Fitz Motorsports scaling back efforts on Kenny Wallace team
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
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Fitz Motorsports officials announced Tuesday that the team will “slow operations” of the No. 36 Nationwide Series Dodge driven by Kenny Wallace.
The No. 36 entry is sponsored by Shark Energy Drink, which began distribution in the United States this year, but sales haven’t been high enough to continue a full sponsorship, according to a team news release.
“Sponsor money for the No. 36 Dodge Charger was based on distribution of Shark Energy Drink,” team owner Armando Fitz said in the release. “While the initial response was terrific, it’s taking longer than anticipated to generate enough funding to run the No. 36 car competitively in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.”
Fitz said the No. 36 team would be scaled back, with a “full effort put toward the team’s other car, the No. 22 Dodge driven by Mike Bliss.
“Kenny Wallace has an opportunity to drive for another Nationwide Series team, and we certainly don’t want to hold him back,” Fitz said. “Kenny has been a great friend and supporter of our program, and he deserves to be racing full time.
“We’re going to regroup and focus on our No. 22. We feel great our about our 2008 chances with Mike Bliss and the entire Supercuts team as we move forward.”
Wallace has driven four of the five Nationwide races this season, with a best finish of 11th last weekend at Bristol. A spokesperson for Jay Robinson Racing confirmed Wallace will drive that team's No. 28 Chevrolet this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.
Bliss ranks sixth in the Nationwide Series points standings, the highest non-Cup driver in the series.
Fitz officials also said the team will customize a race program for Shark “as more distribution outlets are found and product is sold.”
Moe Boukadida, CEO of Shark Energy Drink USA, said in a release he understands the decision to slow the No. 36 team’s operations.
“Of course we’re disappointed, especially after the team seemed to be gelling and improving with each race,” Boukadida said. “We’re all ready to do whatever we can to get the Shark Energy Drink brand back on the track as soon as humanly possible. These first few races have been a great experience for everyone at Shark and we want to build on that.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kenny Wallace
Comments
4 responses to "Fitz Motorsports scaling back efforts on Kenny Wallace team"
Anonymous said:
Mar 18, 2008 at 3:56 PMWhat ever made anyone think that Kenny Wallace can drive a race car. In my book he cant even drive a Kitty Kar.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Price said:
Mar 18, 2008 at 4:58 PMWHY DON'T THEY DUMP BLISS AND KEEP KENNY, HE HAS A MUCH BETTER ATITUDE
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Mar 20, 2008 at 12:51 PMWhat ever made anyone think that Kenny Wallace can drive a race car. In my book he cant even drive a Kitty Kar.
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This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Price said:
Mar 20, 2008 at 12:51 PMWHY DON'T THEY DUMP BLISS AND KEEP KENNY, HE HAS A MUCH BETTER ATITUDE
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» Confirm Abuse Report