Papis, McDowell, TRG Set for Daytona 500 Debuts

Max Papis was a relative unknown when he finished second in the 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona. He went on to become the 2004 Daytona Prototype co-champion.

Michael McDowell took a Star Mazda championship to the Rolex Sreies, where he ran two full seasons in Daytona Prototypes and won two races.

TRG followed up its GT class victory in the 2002 Rolex 24, and followed it up with an overall victory for Kevin Buckler and his team the following year. Last year, the team took 1-2 in the Rolex 24.

Sunday, all three will be in the spotlight when they make their debut in the 52nd Daytona 500.

“It’s exciting that a couple of sports car guys made it,” McDowell said. “It’s going to be a great day. I’ve been through the highs and lows of this deal, and it’s nice to ride the high. I’m excited to be running in both the Daytona 500 and Nationwide Series race this weekend.

“Max Papis were in the media center Thursday after racing our way in to the 500,” McDowell said. “I told him it’s nice to have two sports car guys racing in the Daytona 500.”

McDowell won the 2005 Rolex Series season finale in Mexico City, co-driving with Memo Gidley for Finlay Motorsports. The pair finished second earlier that year at Barber Motorsports Park. He ran the full Rolex Series season in 2006, winning a qualifying race at Virginia International Raceway while joining Guy Cosmo in finishing second in the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park.

Papis is also doing double-duty at Daytona, running in Saturday evening’s postponed NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. He won the 2002 Rolex 24 At Daytona and finished second to open the 2010 campaign. He and Scott Pruett won four races en route to the 2004 Daytona Prototype title.

“I’m so happy for this GEICO team and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Papis said. “This is special and is huge for our sponsor GEICO and the Germain Racing team. We’ve all worked so hard and it paid off. It’s really great and I feel speechless.”

The Racers Group won back-to-back GT team titles in 2004 and 2005, with Andy Lally and Marc Bunting sharing the 2005 driver championship. Buckler’s organization attempted to make the Daytona 500 last year, but fell short with Mike Wallace at the wheel. This year, former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion used his qualifying time to put the No. 71 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet in the field.

“Thursday definitely wasn’t an ideal day for us, but when you consider the fact that at this point one year ago we were packing up and heading home because we didn’t make the Daytona 500, we’re really come a long way,” Buckler said. “I know we’ll be able to pull something strong together for Sunday’s race.”

Another graduate of Rolex Series competition making a move up NASCAR’s ladder is Colin Braun, a two-time winner and five-time podium finisher in 2006 for Krohn Racing. He is racing in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

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