Wednesday, January 19, 2011

NASCAR Truck Series racer 'Mad' Max Papis to appear Saturday at the Cdn. Motorsports Expo



(TORONTO, ON // January 19, 2011) The Canadian Motorsports Expo is proud to announce that international racing star ‘Mad’ Max Papis will be at Canada’s Ultimate Racing Show on Saturday, Jan. 22. In addition to participating in an on-stage Fan Q&A and Autograph Session – at 6 p.m. on the Keystone Light Stage – Papis will spend some time on Saturday in the Race Time Radio booth.

In 2011, Papis will be racing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The week after the CME, he’ll be competing in a Daytona Prototype car in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

The versatile Italian-born racer, who now resides in North Carolina, thrilled Canadian fans last summer at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when he narrowly lost the NASCAR Nationwide Series race to his good friend, Boris Said, after a back-and-forth battle. Earlier in the season, he raced in his first Daytona 500, just weeks after being part of the overall runner-up team in the Rolex 24. His impressive racing resume also includes stints in Formula 1, NASCAR, Grand-Am, CART / IndyCar, IMSA, IROC and other series.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Toronto to participate in the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday,” said the charismatic Papis. “We’ll be there promoting our MOMO Stockcar Steering Wheels, as well as speaking with the fans on Saturday afternoon and signing autographs. Look for us at the Race Time Radio booth (#1259). I’m racing at the Rolex 24 the following weekend and looking forward to a full season in the NASCAR Truck Series, so there will be lots to talk about.”

Discussing Papis’ appearance at the CME, show founder Glenn Butt said, “Max Papis is a classic racer, who excels in every racing machine he climbs into. His magnetic smile and accessible personality have made him a favourite with true racing fans. He’s won or competed in the biggest series and events in the world – including Le Mans, the Rolex 24, the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, the Sebring 12 Hour, F1, IndyCar, NASCAR and more. We’re extremely happy that he’s coming to the CME.”

ABOUT MAX PAPIS: Max Papis’ personal website is: www.maxpapis.com. His Tweets can be followed at @maxpapis.

ABOUT MAX PAPIS INC USA: MPI USA is a North Carolina Corporation. It was founded by Max Papis and his wife Tatiana Fittipaldi Papis in February 2009, with the intention of selling the MOMO Stockcar Steering Wheels and other products.

Max and his wife, Tatiana, have a long background in racing. Max has been a professional race car driver since he was 12 years old. Since then he has raced in Formula 1, Champ Cars, Indy Cars, IMSA, Grand-Am, IROC, (among others). For 2011, he will drive the GEICO-sponsored truck in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Tatiana was born into racing with parents Emerson and Maria Helena Fittipaldi. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Psychology and a minor in Marketing, from the University of Miami. They recently moved to Mooresville, NC (from Miami, FL) to pursue Max's career in NASCAR. They have two sons, Marco and Matteo.

In 2008, Marc Phaneuf, president of MOMO Italy USA asked Max and Tatiana to be the exclusive worldwide distributors of MOMO Stockcar Steering Wheels. Both jumped at the opportunity, and thus began their adventure with MOMO. Due to Max's busy schedule with NASCAR, Tatiana runs the company most of the time. For more info on this young company, visit www.maxpapisinc.com.

ABOUT THE CME: The Canadian Motorsports Expo is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs January 21, 22 and 23, 2011 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga). The show is powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Star drivers – including reigning IndyCar Series Champion and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, and rising NASCAR Sprint Cup star Brad Keselowski – will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. One of the special themes of this year’s CME is the Karting Reunion. Please check the show’s website for updates and changes.

For more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo, visit www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com. You can reach co-promoters Inside Track at (416) 962-7223 or email info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com.

- 30 -