Kannapolis, NC – Stewart-Haas Racing revealed on Tuesday that Max Papis will replace Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Chevrolet for this weekend's Sprint Cup Series road-course race at Watkins Glen International.
Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup champion, suffered a broken right tibia and fibula in a crash during a sprint car race on Monday night at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was leading the 30-lap feature event when a lapped car spun in front of him. Stewart hit the car and flipped several times.
The 42-year-old Stewart underwent surgery on his leg early Tuesday morning. The surgery served as a preliminary procedure to stabilize and clean the Grade 2 injury. He will need additional surgery. Stewart remains in the hospital for further observation.
Papis, a road-course expert, tested the No. 14 car on July 30 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. The Italian-born racer has 35 starts in NASCAR's top series. His career-best finish of eighth came in 2009 at Watkins Glen.
Stewart's injury likely will end any hopes of him making this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. With five races to go before the Chase begins, he is 11th in the point standings, just five points behind 10th-place Greg Biffle. Stewart currently holds one of the two wild card positions due to his one win this season, which came on June 2 at Dover.
Stewart has qualified for the Chase each season except 2006, the year after he won his second series title.
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