Germain Racing makes crew chief changes

Crew Chief Changes for Germain Racing's Camry Teams

Mooresville, N.C. (06-03-2009) -- Germain Racing has added veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief Peter Sospenzo to lead the efforts of the No. 13 GEICO Camry and driver Max Papis in the highest level of NASCAR competition. This move allows general manager Mike Hillman Sr. to work with the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers/HYPE Energy Drinks Camry team and driver Michael Annett in NASCAR's number two series.

"When we started our season, we knew it would be a learning experience running rookie drivers in each of NASCAR's top two series. Germain Racing is a very competitive organization. We expect a lot of ourselves and after watching both of our Camry programs at Dover, we saw some opportunities to strengthen each of those teams. Peter Sospenzo is taking over as crew chief for Max Papis and the GEICO Camry, and I'm going to head to Nashville this weekend with Michael Annett and the No. 15 Camry crew to see if there is more we can bring to the track for Michael," said Hillman.

Peter Sospenzo has been with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), which is the engineering partner for Germain Racing's GEICO Camry program.

"I've actually worked with the GEICO Camry's engineer and car chief when we were at MWR, so I know quite a few of the guys on the team. I'm excited about working with Max. We just completed a test at V.I.R. to get ready for Infineon, and our next race will be next weekend at Michigan," said Sospenzo, who also confessed that he still loves racing as much today as he did when Elmo Langley brought him into the business in the early 80's.

Mike Hillman Sr. has served as crew chief for Germain Racing in each of NASCAR's top three divisions. He holds two NASCAR championship titles. Hillman will call the shots for Annett and the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers/HYPE Energy Drinks Camry on Saturday at Nashville.

"I'm going to the track for the next few weeks to see what Germain Racing can do to get the finishes we expect out of a team that we know is a top-ten caliber team," said Hillman, alluding to the No. 15 team's eighth-place finish in the second-tier series NASCAR championship standings in 2008.

-credit: gr