Stapylton, QLD: Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) today made the exciting announcement of their 2012 Season of Endurance and Gold Coast co-drivers. 

Drawing from both Australasian and international driver talent pools, the team is excited about the skills and experience these drivers will bring to the four-car team throughout October.

Pairing up with Steve Johnson in the Jim Beam backed car #17 will be Allan Simonsen for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the Sandown 500 and Max Papis for the AmorAll Gold Coast 600.  Simonsen has been a constant competitor in the V8 Supercars series in recent years, having completed his first Bathurst 1000 back in 2003 and 7 times since.  In 2011, Simonsen scored his first podium at the Great Race. 

 Max Papis, also known as ‘Mad Max’, has a career that spans NASCAR, A1GP, Le Mans and Formula 1.  He has also earned numerous victories and championships racing in the CART and Grand-Am Series. Frequently appearing in the high profile Indy 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona, Papis will race in the International V8 Supercars for the first time in 2012 with Dick Johnson Racing at the Gold Coast.

 Dean Fiore will be joined in his #12 Jim Beam Racing Falcon by V8 Supercar stalwart, Matt Halliday for the Bathurst and Sandown races and Gianni Morbidelli once again for the Gold Coast event.  Morbidelli has over 30 years motor sport experience including 70 Formula 1 starts.  Matt Halliday will again join Jim Beam Racing and complete his 8th Bathurst.

Team Norton DJR car #18 pilot, James Moffat, will race with former DJR endurance driver, Alex Davison, for the endurance races and the experienced racer, Peter Kox, for the Gold Coast.  Davison, previously drove for DJR back in 2006 and 2007 when he scored two top 10 finishes at Bathurst. 

Peter Kox, an international motor sport professional with over 30 years experience, joins the team during a busy year for the Dutchman.  Kox will drive in the FIA GT World Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and Blancpain Series (a previous winner of the latter two).  Kox will also undertake development work for SaReNi / Reiter Engineering’s Camaro GT3.

Steve Owen, will again be joined in the #49 V.I.P. Petfoods car for the endurance races by DJR Team Strategist, Paul Morris, this time in their new DJR prepared Ford Falcon.  The pair came 9th in the 2011 race.  His international co-driver for the Gold Coast race will once again be the experienced American NASCAR and Le Mans racer, Boris Said.  The pair claimed a top 10 finish in the second race of the 2011 event.

Dick Johnson, Owner and Team Principal, Dick Johnson Racing commented, “This year we needed to source eight co-drivers to team up with our regular season drivers.  We were pleased that many of the internationally acclaimed drivers agreed to come back and race with us again. 

“With a team the size ours, it was important we found drivers who were of an exceptional standard but who also fitted with our team dynamic.  They need to hit the ground running and fit in quickly in October and the group we have found, we believe, due to their experience and professionalism, will be excellent additions to the DJR team,” Johnson added.

 About Dick Johnson Racing

 Dick Johnson Racing is the longest operating racing team in Australia, with over 30 years of racing and business experience.  The team is owned by 5-time Australian Touring Car Champion and 3-time Bathurst winner, Dick Johnson. 

Current regular season drivers are; Steven Johnson, who pilots his father’s famous numbered car #17, for Jim Beam Racing, Dean Fiore in car #12 who also drives for Jim Beam Racing, James Moffat, son of motor racing legend, Allan Moffat, in car #18 for Team Norton DJR and Steve Owen in car #49 for V.I.P. Petfoods.

For more information on our history and our brands, please visit www.djr.com.au

We can also also be joined via Facebook: www.facebook.com/JimBeamRacing, www.facebook.com/TeamNortonDJR, www.facebook.com/V.I.P.PetfoodsRacing, www.facebook.com/DJRLiveRacingFeed

FOR JIM BEAM RACING CAR #17:

 About Steven Johnson (Dick Johnson Racing Regular Season Driver 2012, car #17)

The son of Team Owner, Dick Johnson, Steven has stamped himself as one of the most consistent performers in the V8 Supercars Championship over the past 18 years. Starting his V8 Supercar career in 1994 as an Endurance Diver with DJR, Steven has had almost 400 race starts with nearly half of these finishing in the top 10. 

Johnson & DJR have endured some tough times but podium finishes at Bathurst and Bahrain in 2007 as well as a string of Top 10 finishes was a key element in putting DJR back on track and provided a solid base to build upon.

With the newly expanded 4 car team and new personnel in 2012, Johnson has stepped up to a genuine leadership role within the team.

For more information, please visit www.stevejohnson.com.au

About Allan Simonsen (Dick Johnson Racing Endurance Driver 2012, car #17)

Allan’s passion for racing started in 1989 with Junior Karting. He soon progressed up the karting ranks, winning the Danish and Nordic championship 4 times. In 1999, he progressed to the Danish Formula Ford, taking out the Championship in his rookie season.

He first moved into the V8 Supercars in 2003, competing in the Bathurst 1000 for Garry Rogers Motorsport.  He also won the Australian GT championship in 2007 and the Asian Le Mans Series in 2009.

Between 2004 and 2011, Simonsen completed 7 V8 Supercar ‘Season Of Endurance’ events, with his highest finish at

the 2011 event, getting on the Bathurst 1000 podium for the first time. In 2012, he joins the four-car Dick Johnson

Racing operation and will partner with Steve Johnson for the Bathurst and Sandown endurance events.

For more information, please visit www.AllanSimonsen.com

About Max Papis (Dick Johnson Racing Gold Coast 600 International Driver 2012, car #17)

Max is one of the most versatile and accomplished race drivers in the world, a consummate professional who through out his career has combined natural talent, hard work, focus and sheer determination to win as he climbed each step, surpassing his limits and building an impressive résumé in the process.

In 1996, fresh out of Formula 1, Papis went to America and made an immediate impact in the driving circles when, at the end of a particularly tough Daytona 24 Hours and at the wheel of a factory Ferrari prototype, he put on a very spirited, ‘never-say-die’ drive to chase the leaders, which earned him the nickname “Mad Max” Papis. It stuck ever since, and he is still driving like that.

In 2012, Max will make his International V8 Supercars debut, driving with Steve Johnson at the Gold Coast 600.

For more information, please visit www.maxpapis.com and follow Max on  twitter.com/maxpapis

FOR JIM BEAM RACING CAR #12:

 About Dean Fiore (Dick Johnson Racing Regular Season Driver, car #12)

In 2012, Dean is competing in his fourth full year in the International V8 Supercar Championship.  He debuted at the Clipsal 500 in 2009 with no previous V8 Supercar experience, coming an overall 15th in the race, with the Team Kiwi outfit run by Paul Morris Motorsports (PMM). Eventually the Fiore family took over the TKR Racing Entitlements Contract and continued to run a VE Commodore under the Triple F Racing banner with preparation from PMM.

2011 saw Triple F establish their own team with a base on the Gold Coast after purchasing the former Fabian Coulthard/Wilson Security Racing FG Falcon to run under the Triple F Racing banner.

In 2012, Dean has joined the longest operating racing team in Australia, Dick Johnson Racing, where his new Jim Beam Falcon will be prepared and run by the team out of their Queensland-based headquarters.

About Matt Halliday (Dick Johnson Racing Endurance Driver 2012, car #12)

Matt Halliday is a New Zealand born international racing driver who has been contesting a variety of racing categories worldwide.

Having risen through the ranks of junior formulae such as karting and Formula Ford he quickly progressed to international racing championships including Formula Holden in Australia, Indy Lights in the USA and Formula Renault V6 in Europe and Asia.

The highest profile categories he has raced in include Australian V8 Supercars endurance races, USA Champcars, A1GP and more recently the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup contested in Europe and the Middle East.

When his commitments allow, Matt also returns to New Zealand to contest selected Porsche GT3 events.  2012 will see Matt race in the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship for China Exim Bank Porsche.

For more information, please visit www.matthalliday.com 

About Gianni Morbidelli  (Dick Johnson Racing Gold Coast 600 International Driver 2012, car #12)

Gianni Morbidelli started karting at the age of 12, spending six years in the junior ranks.  He moved into the Italian Formula 3 from 1987, taking out the title in 1989.  1990 saw Morbidelli experience Formula 1, driving for Scuderia Italia and the Minardi team.  He also test drove for Ferrari before focussing on Formula 3000 for the rest of the season.  In 1991 and 1992, he returned to Minardi but retained his test driver spot with Ferrari.  Upon retiring from Formula 1 in 1997, he had completed 70 races.

From 1998 to 2066, Morbidelli turned his attention to Touring Cars and GT, competing in several British and European championships.  He had considerable success from 2007, racing in the Italian Superstars Championship, where he won the title with both Audi RS4 and BMW M3 three years in a row.

Morbidelli first drove a V8 Supercar with Dean Fiore at the 2010 Gold Coast 600, where the pair came 9th in the Saturday race.  He joined Fiore again the following year, and will also race again on the Gold Coast in 2012.

For more information, please visit www.giannimorbidelli.com

FOR TEAM NORTON DJR CAR #18:

About James Moffat (Dick Johnson Racing Regular Season Driver, car #18)

The son of Australian Touring Car legend Allan Moffat, James grew up around racing and immediately developed a similar passion for motorsport. He began kart racing in 1998 until he moved into circuit racing in at the end of 2002. 

It wasn’t until 2004 though, that James really hit his stride, earning himself consecutive Rookie of the Year titles for the Lotus Trophy, V8 Ute Series, Australian Formula Ford Championship, Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship and the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series between 2004 and 2009.

In 2010 James joined Ford Rising Stars Racing and he finishing 3rd in the series.  James also made his V8 Supercar Championship debut driving for Ford Performance Racing in the endurance races. He partnered Bathurst winner Steven Richards to an 11th place finish in his Bathurst debut.

2012 see’s James’ second year with the Gold Coast based Dick Johnson Racing outfit, where he will drive for his long term personal sponsor in the #18 Team Norton DJR Falcon.

For more information, please visit www.jamesmoffat.com.au

About Alex Davison (Dick Johnson Racing Endurance Driver 2012, car #18)

Alex Davison has racing in his blood, with both his Grandfather, Lex, his Father, Richard and his Brother, Will, all successful race car drivers.

Since becoming the Victorian Junior Karter of the Year in 1994, Davison’s career has taken him all over the world.  From Australian Formula Ford, Porcshe Carrera Cup, 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA GT.  

Alex first entered the V8 Supercars in 2004, coming home as the highest placed Rookie at the Bathurst 1000.  Since then, Alex has been a constant competitor in the main Series in Australia.  2006 and 2007 saw him join Dick Johnson Racing for the first time for the Sandown and Bathurst endurance races.  He rejoins the iconic Queensland team for the Season of Endurance again in 2012, partnering with James Moffat in the #18 Team Norton DJR Falcon.

About Peter Kox  (Dick Johnson Racing Gold Coast 600 International Driver 2012, car #18)

Peter Kox began his racing career in karting and then the Marlboro Challenge ‘83.  In 1987, he became a professional driver and since then Kox has built a respectable career in formula and touring car racing.  In 2000 he started concentrating on endurance racing in GT-cars and is still one of the top drivers in this class. In 2003, he won the Le Mans 24 hours race in GT1 in a Prodrive Ferrari.  Since then, Peter has continued to compete in many 24 and 12-hour endurance races.  This year, Kox will drive in the FIA GT World Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and Blancpain Series (a previous winner of the latter two).  He will also undertake development work for SaReNi / Reiter Engineering’s Camaro GT3, before joining James Moffat as International Co-Driver at the Gold Coast 600 in October.

For more information, please visit www.koxracing.com 

FOR V.I.P. PETFOODS CAR #49:

About Steve Owen (Dick Johnson Racing Regular Season Driver, car #49)

One of only two repeat champions in the history of the V8 Supercars Development Series in 2008 and 2010, Steve Owen has been around V8 Supercar racing for over a decade.

He first appeared as an endurance driver with Garry Rogers Motorsport in 1999 at Bathurst and secured himself a full-time drive in the V8 Supercars Championship in 2005 with Britek Motorsport.

Owen really proved himself during a stint as Jamie Whincup’s endurance co-driver in 2010.  The duo took pole at Phillip Island, finished runners-up at Bathurst and then won on the Gold Coast.

This season he will again drive for V.I.P. Petfoods for the secnd year, however this year in a Ford Falcon as part of an expanded four-car squad at Dick Johnson Racing.  It’s something of a return to DJR for Owen, who drove one of the team’s Jim Beam Falcons in the endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst in 2008.

About Paul Morris (Dick Johnson Racing Endurance Driver 2012, car #49)

One of the most relaxed drivers in the field, Paul Morris is very much a touring car professional.

After starting in Formula Ford, he made his Bathurst debut in a Toyota Corolla in 1991 and began racing BMWs full-time in 1992, an association that would continue for the next eight years in Group A and Super Touring.

A four-time Super Touring champion, Morris took his career to America in 1998 racing Indy Lights before returning to establish his own Paul Morris Motorsports operation on the Gold Coast.

His team debuted in V8 Supercar racing in 2000, initially with backing from Big Kev cleaning products, before switching to the family Sirromet Wine brand.

Morris retired from full-time V8 Supercar racing at the end of 2008 but has since raced in the endurance events and a one-off drive at Yas Marina Circuit to replace the absent Greg Murphy.

In 2012, Paul Morris Motorsports merged with Dick Johnson Racing, with Morris becoming the Team Strategist.  He will once again pair up with Steve Owen for V.I.P. Petfoods for the endurance events.

About Boris Said (Dick Johnson Racing Gold Coast 600 International Driver 2012, car #49)

Boris Said is one of the best road racers in the business. In 2003, Said won his first NASCAR Cup Pole at Infineon Raceway driving in the No. 01 U.S. Army Pontiac.

Said is a former regular in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, made 64 starts in that series between 1995 and 2000, including full seasons in 1997 and 1998. He earned one NCTS victory, at Sears Point, in 1998.

He also races in the Rolex Sports Car Series. In 2004, Said narrowly missed winning the Rolex Series GT championship, as he tied Bill Auberlen in points, but lost the championship on the most wins tiebreaker (Said with five and Auberlen with eight).

Running primarily on road courses, Said has 41 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series – including six in 2010, with a best finish of eighth at Infineon Raceway.  In 2011, Said’s two Cup Series starts were in road-course races. He finished 28th in Sonoma and 22nd at Watkins Glen. 

He made his V8 Supercars debut in 2008 at Phillip Island and returned in 2011 to partner Steve Owen.  He again  joins Owen in the #49 V.I.P. Petfoods V8 Supercar for the 2012 Gold Coast 600.

# # #

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Kel Constantine, Marketing & PR Manager, Dick Johnson Racing

Mob: +61 410 796 769, Tel:  +61 7 3287 0111  Email:  kel@katshu.com.au

WELCOME, N.C. (January 25, 2012) – Richard Childress Racing announced today road-course specialist Max Papis has been tapped to pilot its No. 33 Menards Chevrolet when the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits Road America on June 23.

In addition to competing at the 14-turn road course, Papis will serve as a driver coach for fellow RCR teammates, assisting in strengthening their road-course racing skills.

“It is an honor to join a history-making team like RCR and continue what I started with Kevin Harvick Inc. the last couple of years,” stated Papis. “I feel ready to win races in NASCAR and, at the same time, I’m honored to have the chance to pass all the experience I built in my last 20 years of competition around the world to real racers like Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon and doing it with my never-give-up attitude that brought me all the way here.”

Papis, a native of Italy who now resides in North Carolina, has nine road-course races on his Nationwide Series resume with his career best finish of second coming at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August 2009. The 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series champion has also competed in six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road-course events, posting his best finish of eighth at Watkins Glen International in the same year.

“Max is a great addition to our driver lineup and to RCR overall,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He has shown his talents in many different forms of auto racing all over the world and will be able to share that knowledge with our less experienced drivers. He’s the perfect driver for the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet when the NASCAR Nationwide Series gets to Road America. Max also has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm wherever he is, at the track or the shop.”

The 2007 Petite Le Mans race winner made his NASCAR debut in 2006 when he joined the 43-car field in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International, posting a 14th-place finish. Since then, he has competed in 88 races across NASCAR’s top three national series, accumulating two-top five and seven top-10 results.

Papis is scheduled to share the No. 33 Nationwide Series ride with teammates Brendan Gaughan, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Tony Stewart for the 2012 season.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard/Tony Stewart/Max Papis (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

“I want to give a big thanks to everyone on this GEICO Racing team,” said Papis. “All these guys work so hard and do a great job. The season has had its good times and its rough moments, but we always stuck together and finished strong. I’m sad to see the year come to an end but looking forward to what 2012 will bring. Also, would like to thank my teammates for all of their help this season.”

With a one-day show on tap for the Truck Series, Papis took to the 1.5-mile south Florida track Friday morning for practice. Rain forced the teams to work quickly as the session was halted on numerous occasions. The precipitation continued for the majority of the day, leading to the cancellation of qualifying, which would result in the field being set according to practice speeds. Papis started the final race of 2011 from the 24th position.

Quickly the first caution came on lap five for oil on the track, while Papis continued to run inside the top-25. Once the field went back to green flag racing, the Como, Italy native showed a vast amount of patience knowing that the competition caution was coming around lap 20.

When the yellow flag was displayed for the second time, Papis came to pit road for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. On lap 24, Papis restarted from 23rd-place. The driver reported to crew chief Randy Goss that the adjustments helped the GEICO Tundra but he was still fighting a tight-handling condition.

The third caution slowed the pace on lap 31 for a two-truck accident in turn four. With less than 10 laps on the fresh tires, Papis stayed on the track. However, a long green-flag run ensued, forcing Papis to deal with the handling conditions. When the field passed halfway, the GEICO machine was scored in the 19th position. Shortly thereafter, the leaders began to make green-flag pit stops. Papis was able to stay out a little longer than the frontrunners, which allowed the No. 9 truck to move into the second position on lap 77.

One lap later, Papis came to pit road for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. Once the entire field cycled through, the GEICO Tundra was scored in 23rd-place. The fourth caution came on lap 98 for a single-truck accident in turn two. Goss instructed his driver to take the wave around, placing Papis back on the lead lap. The field restarted on lap 102, with the No. 9 Toyota in the 21st position.

Papis was unable to pass any competitors before the rain started to fall on lap 119. With only 15 laps remaining and no sign of the weather letting up, NASCAR called the race, ending the 2011 Truck Series season. Papis and the GEICO team were left with a 21st-place finish.

Papis finished the season in the 18th position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. The No. 9 GEICO team recorded a total of 10 top-15 and 17 top-20 finishes during the 2011 campaign.

FORT WORTH, Texas (November 4, 2011) – The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to Texas Motor Speedway for the second time this season for the running of the WinStar World Casino 350k on Friday night. Max Papis and the No. 9 GEICO Racing team entered the Lone Star State with a good basis of information, as the Toyota finished the summer event in the top-15. After struggling a tad with the handling in the opening stages of the 147-lap race, Papis dodged numerous accidents and charged late to cross the finish line in the 14th position.

“I’m glad we were able to get a 14th-place finish,” said Papis. “The handling wasn’t exactly how we wanted it, but the GEICO team never gave up. We kept working on it and were able to finish in the top-15. There is one more race to see what we can do. I think Homestead will be a great ending to our season.”

The green flag waved shortly after 8pm Eastern on Friday night, amid bright lights and cool temperatures. With his 24th-place qualifying effort, Papis quickly moved his way into the top-20 by lap eight. The first caution was displayed on lap 15 for an accident between Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday. Crew chief Randy Goss brought Papis to pit road for fuel and adjustments.

On lap 21, Papis restarted from the 17th position, but less than one lap later, Germain Racing teammate Brendan Gaughan had transmission issues to bring out the second yellow flag. After the fluid was cleaned up, Papis took off from 16th-place on lap 27.

The handling of the GEICO Toyota began to bother Papis as the Como, Italy native dropped a few positions before the third caution was seen on lap 34 for a spin in turn four. Goss radioed for his driver to return to pit road for fresh tires, fuel, and adjustments. With varying pit strategies up and down pit road, Papis took off from the 23rd position.

Papis patiently ran in the same position for the next 20 laps and avoided a two-truck accident directly in front of the No. 9 Tundra. The GEICO team serviced Papis on pit road, changing tires, fuel, and making adjustments, before restarting from 17th-place on lap 64.

A green-flag period ensued as the field began to spread out around the Fort Worth track. Papis held his position during this run despite the handling of the truck causing challenges for the driver. Another multi-truck wreck occurred in turn two on lap 99, bringing out the fifth caution. Papis brought his GEICO Toyota to pit road for the final stop of the night for tires, fuel, and adjustments.

Restarting from 19th-place on lap 104, Papis gained two places to move into the 17th position by lap 135. With only five laps remaining, a fellow competitors’ engine blew on the racing surface forcing NASCAR to display the caution on lap 142.

The green-white-checkered finish began on lap 147 and over the final two laps, Papis gained three positions to cross the finish line in 14th-place.

Papis currently sits in 18th-place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. The GEICO Racing driver is 19 points behind Miguel Paludo who holds the 17th position.

The Truck Series returns to action in two weeks for the season finale on Friday, November 18th at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Watch the action live on SPEED Channel at 8 p.m. ET.

Mooresville, North Carolina, USA (November 2, 2011) – Max Papis Racing is proud to announce that Max Papis will be driving a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car at the annual Monza Rally Show in Monza, Italy. The historic event takes place from November 25 – 27 at the challenging 3.6 mile course.

The Monza Rally Show is a traditional event held every year bringing together the best drivers from different forms of motor sports such as Rally, Sportscar and MotoGP compete in a unique event at the historic Italian track. The event attracts tens of thousands of fans due to the presence of professional athletes from the motor sports world including Valentino Rossi, Dindo Capello and many more who put on an incredible show.

A NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car will make its Italian debut at the Monza Rally Show and will be driven by Max Papis. The stock car, provided and prepared by Joe Gibbs Racing, will have 2 seats for this special occasion allowing Max to give special guests a thrilling lap around the track in a NASCAR stock car.

“I am extremely happy to have worked together with my team, NASCAR and of the track of Monza to bring for the first time a NASCAR stock car to Italy,” says Papis. “It will be an incredible show and I can’t wait to show why this American sport is so special and share this special moment with the Italian fans.

I am looking forward in seeing a large number of fans during the event to listen to the incredible sound of the V8 and to participate in a charity auction and the possibility to be my passenger for a lap. The passion for racing is the same all around the world, but with these cars it’s really unique and I want the fans to feel that.

A special thanks to NASCAR, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Joe Gibbs Racing, Goodyear Tires and all the sponsors who have made this project possible. Thank you in particular to all the fans, who with their passion have encouraged me to put all the effort together to take a NASCAR Sprint Cup Car to Italy for the first time.”

About Max Papis -

Massimiliano Papis was born October 3, 1969 in Como, Italy and now lives in Mooresville, NC, USA with wife Tatiana, sons Marco & Matteo and a few pets.

Max is one of the most versatile and accomplished race drivers in the world. A professional who through his career combined natural talent with hard work, focus and sheer determination to win as he climbed over each step, surpassing his limits and building an impressive résumé in the process.

In 1996, fresh out of Formula 1, young Max Papis came to America and made an immediate impact in the driving circles at the end of a particularly tough Daytona 24 Hours. At the wheel of a mended factory Ferrari prototype, Max put on a very spirited, ‘never-say-die’ drive to chase the leaders, which earned him the nickname “Mad Max” Papis. It has stuck ever since, and he has honored it taking part in 113 IndyCar Races with 3 victories and 15 podiums, winning the Grand Am Sportscar Championship in 2004 with Team Ganassi. Papis has participated in multiple 24-hour races and won the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona two times in 2000 and 2002). He has seven podium finishes in Le Mans and Daytona and won both the 12 Hour of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans for Corvette Racing two times. He won the SCCA GT Championship with Cadillac and became the first Italian after Mario Andretti to race full time in NASCAR. Max’s best result in NASCAR was a second place finish in 2010 Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

At a more personal level, Max is a man who is dedicated to his family, an avid cyclist, fitness enthusiast and committed to the causes that matter and touch him closely, such as the battle against cancer.

Max Papis Racing

10855 NW 33^rd Street – Miami, FL – 33172 – USA

Matteo Vecchi – +1.704.746.8061 – matteo@maxpapis.com

www.maxpapis.com

RIDGEWAY, Va. (October 29, 2011) – After finishing in 10th-place one week ago at Talladega Superspeedway, Max Papis and the No. 9 GEICO Racing team entered Martinsville Speedway with momentum on their side. With only three races remaining in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, the Germain Racing team looked to continue their goal of finishing inside the top-10 in each of the final events. Saturday’s race at the ‘paperclip’ looked to be headed in that direction before an accident on lap 130 quickly ended those hopes.

After rain showers cancelled the majority of Friday’s practice session for the Truck Series, Papis and Crew Chief Randy Goss relied on their set-up package from the spring race. The weather began to cooperate late Saturday morning, allowing Papis to qualify his No. 9 GEICO Toyota. The Italian clocked a solid lap of 20.014 seconds (94.614 mph) to place his machine in the 15th starting position.

As soon as the green flag waved, shortly after 2 p.m. ET, Goss reminded Papis to establish a solid rhythm for the 200-lap race. The Como, Italy, native moved into 13th-place, as the first caution slowed the field on lap 39. Goss elected to bring Papis down pit road for four fresh tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment. With varying strategies up and down pit road, the GEICO machine restarted in the 17th position on lap 43.

By lap 70, Papis had driven his way up to 14th-place and was using patience, as over half the race remained. A caution was displayed on lap 87 for a single-truck accident in turn four. Goss once again called Papis to pit road for right-side tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment as the GEICO Toyota had responded positively to the previous changes.

Papis took off from the 14th position on lap 93 and after another quick caution, the No. 9 Tundra moved into sixth-place on lap 109. Two short laps later, Papis took over the fifth position. Over the next 20 laps, Papis and the GEICO Toyota continued to gain ground on the track and were en route to their career-best finish in NASCAR.

The good fortune quickly took a turn for the worse on lap 132 as Papis received contact from teammate Todd Bodine, while both trucks were running solidly in the top-five. Papis stayed on the racetrack while the majority of the field pitted to restart on lap 138 from 10th-place.

On lap 147, the bad luck continued for Papis as the No. 9 GEICO truck spun in turn three to bring out a yellow flag. Goss brought his driver to pit road for four tires, fuel, and repairs. Over the final 50 laps, Papis worked to salvage a respectable finish, but the damage sustained was too much and the truck crossed the finish line in the 18th position.

“It’s part of Martinsville racing,” said Papis after the race. “It’s just disappointing because I wasn’t expecting to get contact from a teammate. We had a great run going and it was going to be my best run of my career (in NASCAR). My team deserves better and it’s disappointing. There are two races left in the season and the GEICO team will keep trying to get the best finishes we can.”

Papis currently sits in 18th-place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. The GEICO Racing driver is 14 points behind Miguel Paludo who holds the 17th position.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action this Friday, November 4th for the running of the WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway. Watch the action live on SPEED Channel at 8 p.m. ET.