February 19, 2010
By Rebecca Gladden
Italian-born racecar driver Max Papis may not be leading the current NASCAR point standings, but he has already taken the Number One spot in the hearts of thousands of race fans.
Currently racing in all three of NASCAR's elite series, Papis made a name for himself as a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. His broad smile and infectious optimism have earned him a huge fan base in an All-American sport not normally associated with its European drivers.
In a phone interview this week, Papis told me that his love of NASCAR is genuine and is likely one of the factors that has endeared him to fans so quickly. "I would say that my passion for the sport is what you see in my smile and the way I go about what I do. I really love my sport. My attitude comes from the fact that I know how much effort it takes just to be able to be in the show, to make the race."
That passion was on full display last weekend when Papis and the No. 13 GEICO team qualified for the Daytona 500, NASCAR's preeminent race. Driving for a Cup team outside the top 35 in owner points, Max was one of 17 drivers competing for just six available spots. After learning that he had raced his way into the field, Papis let the tears flow freely in a nationally-televised interview.
"Daytona in general was a great weekend for us and qualifying for the 500 was an incredible achievement," said Papis. "Unfortunately, we had an engine problem that put us out of the race. But, what you see when I'm at the track -- I'm not just a happy-go-lucky guy, but I definitely appreciate what it takes to arrive at this level and I enjoy every lap I drive."
Papis prides himself on his honesty and wants fans to know that his public persona is no different from his private one. "I think that fans might be surprised to know that what they see on TV is me. There are not two Max's. I'm a pretty simple person. I'm enthusiastic and I have a lot of energy, but I also love gardening, cutting the grass, working in my yard, and cycling."
His love of cycling led Papis to an ongoing association with seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. Papis is an impassioned advocate of Armstrong's LIVESTRONG Foundation and its goal to find a cure for cancer. Max's father, whom he credits with his positive attitude and strong work ethic, died of pancreatic cancer in 2006.
"Supporting LIVESTRONG is a way that I am able to give back. People listen to me when I'm out there and I can talk to a big crowd of people and spread the word about what it takes to cure cancer." Papis sports the organization's logo on his helmet and was thrilled to receive a congratulatory message from Armstrong when he made the Daytona 500 field.
Qualifying for races also brings exposure for Papis's primary sponsor GEICO, which recently launched an ad campaign about humorous ringtones like this one GEICO Ringtones -- featuring the "GEICO Boss's" personal ringtone. Always a good sport, Max recently installed the ringtone on his own cell phone and said it gets a chuckle every time it's played. "GEICO has embraced my personality and I think we are a good fit for each other," Max said. "The way that they go about their advertisements very much fits my personality. We complement each other."
Papis notes that his gregarious nature has also meshed well with others in the garage, although he came to NASCAR via a very different route than most. He cites Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, and David Reutimann among the drivers who've welcomed him and given him advice and encouragement. "I know there are a lot of people who want to see me successful in NASCAR -- including the drivers."
And, of course, the fans, who continue to be impressed by Papis's engaging personality and commitment to racing. A message posted on his website from a fan reads, "Max, we saw you at (Watkins) Glen in 2009 and 2008. You were going into the drivers' area where you had your RV parked. You stopped and talked to a kid in a wheelchair on your way in. We respect you for that."
Papis wants fans to know that he truly values their support and encourages everyone to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He was one of the first Cup drivers to embrace social networking and has amassed more than 9,000 followers on Twitter alone, where he shares details of his professional and personal life including many beautiful photos.
"It's a way for fans to stay in touch with me and for me to stay in touch with them on and off the racetrack," Papis said. "Please ask everyone to follow me."
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