Germain Racing's Max Papis set to turn first laps at Darlington this weekend

By SceneDaily Staff (NASCAR Scene)
Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Germain Racing driver Max Papis has competed all over the world but likely has never seen anything like the venue of this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Southern 500 – Darlington Raceway.
 
Papis, who will need to make the Southern 500 via qualifying, is an open-wheel and sports-car veteran who has moved to NASCAR this season. Though he can’t test on Darlington’s egg-shaped 1.366-mile oval, Papis recently visited the track with Randy LaJoie, who won at Darlington in 1997 in what is now known as the Nationwide Series.
 
“It means a lot that Randy took the time to ride down to Darlington with me and show me around,” Papis said.  “This guy is a champion and knows these places, so it was of great benefit having him with me. This is a tough track, and his input will for sure pay off for me when I get to the track this week in the No. 13 Geico Camry for practice and qualifying.”
 
Papis, who is attempting to make 20 races this season, has qualified for all three races he has entered thus far.
 
Papis, of Como, Italy, is somewhat of a racing historian, so he knows a little about Darlington’s rich history.
 
“Darlington is historic, and I can’t really put into words how exciting it has been to race in these places and think of all the racers that have come before me,” Papis said. “It really means a lot, and when I was at Darlington Raceway I could really feel the sense of history.”