Series car will hit the road course at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday for practice at 9 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. Qualifying will follow at 5:05 p.m. The Napa Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge begins at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tune to ESPN 2 for live coverage of final practice, qualifying and the race. A live race broadcast begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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.

Visit www.hype.com for the latest HYPE Energy buzz and product information.

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

Bristol, Tenn. (August 23, 2010) – Friday night under the lights of Bristol Motor Speedway’s .533 mile bullring, Michael Annett and the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers team looked to score a repeat of their top-10 finish in last year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250. But faced with bad luck on pit road and a bite of the hard racing that Bristol’s famed for, Annett and the team left Thunder Valley with an 18th place finish.

The Germain Racing driver made a 23rd place qualifying effort and raced in the top-25 until the first caution of the event was thrown on lap 55, marking the longest green flag stretch in the last 23 Nationwide Series races. Annett reported being too tight on the bottom and loose in, but one lap down, he opted to stay out on the track to get the wave around rather than coming to pit road.

Restarting 22nd, Annett maintained his position until the second yellow flag of the night waved on lap 81. Making their first visit of the night to pit road, the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers pit crew changed four tires, made track bar and air pressure adjustments and refueled. Annett restarted 18th.

Battling Bristol’s high banked track, he worked his way closer to the front of the pack and was running 12th when the third caution was called on lap 116. Adjusting race strategy, crew chief Ryan Fugle opted for a two tire stop this time through allowing Annett to restart ninth on lap 123.

With track position on their side and confidence that the they were working their way towards a strong finish on Pilot Travel Center’s home track, the No. 15 team looked to make their third pit stop of the night after the caution flag flew again on lap 157. In an attempt to change four tires during the stop, a pit gun broke allowing only right side tires to be changed. The broken pit gun was exchanged for a new one and Annett was ordered to reenter pit road for left side tires before the restart. The team’s misfortune forced the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Camry to restart 23rd.

The next caution came out on lap 186 and Annett stayed out on the track.

Rebounding from the team’s previous tough luck on pit road, he restarted 19th. Still working on gaining back track position, Annett had worked his way to 16th when he was caught in the tail end of a wreck on the front stretch bringing out the seventh caution of the night on lap 225. The Germain Racing driver made a trip to pit road as the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers pit crew changed four tires and fuel, as well as surveyed and repaired the damage to the car. Annett restarted 22nd and drove through the checkered flag in 18th.

Up next, the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers team will compete in their only race outside of the United States this season as they trek to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge. The 74 lap road course race will air live on ESPN 2 and MRN Radio at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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

2010 official Michael Annett merchandise is now for sale on www.michaelannett.com. Added to the collection are two t-shirts for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The new shirts come in black and in white and feature the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry and driver Michael Annett. The white selection comes in both adult and youth sizes, and the black t-shirt in adult sizes. Adult shirts sell for $20 and youth sizes for $15. Also available are Michael Annett No. 15 hats for $11, Michael Annett black sponsor logo tees for $14 and No. 15 distressed gray t-shirts for $14. All official Michael Annett merchandise can be purchased on www.michaelannett.com under the “Merchandise” tab.

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

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

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

Watkins Glen, N.Y. (August 9, 2010) – In their second of three road course races on the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, Michael Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 team fought for a 19th place finish at Watkins Glen International after battling transmission issues throughout the second half of the 200 mile race.

Annett started the Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at the Glen 24th and made his first pit stop of the day on lap 10. Livonia, N.Y. native, crew chief Ryan Fugle, called for the No. 15 Germain.com Toyota Camry to take four tires and fuel on their visit to pit road before the first caution of the 82 lap event occurred on lap 19.

Before his second stop on pit road, Annett reported a tight handling condition when he was free-rolling and back to the gas. In addition to a new set of Goodyears and fuel, air pressure adjustments were made to help ease the car’s tight condition. The No. 15 Germain.com Toyota restarted 24th on lap 23, but after the drop of the green a multi-car pileup brought out the red flag for over 25 minutes. With help from his spotter, Annett was able to avoid the incident to keep his car damage-free.

As the race ended early for several cars involved in the accident, Annett was boosted to 12th for the restart on lap 26. He continued to ride in the top-15 before reporting a loose handling condition on lap 30, along with transmission issues.

Although plagued with transmission trouble the second half of the race, Annett maintained a top-20 position to pull off a 19th place finish in the 82 lap Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at the Glen. He moved 53 points closer to the top-10 in the Nationwide Series championship point race with his finish at Watkins Glen, leaving him just 48 points outside of the top-10 in 11th.

Leaving road course racing behind, Annett and Germain Racing will now head to Michigan International Raceway for the Nationwide Series Carfax 250.

Annett returns to Michigan after finishing 13th there last year and looks to follow through with another respectable finish in Saturday’s race.

Tune to ESPN for live coverage of the Carfax 250 at 1 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.

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

Watkins Glen, N.Y. (August 4, 2010) – Following a seventh place finish last week at his home track, Iowa Speedway, Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett will be modifying his on-track technique this weekend by not only steering left, but making right hand turns as well. In their second road course race of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Annett and Germain Racing’s No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers team will compete at Watkins Glen International’s 11 turn course in Saturday’s Zippo 200 at the Glen.

Annett won’t be the only team member altering his routine, the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers pit crew will have to make an unfamiliar change on pit road. With cars entering pit road from the left side rather than the normal right side, crew members have used daily pit practices to rehearse pitting on the opposite side. Watkins Glen is one of two races this season where the pit stop is reversed, with the other being Road America.

As the team travels to Watkins Glen International located in upstate New York, two members of the Germain Racing family will visit their home state. Crew chief Ryan Fugle and general manager Mike Hillman Sr. both hail from the Empire State.

Fugle grew up in Livonia, N.Y. before moving to North Carolina to get his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte and to pursue a career in racing. The 26-year-old crew chief quickly climbed the ranks, being named crew chief of the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry in 2009. Annett and Fugle are in their second season together in the Nationwide Series after finishing 10th in the championship point standings in 2009.

Hillman Sr. is a native of Lockport, N.Y. and has served as general manager for the Germain Racing organization since it’s inception in 2004. He prides himself in the team’s 2006 championship victory in the Camping World Truck Series and the growth of Germain Racing to include all three of NASCAR’s top-ranked series.

In his second career start on Watkins Glen International’s 11 turn, 2.45 mile road course, Germain Racing driver Annett will hit the track for practice on Friday from 2-4 p.m. Road course qualifying gears up on Saturday at 9:10 a.m., and the green flag drops for the Zippo 200 at the Glen at 2 p.m. For live race coverage, tune to ESPN and MRN Radio at 1:30 p.m. Practice and qualifying can be seen live on ESPN 2. 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