‘Mad Max’ living dream
By Max Papis Racing | January 11, 2011 at 11:32 amBY GODWIN KELLY, MOTORSPORTS EDITOR
DAYTONA BEACH — It happens every time Max Papis gets to the gates at Daytona International Speedway.
“(Sunday) morning at 6 o’clock when I drove under that tunnel, I always have goose bumps,” said Papis in his Italian accent. “I couldn’t choose a better place to run my first laps of the year.”
Papis made it to Daytona for the final day of the Roar Before The Rolex 24 program, a combination of Grand-Am sportscar testing and fan fest. Dozens of race cars participated in the three-day event as a prep to the Jan. 29-30 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Papis was born in Italy and fell in love with American-style racing in the late 1990s. Now 41, the driver has a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ride lined up for 2011.
Max Papis, NASCAR race driver.
“That’s what I’ve wanted to be since the end of 2007,” he said. “This year with a chance to drive full-time in the trucks series, I definitely call myself a NASCAR boy.
“I am really proud of that because it took a lot of effort to have a full-time truck ride with a championship team.”
Papis will run for truck-title honors with Germain Racing. He made eight starts in 2010, along with 18 Sprint Cup and one Nationwide Series starts.
No matter what his full-time ride, Papis tries to get the Rolex 24 on his schedule. He said this is the race that made him famous, where he earned his “Mad Max” nickname.
“What created me (persona) was sportscar racing,” Papis said between test sessions in the No. 9 Action Express Racing Porsche Riley. “That’s why I always want to do the Daytona 24, or at least one 24 hour once a year.
“This one will be my 21st 24-hour race between Daytona and Le Mans. I’m very proud of that.”
There is a bit of irony with Papis’ ride.
Last year he finished second in the 24 as a co-driver of Ganassi Racing’s No. 01 BMW Riley. The team was runner-up to the No. 9, the same car he will race later this month.
“Last year I was with Ganassi and we were in the pits during the race saying, ‘Man, these guys are going to have something go wrong. Something will go wrong with that car.’ Instead, they were perfect. They ran like a clock,” Papis said.
“When I saw the guys from Ganassi (at the track), they asked me, ‘Who are you running with this year?’ And I told them the guys who beat us last year. It’s a new organization, but many of the people I have worked with before.”
Action Express has assumed control of what was Brumos Racing’s Daytona Prototype program. Brumos won in 2009. Action Express in 2010.
“I have a special feeling about this team because my first Grand-Am race, I ran for Bob Snodgrass, who owned Brumos Racing,” Papis said.
“Action Express Racing was born through its association with Brumos.
“I think about Bob when I come here. In one way I am living the dream he started for me and I’m really proud of that.”
As for being put in a driver category, Papis wants to follow the example of his all-time idol Mario Andretti.
“He could run a stock car, Indy-car, midget and do it all in the same week,” he said.
“It seems like today’s kids (young drivers) are very specialized, but I feel that’s not the true nature of our sport.
“When you are a race driver, you have to adapt yourself to any circumstance and do the best you can.”
