MAX PAPIS MOVES TO FULL-TIME ROLE WITH THE GECKO
By Max Papis Racing | August 18, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Mooresville, NC (August 18, 2010) – Max Papis, who has occupied the seat of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will take a new opportunity to race full-time in NASCAR. Papis will be piloting the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2011.
The effort is fielded by Germain Racing, who, aside from winning the 2006 Truck Series championship, currently holds the points lead in the Truck Series with driver Todd Bodine.
Papis will turn his attention to the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra effective immediately beginning this week in Bristol. In addition, Papis will compete in three additional races of the remaining 2010 Camping World Truck Series season in an effort to lay a solid foundation heading into 2011.
Papis has spent the previous year and a half piloting the #13 GEICO Camry, which was slated to compete in 18 races each season. ‘Mad Max’ has taken full advantage of his opportunity, notching an 18th at Talladega, a 12th at Infineon Raceway and he recorded his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 10 when he finished 8th at Watkins Glen last year.
Aside from NASCAR, Papis is known to be one of the most versatile racecar drivers in the world. He sits among racing’s elite, as he has competed in the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In addition to recording three wins in the former CART Series, Papis has posted wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 and 2002, as well as a Grand-Am Series championship in 2004. As a member of GM’s Corvette Racing team, Papis has recorded two wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, as well as two runner-up finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It only makes sense that Papis will now try his hand at Truck Series racing where he has already experienced considerable success. Along with a Top 10 at Fontana and an 8th place finish at Martinsville, Papis nearly recorded his first Truck Series victory at Daytona in February 2010. Unfortunately, Nelson Piquet, Jr, ended his day late in the race after Papis led his first laps as a NASCAR driver.
“Since I came to NASCAR one of my goals has been to have the opportunity to run a complete racing schedule. When GEICO and Germain Racing, a Truck Series championship team, approached me with an offer to represent them for a full season in the Camping World Truck series, I saw it as a unique opportunity that I simply could not turn down,” Papis said. “I am very proud to have been part of the development of a brand new Sprint Cup team that has already made their mark when we recorded our first Top 10 finish at Watkins Glen last year, while running only part time over the last year and a half.”
He continued, “I look forward to watching the #13 team continue to grow and mature, while being a special part of GEICO’s expanded commitment to NASCAR through their Truck Series sponsorship. I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the fans, both new and old, who have supported me throughout my career and who are an important part of the success I have experienced. I am very excited by this opportunity and you can bet on my doing everything I possibly can to bring success to GEICO and Germain Racing.”
Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Atlanta on September 5th, Casey Mears will take over driving duties of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry fielded by Germain Racing.
To learn more about Max Papis, please visit: www.maxpapis.com
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com
You can also follow Max Papis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/maxpapis and Geico Racing: www.twitter.com/geicoracing .
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For further information, please contact:
Max Papis Racing
Phone: (305) 576-3135
Email: media@maxpapis.com
