Germain Prepared for NKNPSE Season Opener at Greenville

NASCAR Night with Charlotte Bobcats and

Shriners Hospital Visit are Highlights Leading into Race Weekend

Mooresville, N.C. (03-23-2011) – This time last year, Zach Germain was looking forward to the start of his NASCAR racing career. The Columbus, OH, native, saw the Greenville-Pickens Speedway season debut as a test on so many levels. Now he looks forward to the kick off of his sophomore season with a sense of preparation and confidence. But, he still knows he and the No. 24 Germain Racing Camry team will be tested when the green flag waves on Saturday night.

“I was able to learn a ton in the ten K&N Pro Series races last year. There certainly is a difference between going into Greenville-Pickens Speedway last year and this year. Last year, I’d never raced this car or raced the track. That said, I think Greenville is going to be an all new experience for this No. 24 Germain Racing Camry team,” said Germain.

The goals have changed for the sophomore driver, who began last season focused on finishing races. This year, he and crew chief Jamie Jones expect top-ten performances.

“Our biggest goal this year it is to become a top-ten team. If we can do that, we’ve become successful. We need to practice in the top-ten, qualify and run in the top-ten. We saw in the off-season that we can run with the best teams, and, our goal is to do that every week this year,” said crew chief Jamie Jones.

Germain tested his new No. 24 Germain Racing Camry at Greenville last week. He realized then how the work he and his team did in the off-season, and the addition of NASCAR champion David Green to the spotter’s stand, have changed his vantage point leading into Saturday’s South Carolina race.

“Before we got to Greenville for the test, I had my ideas of what I expected. I had to laugh because it was still a new experience. I didn’t remember the track surface as being that rugged and, because my laps were much more aggressive than last season, our car was pretty loose off of turns two and four,” smiled the Miami University graduate. “There was some peer pressure there with so many other K&N Pro Series teams at the track for the test session, but, over the hundreds of laps we logged, I really got to see how I’ve changed as a driver.”

Green first worked with Germain in Phoenix last year.

“David has been great at helping me become more confident and aggressive. Last year, it was all about ‘defense.’ This year, we have our cautiously aggressive team motto, and, David helps me understand the different points when I should be thinking of passes and when I should not” said Germain.

Before Germain gets to see the Greenville fans again, he’ll make a couple other appearances. Wednesday night he will sign autographs at NASCAR Night at the Charlotte Bobcats game. On Friday morning, Germain will visit Shriners Hospital for Children—aside from the waving of the green flag on Saturday night, Germain considers this stop possibly the favorite part of his race weekend.

Zach Germain is on Twitter @ZachGermain and Facebook (facebook.com/pages/Zach-Germain-Racing/117537741607395). Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing or on the web at Germainracing.com or become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Germain-Racing/198863890135.

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Media Contact: Lori Smith, Germain Racing 704-651-0606 (M) or Lsmith@germain.com

NASCAR may have "slowed down" this weekend,  but the gang from Auto Smarts as presented by Germain Cadillac will be on the clock and on the air this Sunday from 10am-12n on 95.5 The Hawk and Wink 107.1! Join hosts Dan "Boots" Longenette, Randy Rhinehart and Lex McAllister as they welcome co-host Steve Germain back to the program! Steve has been on special assignment in Phoenix and Las Vegas the last couple of weeks but he's back this Sunday with all of the inside scoop on the auto industry and the last two NASCAR weekends. Steve and the rest of the Auto Smarts crew want to hear from you! They will be taking your calls at 614-389-4044 or toll free at 855-786-0556! You can also email them by going to www.autosmartsradio.com. While you're there, check out the site and see all of the ways Auto Smarts as presented by Germain Cadillac can help you out when it comes to anything automotive!  

They also have your fashion needs taken care of too! You may not know it to look at him but Boots is a very fashion conscience guy! Ok, so maybe he's not, but Lex is and in the second hourthis Sunday, the gang will talk to Adrian Gilbert of www.furianleather.com. Adrian has the perfect leather jackets for men and women that love to ride as much as they love the Buckeyes! Jack Moser will check in with some advice during his weekly bustedfordrunkdriving.com feature and Michael Sacks of Kimmel and Silverman will deliver this weeks 1-800 Lemon Law Lemon Aid Minute.    

For more information, contact:

Randy Rhinehart        randy@autosmarts4u.com              614-389-4044

  or   Mike Austin               mikeaustin@rocketm.com 

The Auto Smarts experts are standing by to take your calls! Dan "Boots" Longenette is a surgeon under the hood. With over 20 years in the car industry, if your car is sick, Boots can help you nurse it back to health! Steve Germain was born to sell cars! Germain Motor Company was founded by Steve's family in 1947. Today, Steve and his family own 19 dealerships in 3 states! Steve can answer any question you may have about buying a new or used car. Lex McAllister isn't just a pretty face! If you have a question about your motorcycle, Lex can help you get your motor runnin'! Randy Rhinehart will also be on hand to help keep the crew in line! Give them a call at: 614-389-2967. You can also email them at: autosmartsradio.com and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Join them this and every Sunday from 10am-12n on 95.5 The Hawk and Wink 107.1
  
Heather Ross of LKQ Online will be joining the crew this Sunday. LKQ Online is North America's largest online provider of used auto parts for cars and light-duty trucks requiring collision or mechanical repair. LKQ also distributes refurbished parts such as wheels, bumper covers and lights. If you've been looking for a part for your car or truck, call: 614-389-2967 and Heather from LKQ Online will help get you fixed up!
 
 Jack Moser will have some legal advice for you to ponder during his bustedfordrunkdriving.com feature. The crew will also hear from Michael Sacks of Kimmel and Silverman during his weekly 1-800 Lemon Law Lemon Aid Minute.  
  
The crew is standing by for your calls at: 614-389-2967 or email: autosmartsradio.com. You're auto questions answered!

For more information contact:   Randy Rhinehart   randy@autosmarts4u.com   614-795-8469

Homestead, FL (11-19-2010) – Friday night, Todd Bodine put the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra where it has been so many times this season – at the front of the field. He led 18 laps and finished fourth in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The scenario might sound familiar to fans of Germain Racing and Todd Bodine as the No. 30 Tundra has led laps in 14 races this season and finished in the top-five on 17 occasions, including four victories. When the checkered flag waved the 2010 season to a close after 134 laps of racing at Homestead, the focus for Bodine and Germain Racing turned from winning races to celebrating a great season and their second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

“Year after year, we consistently win and run up front. It shows the character of this Germain Racing team and what it’s about. To do this year in, year out it shows the character and what we’re all about. We never give up. We’ve had turnover in five years, but Mike Hillman Jr. (crew chief) and Mike Hillman Sr. (General Manager) have a knack for finding good people. We’ve lost good people and they find good people to replace them. In five years we never faltered, we never gave up. Last year, we should’ve given up, but we didn’t, and here we are, champions again,” said Bodine, who is the third driver in Truck Series history to earn multiple titles as well as the third driver to have clinched his title before the season ended

Team owner Bob Germain Jr. explained that this championship, certainly had a different feel than their first title win in 2006.

“In 2006 we were in a position where we were almost expected to win the championship. In 2009, we raced on a week to week basis and I really don’t think it worked very well. So, when we started 2010, we made a commitment to the team that we were going to run for a championship. We made the commitment to run every race. From that point, Todd, Mike Jr. and the guys took over and got it done,” explained Bob Germain, team owner of Germain Racing. “We weren’t expected to win in 2010. But these guys worked so hard every week. We went to the track each week with the best stuff we’ve had in a long time. Mike Hillman Jr. worked through so much this season with personal issues and his injury, but Todd and Mike stayed focused, worked hard every week and I appreciate it. This championship…Mike Jr. had a lot to do with it, I think.”

Bodine agreed with Germain but crew chief Hillman Jr. clarified that the results of this season were the result of a combined effort of team and driver.

“I’m the lucky guy that gets called a crew chief. I’m blessed to be surrounded by the people that I’m surrounded by. Todd drives his butt off every week and gives us 110 percent. It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished. We weren’t sure where Germain Racing was headed when we left Homestead last year. Bob, Steve and Rick told us to go get another championship. They put their faith in us, and we were able to do what they asked for. It’s really awesome to be able to sit here and do this again,” explained Hillman Jr. “My guys on the 30 truck, they poured their heart into every truck we built this season. The pit stops this season were nothing short of amazing and we had great support from people who work at the shop at Germain Racing. This championship is because of all their hard work and I appreciate it.”

Bodine talked about the sense of pride in racing a truck bearing the Germain name.

“We’re proud to be able to go out every week and represent the Germain family with Germain Motor Company on the side of that truck. To be able to come out of here champions, there’s nothing better than for us to be able to do that for them,” explained Bodine.

Team owner Steve Germain summarized the season expressing confidence that the celebration of this second Truck Series championship will not be the last of successes that Germain Racing will celebrate.

“We know the mistakes we made in 2009 and we didn’t repeat those in 2010. There’s no reason for us to go back to doing anything but having a championship team again next year. We’ve got a lot of momentum and we’ve got a great team. So next year I think you’ll see us do even better,” explained Germain. “I’ve never seen a team so determined as the 30 Tundra team this season. They were on a mission. Well, mission accomplished.”

Germain Racing scored four wins, 17 top five and 20 top ten finishes in the 2010 season. By winning four races, they became the second team in Truck Series history to earn multiple wins for seven consecutive seasons.

For more on Germain Racing, visit GermainRacing.com.

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     Brad Keselowski is the king of the hill!  Nationwide Insurance hosted the NASCAR Nationwide Series champion explaining what it takes to make a winning team.   Randy Rhinehart moderated the panel discussion, while Dan “Boots” Longenette sat down and had a one-on-one with the pride of Rochester Hills, Michigan.  It all gets the spotlight treatment on this weekend’s edition of Auto Smarts presented by Germain.com, Sunday from 10am-12n on 95.5 The Hawk and Wink 107.1.

      Co-hosts Steve Germain and Lex McAllister have also been very busy in the last week.  Steve has plenty to share in his weekly installment of Steve’s Car Talk.  From running 19 car dealerships, to owning a handful of NASCAR teams, to keeping up with the very latest industry news, Steve offers his insight in easy to understand terms.  Plus, he can explain GERMAIN ADVANTEDGE and their Shop Smart Holiday Event.

        Lex McAllister was born to market!  She runs her own PR firm and is ready to launch her own women’s show, No Excuses.  In her “free” time, she’s cooking up her own transportation advice in her segment known as Lex Flex.       

     Boots is an automotive almanac.  He’s standing by to answer all transportation questions.  A veteran of over 20 years in the industry, Boots has sold it, torn it apart, repaired it, and sold it again.    If you’ve got a question, he’s got the answer

     Feature?  Oh yes!  Jack Moser offers up more legal insights in his weekly busted for drunk driving.com feature.  Michael Sacks of Kimmel and Silverman gets the podium for his        1-800 Lemon Law Lemon Aid Minute.   

         For more information contact:   Randy Rhinehart

         Auto Smarts presented by Germain.com 614-795-8469     randy@autosmarts4u.com    

 • Bodine Clinched the NCWTS Championship Title Last Week in Phoenix

 • Bodine is Third Driver in Truck Series History to Win Multiple Titles, and Clinch Early

 • Germain Racing has 22 Truck Series Victories and Nine Pole Awards

 • Bodine Owns 21 Truck Series wins with Germain Racing and 36 NASCAR career wins

 • Bodine’s 2010 Season Stats include 4 wins, 2 poles, 16 top-fives and 19 top-tens

Mooresville, N.C. (November 16, 2010) - As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series steers toward Miami, Florida, Germain Racing has a unique ‘advantage’ heading into the 2010 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Todd Bodine has already been crowned the 2010 Truck Series champion; he’s the third driver in series history to earn the title before the season’s final race. The 2010 Champions are heading to Homestead with only one thing on their mind—win number three at the Miami track.

“We can take a deep breath and go race to win. We don’t have to watch the computer every lap. We can race to win, which is what we like to do. We want to cap off the season with the Germain.com Tundra in victory lane because that’s the best way we can thank everyone who’s poured their heart and soul into this 30 team this year,” said crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. “We go to the track every week to win, We can go race to win 100% this week. No points racing. We’re the 2010 champions—and it feels great.”

The driver of the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra, Bodine agrees that going to Homestead this time around feels different.

“It’s nice to come to Homestead and not have to worry. The last time we ran for the championship, we had to race Johnny Benson at Homestead and it wasn’t quite as enjoyable at the time. It was pretty nerve-racking. To be able to come down here and enjoy it, the success this No. 30 Germain.com Tundra team has had this year, it means a lot,” said Bodine, who is now the third Truck Series champ with multiple titles (2006, 2010).

Bodine attributes his early clinch of this year’s series championship to the consistency and hard work from the Germain Racing team that fields the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra each week.

“Germain Racing has done such a great job. All the guys at the shop and Triad and the guys on the road crew. Mike Hillman Jr. has led this team to another championship. It shows his leadership skills and it shows how good a person he is.  We have a never give up attitude -- that’s what brought us to this point and got us here. We never give up.  We’ve been down and we’ve been laps down and come back and win races.  We don’t give up and I’m proud to be the guy that drives this Toyota Tundra for a great race team,” explained Bodine after he clinched the championship in Phoenix.

Mike Hillman Jr. explains that this championship has a different meaning for him and the members of his team.

“Your first one’s always special. It’s really awesome. But, to keep the core group of people together for five years like we have done here at Germain Racing, and to be able to keep our performance level up...This 30 Tundra team has won at least two races each season, we’ve stayed in the top-five in points. To get another championship, it just proves the never give up attitude of Germain Racing is what it’s all about,” explained Hillman.

Bodine is strapping into racing chassis TRD-131 for Friday’s season finale. The truck hasn’t finished outside the top-5 in any of its 11 races. This Toyota has earned three of the team’s four wins this year and two pole awards. Watch Bodine in the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra on Friday, November 19th, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. SPEED will cover Truck Series practice on Friday at 5 PM ET, and live racing at 7:30.

Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing or on the web at Germainracing.com or become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Germain-Racing/198863890135.

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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     His title is Director of Operations for Germain Motor Company.  But what does that mean?  John Malishenko of Germain Motor Company explains what it’s like to be a part of a thriving car empire when he joins  Dan “Boots” Longenette,  Lex McAllister, and Randy Rhinehart on Auto Smarts presented by Germain.com, Sunday from 10am-12n on 95.5 The Hawk and Wink 107.1.  Co-host Steve Germain is on assignment covering the end of the NASCAR Chase.    

     What’s your first car story?  It’s a topic we’ve bandied about on the show for more nearly two years!   The listeners spoke last weekend and jammed the phone lines, so we want to hear more about your first set of wheels…whether it was a lean mean driving machine or a bucket of bolts!  The best stories get the green flag for an Auto Smarts prize package

      The majority of the rest of the program is dedicated to you…the callers, the emailers.  The crew is ready for your questions at 821-HAWK (9465) or toll free at 888-821-9465.   You can also email the crew at www.autosmartsradio.com and join them via Facebook or Twitter!

     Have a new car or automotive legal question you need some help with?  Michael Sacks of Kimmel and Silverman has your back in his 1-800 Lemon Law Lemon Aid Minute.   What is an administrative license suspension?   Jack Moser knows the answer and explains it in layman’s terms in another thought-provoking installment of his weekly busted for drunk driving.com feature.  

For more information contact:   Randy Rhinehart

         Auto Smarts presented by Germain.com 614-795-8469     randy@autosmarts4u.com

Bodine Officially The Champ After Phoenix

Mooresville, N.C. (11-13-2010) - After only 24 of 25 races in the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Todd Bodine and Germain Racing's No. 30 Germain.com Tundra crew clinched the championship title. His 12th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway gave him a 202-point lead over fellow Toyota driver Aric Almirola which locked up the title for Bodine. This is Germain Racing and Bodine's second Truck Series championship title.

“During the past five years, we have been one of the most consistent teams in the Camping World Truck Series,” says Bodine. “I can’t thank the guys on this Germain Racing team enough for all their hard work over the years, both at the track and in the shop. We’ve had some ups and downs since our 2006 championship, but this one is extra special to share with the Germain family, the Hillman family and all the sponsors who have supported us throughout the year.”

The 2010 Truck Series title marks the fourth NASCAR driver’s championship for Toyota since the manufacturer entered the sport in 2004. Germain Racing has given Toyota two of those four titles - 2006 and 2010. The No. 30 Germain.com Tundra also contributed heavily to this season's Tundra win count of 14 wins in 24 races by collecting four victories so far.

"We have been blessed with a great team of supporters. At the top of the list is the Germain family for having the vision to start this team. And then you go directly to Toyota, because Toyota is the reason the Germain's started this team. Germain Motor Company proudly operates four Toyota and three Lexus franchises, so winning this championship is a win not just for everyone at Germain Racing - in the shop and in the pits - but it's a win for all of the Germain Motor Company employees, vendors and partners that are behind this No. 30 Germain.com Tundra team," said crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., who has held the reigns for this team through both championship wins.

Germain Racing has enjoyed support from several sponsors throughout the seasons. This year, Valvoline and GEICO both took their turns adorning the hood of the No. 30 Tundra.

"The support of sponsors like Valvoline and GEICO have helped keep this team focused on winning. This championship is as much theirs as it is ours, and we are happy to have been able to turn in such exciting performances as we have done this season for Valvoline and GEICO and for our long-time team sponsor, Germain Motor Company," said Hillman.

Bodine and the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra team now turn their focus on the 2010 Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night, November 19th. The team's four wins is still one shy of their all-time season high of five wins, earned in 2005. You can bet that Bodine, Hillman and all the faces behind the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra will be focused on getting their favorite race truck, TRD-131, into victory lane one more time. The truck has collected three of the four wins this season and will be sporting a special, updated paint scheme at Homestead.

Watch Friday's 134 laps of Miami racing live on SPEED starting at 7:30 PM ET 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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