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Max Papis has raced in Formula 1, IndyCar, road racing and NASCAR. And after finishing a career-high eighth in Monday's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen, he says, without a doubt NASCAR is as hard as anything he's done.

Papis is running a partial schedule this season. His next race is scheduled for Bristol next week.

"These guys are definitely the best of the best I've ever raced against in my life, point blank," Papis said after the race. "Better than Formula 1, sports car, IndyCar, everything put together.

"When people say NASCAR drivers are not that good on road courses, I would definitely tell them to shut up because they're pretty (darn) good."

Asked about the difference between NASCAR and Formula 1, Papis reveals a story from early in his racing career.

"The main thing here is there are people that race, they live for the sport," Papis said. "There, it's just politics."

FEELING FINE: Crew chief Travis Geisler said he talked with Sam Hornish Jr. on Tuesday and Hornish was doing well after his big crash Monday at Watkins Glen.

"He said he was really surprised at how well he felt (Tuesday) morning," Geisler said. "He was in good shape and was just going to take it easy.''

Hornish bounced off tire barriers and back onto the track where he was slammed by Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton.

The incident was similar to what Jason Leffler experienced two days earlier in a Nationwide practice session. But unlike Hornish, Leffler was not hit by anyone after bouncing back on the track.

Geisler said NASCAR should examine that part of the track for safety improvements.

Said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp: "Each of the facilities that NASCAR races at is unique in layout and design, and NASCAR is always looking at ways to improve the safety at all of the tracks that host its events."

WHAT THEY MAKE: A pair of lawsuits involving NASCAR teams includes a driver contract and crew member contract, revealing some of what the competitors make.

Driver and crew contracts are confidential, so viewing such deals is rare.

Mike Wallace is suing Germain Racing, alleging that the team took the sponsor, GEICO, which Wallace brought with him to run with in the Nationwide Series.

Court documents show that GEICO paid Wallace $6 million a year. Wallace paid Germain Racing $4.7 million of that to have GEICO sponsor the car. Ten percent of the amount GEICO paid Wallace, $600,000, went to an agent that put together the deal. That left Wallace with $700,000.

Wallace and Germain Racing agreed to split all winnings. Last year, Wallace's winnings were $1.3 million. Thus, he earned about $650,000 of that. Add to the sum he had for the sponsorship deal and that gave him about $1.3 million in earnings in a season in which he finished eighth in the Nationwide standings.

Another lawsuit reveals what a crew member makes in the Sprint Cup series.

Jason Myers, former car chief for Carl Edwards' team, is suing Roush Fenway Racing for wrongful discharge and accusing the team of being in violation of the Family Medical Leave Act. The team, earlier this week, filed a motion to dismiss the case.

As part of its motion to dismiss, Roush Fenway Racing included its contract with Myers.

His base salary was $110,472.96 as car chief (position just below crew chief). His two-year contract stated he was due to receive an annual salary increase of at least 4 percent (about $4,400). At the time of signing the contract, he also was the rear tire changer for the team. That paid an extra $625 a week. He also was eligible to receive money from Roush's "prize money" bonus pool.

Myers also was to receive a company car, along with insurance coverage and payment for gasoline or he could receive an allowance of $725 a month to cover such costs on operating his own car.

PIT STOPS: Chase Elliott, the 13-year-old son of Bill Elliott, won an ASA Southeast Tour Asphalt series race Saturday night in Anderson, S.C., becoming the youngest winner in series history. &ellipses; ESPN will broadcast Saturday's Nationwide race without a traditional play-by-play announcer. The network will use its five NASCAR champions in the broadcast with Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Ray Evernham, Andy Petree and Tim Brewer.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com