PAPIS AND THE GECKO HEAD TO THE IRISH HILLS


Player Management International Media Release

Mooresville, NC (June 10, 2009) – Last weekend, when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series headed to Pocono, GEICO driver ‘Mad’ Max Papis flew to Sacramento.  Not one to take a vacation from racing, Papis was on-hand in California’s capital to celebrate NASCAR Day and also help promote the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA.  
 
After two full days of media opportunities and appearances, Papis departed Sacramento Saturday night on a red-eye flight, arriving in Charlotte early Sunday morning.  Two days later, Papis boarded a flight with NASCAR star David Reutimann on a return trip to Northern California that found the two drivers at Infineon Raceway in preparation for the June 21st race at the Sonoma road course, in which Papis will be piloting the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry.  
 
Reutimann, who recently recorded a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, leaned on the knowledge of world-class driver Max Papis to help hone his skills at the 1.99-mile road course.  Sporting a pair of late-model racecars, the two of them turned laps, hustling around the circuit gaining valuable experience that will be of great benefit when they return in just a week and a half for the Toyota/SaveMart 350.  
 
Now, Papis and the GEICO Racing team will turn their attention to race number eight of their twenty-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.
 
Coming off of a successful NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in Dover two weeks ago, Papis is looking forward to making a return trip to Michigan International Speedway this weekend.  While Papis, a rookie in NASCAR’s top series, is making his NASCAR debut at the 2-mile D-shaped oval, he has raced at MIS many times during his CART and Champ Car days.  
 
During his open-wheel career, Papis experienced great success in the Irish Hills of Michigan and now he is hoping to do the same in his new NASCAR career.    
 
“I have many memories of Michigan International Speedway and I’m looking forward to getting back there,” Papis said.  “Only this time it will be in the #13 GEICO Sprint Cup Series car.  I led so many laps and had so much fun driving open-wheel cars there, so I’m hoping to duplicate that success for the GEICO team.”
 
Papis and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the track at Michigan International Speedway for the opening practice session on Friday, June 12th, at 11:30 AM (ET).  Qualifying will follow at 3:10 PM (ET).  
 
The LifeLock 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Sunday, June 14th.  The race will be televised live on TNT beginning at 1:30 PM (ET), while the Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.  
 
To learn more about Max Papis and the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com
 
You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/geicoracing