Sirius Speedway has learned that GEICO Insurance will team with Italian road course expert Max Papis to run as many as 18 Sprint Cup Series races next season, in Toyotas fielded by Germain Motorsports. GEICO currently sponsors veteran Mike Wallace on the Nationwide Series, but cannot remain in NASCAR’s number two series beyond 2009, due to language in the sanctioning body’s contract with major sponsor, Nationwide. They can, however, move to either the Sprint Cup or Truck ranks. Wallace said recently that he is already looking for a new backer, adding, “We have an indication of what (GEICO is) going to do, (and) for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor.” A spokesperson for Germain Motorsports declined to comment earlier today.(Sirius Speedway/Motorsports Soapbox)(9-10-2008) UPDATE: Former open-wheel star Max Papis is set to run a limited Sprint Cup schedule with Germain Racing and sponsorship from Geico in 2009. Papis is expected to run 18 races in Cup next year, Papis’ agent Doug Barnette confirmed Friday afternoon. An official announcement is expected Monday. Geico has posted a pair of videos online with Papis, including one that says he is “the new Geico driver” for Sprint Cup. The car pictured is a #13 Sprint Cup car. Papis tested a Toyota Camry with Germain Racing this past week at Kentucky Speedway. Geico sponsored Mike Wallace at Germain Racing in the Nationwide Series but NASCAR required the company to leave that series after this season because of a conflict with the title sponsor.(SceneDaily)(10-24-2008)
