Fitz Motorsports’ Shark Energy Drink #36 Nationwide Series team will temporarily slow operations, effective immediately. Kenny Wallace drove the car in the first five Nationwide Series events this season. A number of different factors led to the decision. “Sponsor money for the #36 Dodge was based on distribution of Shark Energy Drink,” said team owner Armando Fitz. “While the initial response was terrific, it’s taking longer than anticipated to generate enough funding to run the #36 car competitively in the Nationwide Series. “We’re going to scale the #36 team back and put a full effort toward our #22 Supercuts Dodge,” Fitz added. “Kenny Wallace has an opportunity to drive for another Nationwide Series team and we certainly don’t want to hold him back. Kenny has been a great friend and supporter of our program, and he deserves to be racing full time.” Fitz Motorsports will customize a race program for Shark Energy Drink as more distribution outlets are found and product is sold.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(3-17-2008)
AND: Rusty Wallace said on NASCAR Now tonight that Kenny will drive the #28-Jay Robinson Border Patrol car.(3-17-2008)
UPDATE: Jay Robinson Racing announces that Kenny Wallace will be behind the wheel of the #28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy for the remainder of the 2008 Nationwide Series Season. Kenny will make his debut in the #28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy this Saturday March 22, 2008 in Nashville during the running of the Pepsi 300.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(3-18-2008)
UPDATE 2: Tennessees own Sterling Marlin will be in the #1 Miccosukee Resort Chevy at Nashville, replacing Johnny Sauter.(NASCAR PR)(3-18-2008)
UPDATE 3: David Tomasello, The former Chief Executive Officer of Shark Energy Drink, comments on last weeks news that Shark Energy Drink has suspended its marketing program in NASCAR. “My management team worked very hard to build that motorsports program with Fitz Motorsports and Xpress Motorsports, and its very unfortunate that the new CEO and management has chosen not to continue with the program. “I heard about it just like everyone else, on the internet” said Tomasello.(3-26-2008)
UPDATE 4: Shark Energy Drink responsded to the comments of David Tomasello as follows, As stated before, Shark Energy Drink will continue to work with Fitz Motorsports in an effort to pursue distribution outlets for our product, said Shark Energy President, Moe Boukadida, NASCAR racing, and particularly the Nationwide Series with Fitz Motorsports is a terrific marketing platform for us. As a distribution-based program, sales is the key to its success. With more product now available in the U.S. our distribution efforts will be enhanced and allow us the financial latitude to achieve our marketing goals with Fitz Motorsports. The comments recently expressed by a prior company official in no way reflect our position. We will continue to work collectively to bring Shark Energy Drink to the NASCAR fan.(Shark Energy Drink PR) and Fitz Motorsports responds to Thomasellos claims. Armando Fitz released the following statement: “Mr. Tomasellos’ asumptions are far from correct. We are working diligently on adding yet more select races for Shark Energy. President Moe Boukadida and his staff have attended many races with us and have brought his on-site marketing group with him for sampling and various marketing “ops”. The relationship with Fitz Motorsports and NASCAR has been very successful for Shark Energy as they will attest. They love Kenny Wallace and what he did. They are pleased with their NASCAR results and have Osotspa Corporate (Shark) excited about NASCAR as a marketing platform.(3-28-2008)
