Haas CNC Racing tabs Papis for road courses

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Haas CNC Racing has hired open-wheel veteran Max Papis to drive the No. 70 Chevrolet during the two road-course races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.

"I'm very excited to have this opportunity," Papis said. "After testing for Hendrick Motorsports and developing more knowledge about the COT, I'm proud and honored to carry over that experience to the Haas CNC Racing program."

Papis

The Cup Series road-course races are June 22 at Sonoma and Aug. 10 at Watkins Glen.

Papis has five starts in the Nationwide Series, four on road courses. His best finish was a third-place run at Montreal on Aug. 4, 2007.

Haas CNC Racing announced on April 8 that it had released driver Jeremy Mayfield. The move came a day after the team hired Johnny Sauter to drive the No. 70 Chevrolet for the Cup race at Phoenix.

The No. 70 car had fallen to 36th in owner points and was not guaranteed a starting position. Sauter finished 37th at Phoenix, and now the No. 70 car is now 38th in owner points, 12 points out of the 35th position.

On April 16, the team announced that Ken Schrader will drive the No. 70 at Talladega this weekend.

Schrader had originially been scheduled to drive at Talladega for BAM Racing following its two-race hiatus. But on April 15, BAM co-owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said the team has suspended operations until the fall due to sponsorship woes.

Schrader has 45 career starts at Talladega. He won there in 1988 and has 12 top-10 finishes.

A team release said Haas CNC, which also fields a No. 66 Chevrolet for Scott Riggs, was "exploring several scenarios regarding a replacement driver" for the No. 70 car.