MAX PAPIS HAVING FUN ON THE RUN
Player Management International Media Release
Mooresville, NC (September 16, 2010) – Known for his high energy, Max Papis does not sit still for long. If he is not recording 80-miles on his Pinarello during a routine bicycle ride, he is spending time at the race shop or busy running around with his wife Tatiana and their two boys.
Since announcing on August 18th that he would be piloting the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2011, Papis has been on a bit of a roll. As an encore to his Truck Series announcement, ‘Mad Max’ headed north of the border for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal. Papis got the attention of his peers when he qualified 9th, but he made heads roll after finishing 2nd to Boris Said by the narrowest of margins.
Just three days after returning from Montreal, Papis boarded a plane and traveled to Indianapolis to participate in the 2nd Annual Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament, which is put on by Morgan Lucas, driver of the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster. On a foursome that included three other GEICO Racing personnel, Papis sank two 20+ feet putts and helped his team win the event. Aside from notching his first golf tournament win, ‘Mad Max’ also netted the longest drive of the day, which sent him back to North Carolina with yet more awards.
This week, Papis’ schedule more closely resembles that of a political candidate than racecar driver.
Friday morning will find the 2004 Grand-Am Series champion at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC, with his friend and fellow GEICO driver Morgan Lucas as preparations get underway for this weekend’s NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Nationals. Saturday will see Papis get on a private plane and head to Manassas, VA, to participate in a Late Model race at Old Dominion Speedway. After arriving home in the early morning hours on Sunday, Papis will dust off the sleep in his eyes and return to zMax Dragway in Concord to support Lucas and his GEICO Powersports team, who currently sit 8th in the point standings in the Top Fuel division of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
"The last few weeks have been a lot of fun, especially announcing my full-time Truck Series deal in the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra with Germain Racing,” Papis said while smiling ear-to-ear. “I could never have imagined winning a golf tournament, so that really came out of nowhere. We were just having fun at Morgan’s tournament and next thing we know, we won. Incredible.” He continued, “This weekend is going to be extra special because I get to cheer on the GEICO Powersports team at the NHRA race and also get to go race again at Old Dominion Speedway, where I also raced earlier this year. I just can’t get enough of being at the racetrack and I’m excited for this weekend.”
Papis’ next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra is on October 30th at Talladega Superspeedway. After a favorable showing in Daytona this year, which found him leading his first laps as a NASCAR driver, the ever so colorful Papis is excited to get back to a restrictor-plate track and finish what he started in February.
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