FitzBradshaw Racing
Encyclopedia
Trail Motorsports was a NASCAR
team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte
. The team is owned by Armando Fitz and Art Shelton, and was previously co-owned by Fitz's former wife Mimi. The team was known as the HighLine Performance Group until the end of the 2001 season when they teamed up with Terry Bradshaw
and formally created FitzBradshaw Racing. At the end of the 2004 season FBR announced that it was partenering with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
which gave them access to more technical and engineering support. In addition to the parternship they would also be switching manufacturers from Chevrolet
to Dodge
. The team also formed a partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing for the 2006 season. Bradshaw left the organization at the end of the 2006 season. The team changed its name to Trail Motorsports in early 2009 after Shelton came on board. The team fielded the #22 Dodge Charger
for Johnny Borneman III in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the #32 Chevrolet Silverado
for Chase Austin
in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the #58 Chevrolet Impala
driven by Jarit Johnson, younger brother of five time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson
, in the Camping World East Series.
Chevrolet. Earnhardt failed in each of his attempts, but Ron Hornaday
qualified for that year's Checker Auto Parts 500
, finishing 36th. Earnhardt attempted the 2003 Auto Club 500
, but also failed to qualify.
's team started as a two-car operation during the 2001 season. He and his wife, Mimi, purchased the team from his father-in-law and current Nextel Cup
co-owner Felix Sabates
. The team, then known as the HighLine Performance Group ran the #8 Chevrolet and #11 Chevrolet. Blaise Alexander
began the season in the #8 car, but after four races, the team cut back to a part-time schedule. Frank Kimmel
, Jeff Falk
, Michael Dokken
, Jason Rudd, Mario Hernandez
, Mark Voigt
, and Josh Richeson
all shared time in the car over the season, with the #8 team finishing 42nd in owner's points. Marty Houston
drove the newly renumbered #11 car at the beginning of the year, his best finish being a 13th at the NAPA Auto Parts 300, but he was replaced by Ron Hornaday
after the Outback Steakhouse 300. Hornaday had two top-tens but was released before the season was over, and was replaced by Todd Bodine
who had one top-five in three races. The #11 car ended 21st in owner points.
, 10-10-220, Hot Tamales
, and Jani-King
as sponsors and Kerry Earnhardt as the driver. Earnhardt had two top-fives and finished 22nd in points. Earnhardt did not have a top-ten finish in 2003
, and was released after the Tropicana Twister 300. Tim Fedewa
replaced him for the balance of the season, finishing in the top-20 eight times. Fedewa had five top-tens in 2004, and finished sixteenth in points. Fedewa struggled in 2005, and did not finish in the top-ten, causing him to be released after Pikes Peak
. Joel Kauffman
, Paul Wolfe, Carlos Contreras
, Kertus Davis
, Sterling Marlin
, and Steadman Marlin
all shared the ride for the rest of the season. In 2006
, the #12 car has seen several different drivers through the first 25 races of the season. Joel Kauffman
was slated to run the full schedule for the team this year, however after struggling the team scaled back his schedule. David Reutimann
ran the car at Daytona
because Kauffman had not received approval for superspeedway racing. Tracy Hines
and Mike Skinner
drove the car in multiple races. For the 2007 season, Fitz Motorsports switched to the #22 and signed David Stremme and Mike Bliss as their principal drivers. Both drivers had great success in the #22, with Bliss scoring the team's best finish of second at Memphis
. Bliss returned in 2008 to drive full time, but left for Phoenix Racing
after six races, and was replaced by various Cup drivers including Robby Gordon and Reed Sorenson. Michael Waltrip Racing development driver Josh Wise
became the new driver for thirteen races with one top-five finish. Of note, Fitz switched temporarily to Toyota during Wise's runs with the team. A wide variety of drivers including ex-Champ Car driver Andrew Ranger
, 2008 Daytona 500
winner Ryan Newman
, Jarit Johnson, and Joe Gibbs Racing
development driver
Marc Davis
, took over for the rest of the season. This team shut down in early 2009.
The team expanded to two cars in 2003 halfway through the season as the United States Navy
came aboard to sponsor the #14. Casey Atwood
debuted the car at Kentucky Speedway
, bringing it home in 9th place. Atwood ran 11 races that year, posting four top-ten finishes. Atwood came back in 2004, and had seven top-tens, when he was dismissed after Lowe's
. His immediate replacement was Dave Blaney
for one race, before Ganassi development driver David Stremme
joined from Braun Racing
and ran the remainder of the season (with FitzBradshaw agreeing to switch to Dodges for the next season as a condition of Stremme's move). Stremme ran the #14 full-time in 2005, and had ten top-tens, finishing 13th in points, before moving up to compete in the NEXTEL Cup
series. Tracy Hines
was hired to run in the #14 Dodge for the 2006 season, however sponsorship issuesforced the team to compete on a limited basis. Steadman Marlin
competed for the team in two races and A. J. Foyt IV
competed in one race for the team. It was announced in July 2006 that Family Dollar
would sponsor the car for nine races and the team would feature Ricky Craven
, Carlos Contreras
, and Mike Skinner
as drivers. Fitz Motorsports changed the car number to #44 for 2007 and Ruben Pardo
qualified for the team's first race at the Telcel-Motorola México 200, followed up by another start at Nashville Superspeedway
. Mike Bliss
also drove the #44 with Family Dollar
sponsorship at Lowe's Motor Speedway
in May 2007. For 2008, Kenny Wallace
was signed to drive the #36 with sponsorship from Shark Energy Drink. Although Wallace missed the season opener at Daytona, he ran all following races until owner Armando Fitz announced on March 17 that the #36 team would only run part time due to a lack of product distribution, and the owner points of the 36 were switched the #28 of Wallace's new team. The #36 began running part-time with Pardo and Charles Lewandoski
driving midway through the season.
Chevrolet driven by Casey Atwood
, who finished 21st. Randy LaJoie
drove the car again at Phoenix, finishing 14th. LaJoie continued to run the car part-time in 2004 with sponsorship from Goulds Pumps
, his best finish being 13th at Las Vegas
. In 2005, the team switched to #40 with sponsorship from Jani-King
and Cottman Transmission
. Sterling Marlin
began the season with the team, with Carlos Contreras
and Scott Lagasse Jr.
filling in. Towards the end of the season, Contreras, Paul Wolfe, and Erin Crocker
got majority of the starts in the car. Reed Sorenson
ran the Aaron's 312 at Atlanta in March in the car after the transmission on his regular #41 Discount Tire car mysteriously locked up during qualifying for the race. For 2006, Michael Waltrip
purchased the team's owners points and began a partnership with FBR to run the #99 Aaron's
Dodge.
In 2007, the team partnered with Hyper Sport to race in the Grand Am Series.
Ruben Pardo raced in 2008 in the East Series for Fitz. For 2009, former Rusty Wallace Racing driver Chase Austin
will pilot the #32 Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series and Jarit Johnson, younger brother of three time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson
will drive in the Camping World East Series.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The team is owned by Armando Fitz and Art Shelton, and was previously co-owned by Fitz's former wife Mimi. The team was known as the HighLine Performance Group until the end of the 2001 season when they teamed up with Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
and formally created FitzBradshaw Racing. At the end of the 2004 season FBR announced that it was partenering with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
which gave them access to more technical and engineering support. In addition to the parternship they would also be switching manufacturers from Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
to Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
. The team also formed a partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing for the 2006 season. Bradshaw left the organization at the end of the 2006 season. The team changed its name to Trail Motorsports in early 2009 after Shelton came on board. The team fielded the #22 Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
for Johnny Borneman III in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the #32 Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Chase Austin
Chase Austin
Chase Austin is an American racecar driver. He is a former development driver with Hendrick Motorsports and Rusty Wallace Racing. He is currently a part-time driver in the INDYCAR Firestone Indy Lights series.-Background:...
in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the #58 Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
driven by Jarit Johnson, younger brother of five time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, in the Camping World East Series.
Sprint Cup Series
While the team was called FitzBradshaw, Trail briefly ran a Cup operation in 2002 with Kerry Earnhardt driving #83 RacingUSA.com/Aaron'sAaron's
Aaron's, Inc. is a lease-to-own retailer. The company focuses on leases and retail sales of furniture, electronics, appliances, and computers. It is divided into three major divisions: sales and lease ownership; corporate furnishings; and manufacturing. The incorporation of manufacturing as well...
Chevrolet. Earnhardt failed in each of his attempts, but Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
qualified for that year's Checker Auto Parts 500
Checker Auto Parts 500
The Kobalt Tools 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The race is sponsored by Lowe's through its Kobalt Tools brand.-Past winners:*1998: Race shortened due to rain....
, finishing 36th. Earnhardt attempted the 2003 Auto Club 500
Auto Club 500
The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
, but also failed to qualify.
Beginnings
Armando FitzArmando Fitz
Armando Fitz is an owner of Fitz Racing, a NASCAR Nationwide Series team.A native of Nashville, TN., Fitz graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1987 with a degree in Business and Human Development. While attending Vanderbilt, he played linebacker for the Commodore football squad for four years...
's team started as a two-car operation during the 2001 season. He and his wife, Mimi, purchased the team from his father-in-law and current Nextel Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
co-owner Felix Sabates
Felix Sabates
Felix Sabates is an entrepreneur and philanthropist living in the United States. He is currently a minority shareholder in Chip Ganassi Racing, which fields teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series , GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series...
. The team, then known as the HighLine Performance Group ran the #8 Chevrolet and #11 Chevrolet. Blaise Alexander
Blaise Alexander
Blaise Alexander was a stock car racer from Montoursville, Pennsylvania. He began racing at the age of 12 in go-karts, winning the coveted World Karting Association East Regional championship in 1992. In 1995, he moved south to Mooresville, North Carolina and was named Rookie of the Year in the...
began the season in the #8 car, but after four races, the team cut back to a part-time schedule. Frank Kimmel
Frank Kimmel
Franklin James Kimmel is an American stock car driver/owner. He drives the #44 Ansell Gloves/Menards Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Kimmel has won the ARCA championship nine times, including eight consecutive...
, Jeff Falk
Jeff Falk
Jeff Falk, born in Chesapeake, VA is a former NASCAR driver. He ran four races in the Busch Series during 2001.Those four races all came in the #8 Chevy owned by Armando Fitz. He started the #8 Chevy in 40th position at Richmond, but only managed a 31st. He improved at Nazareth with a 29th and then...
, Michael Dokken
Michael Dokken
Michael Dokken,, is a former NASCAR driver. Before racing NASCAR, he raced short tracks in the southeast...
, Jason Rudd, Mario Hernandez
Mario Hernandez
Mario Hernandez is an American writer, artist, and sometime publisher of comics. Along with his younger brothers Gilbert and Jaime he co-created the acclaimed independent comic book Love and Rockets.- Biography :...
, Mark Voigt
Mark Voigt
Mark Voigt, is a former NASCAR driver. He raced three times in the Busch Series in 2001. He is also a local dirt track driver.-Dirt Tracks Career:...
, and Josh Richeson
Josh Richeson
Josh Richeson, is a stock car driver. He has made 23 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series series and one Craftsman Truck Series start. He is the nephew of former Sprint Cup Series driver Brett Bodine.Richeson made his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond International Raceway in September...
all shared time in the car over the season, with the #8 team finishing 42nd in owner's points. Marty Houston
Marty Houston
Marty Houston, is a former driver in NASCAR. His younger brother, Andy and father Tommy Houston have driven in NASCAR as well.-Craftsman Truck Series Career:...
drove the newly renumbered #11 car at the beginning of the year, his best finish being a 13th at the NAPA Auto Parts 300, but he was replaced by Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
after the Outback Steakhouse 300. Hornaday had two top-tens but was released before the season was over, and was replaced by Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
who had one top-five in three races. The #11 car ended 21st in owner points.
Car #22 history
In 2002, the newly formed FitzBradshaw Racing signed SupercutsSupercuts
Supercuts is a hair salon franchise with over 2,000 locations across the United States. The company was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1975, by Geoffrey M. Rappaport and Frank E. Emmett. The company's first location, which is still in existence, is in Albany, California. Its headquarters...
, 10-10-220, Hot Tamales
Hot Tamales
Hot Tamales are a cinnamon candy manufactured by the Just Born.They are shaped like Mike and Ike candies and were introduced in 1950.In addition to the hot and spicy flavor, there is also Hot Tamales Fire which is more intense than the original, a darker red in color, and less opaque.A spearmint...
, and Jani-King
Jani-King
Jani-King is the world's largest commercial cleaning franchise company reporting more than 12,000 franchisees serving tens of thousands of customers worldwide....
as sponsors and Kerry Earnhardt as the driver. Earnhardt had two top-fives and finished 22nd in points. Earnhardt did not have a top-ten finish in 2003
2003 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 15 and ended November 15. Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2003 Team chart:...
, and was released after the Tropicana Twister 300. Tim Fedewa
Tim Fedewa
Tim Fedewa is a NASCAR driver and son of former race car driver Butch Fedewa. Tim is a spotter in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and currently spots for Marcos Ambrose.-Family:...
replaced him for the balance of the season, finishing in the top-20 eight times. Fedewa had five top-tens in 2004, and finished sixteenth in points. Fedewa struggled in 2005, and did not finish in the top-ten, causing him to be released after Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak International Raceway
Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo...
. Joel Kauffman
Joel Kauffman
Joel Kauffman , is a stock car racer. He was the driver of the #12 Supercuts Dodge Charger for FitzBradshaw Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series he was slated to run a full schedule, but after not performing in any starts for the team, he was released.Kauffman began his racing career at the age of ten...
, Paul Wolfe, Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras is the first Mexican-born driver in any NASCAR national series. He has competed in the Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series .-Busch Series:...
, Kertus Davis
Kertus Davis
Kertus Davis is a NASCAR driver. He is currently the competition director for JD Motorsports.- Prior to NASCAR/USAR :...
, Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
, and Steadman Marlin
Steadman Marlin
Steadman Marlin is a part-time NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #95 Sadler Brothers Dodge in select races in the Busch Series. Marlin, the son of Sterling Marlin and grandson of the late Coo Coo Marlin, was born in Columbia, Tennessee on October 29, 1980. He made his NASCAR debut in 2000...
all shared the ride for the rest of the season. In 2006
2006 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 25th season of the NASCAR Busch Series opened February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway and concluded November 18, 2006, at Homestead-Miami Speedway...
, the #12 car has seen several different drivers through the first 25 races of the season. Joel Kauffman
Joel Kauffman
Joel Kauffman , is a stock car racer. He was the driver of the #12 Supercuts Dodge Charger for FitzBradshaw Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series he was slated to run a full schedule, but after not performing in any starts for the team, he was released.Kauffman began his racing career at the age of ten...
was slated to run the full schedule for the team this year, however after struggling the team scaled back his schedule. David Reutimann
David Reutimann
Emil David Reutimann is the driver the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine/Tums/Best Western Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
ran the car at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
because Kauffman had not received approval for superspeedway racing. Tracy Hines
Tracy Hines
Tracy Lee Hines is an American auto racing driver. He was the 2000 USAC Silver Crown Champion and 2002 USAC National Sprint Car Champion...
and Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
drove the car in multiple races. For the 2007 season, Fitz Motorsports switched to the #22 and signed David Stremme and Mike Bliss as their principal drivers. Both drivers had great success in the #22, with Bliss scoring the team's best finish of second at Memphis
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
. Bliss returned in 2008 to drive full time, but left for Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
after six races, and was replaced by various Cup drivers including Robby Gordon and Reed Sorenson. Michael Waltrip Racing development driver Josh Wise
Josh Wise
Josh Wise is a NASCAR driver who currently runs in its Nationwide Series. He drives the #7 Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports and the #39 Ford Mustang for Go Green Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He is a former member of the driver development program for Michael Waltrip Racing...
became the new driver for thirteen races with one top-five finish. Of note, Fitz switched temporarily to Toyota during Wise's runs with the team. A wide variety of drivers including ex-Champ Car driver Andrew Ranger
Andrew Ranger
Andrew Ranger is a Canadian racing driver driving in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in the #27 Ford Fusion for Jacombs racing and the #35 Waste Management Chevy in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East...
, 2008 Daytona 500
2008 Daytona 500
The 2008 Daytona 500 was the 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race took place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 50th to be run since the first in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemorate...
winner Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
, Jarit Johnson, and Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son...
development driver
Driver development program
A Driver development program is a program used by racing teams to develop younger drivers. It is widely used in both Formula One and NASCAR, usually consisting of a team signing a driver to a multi-year contract in which they run in minor-league racing divisions A Driver development program is a...
Marc Davis
Marc Davis (racer)
Marc Davis , is a former NASCAR developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing . Davis graduated from Mooresville Christian Academy in May 2008.-Racing career:...
, took over for the rest of the season. This team shut down in early 2009.
Car #36 history
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
came aboard to sponsor the #14. Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
debuted the car at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
, bringing it home in 9th place. Atwood ran 11 races that year, posting four top-ten finishes. Atwood came back in 2004, and had seven top-tens, when he was dismissed after Lowe's
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. His immediate replacement was Dave Blaney
Dave Blaney
David Blaney is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He currently drives the #36 Golden Corral/Big Red Chevrolet Impala for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Blaney was a successful sprint car driver before he started racing in NASCAR...
for one race, before Ganassi development driver David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
joined from Braun Racing
Braun Racing
Braun Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had...
and ran the remainder of the season (with FitzBradshaw agreeing to switch to Dodges for the next season as a condition of Stremme's move). Stremme ran the #14 full-time in 2005, and had ten top-tens, finishing 13th in points, before moving up to compete in the NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
series. Tracy Hines
Tracy Hines
Tracy Lee Hines is an American auto racing driver. He was the 2000 USAC Silver Crown Champion and 2002 USAC National Sprint Car Champion...
was hired to run in the #14 Dodge for the 2006 season, however sponsorship issuesforced the team to compete on a limited basis. Steadman Marlin
Steadman Marlin
Steadman Marlin is a part-time NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #95 Sadler Brothers Dodge in select races in the Busch Series. Marlin, the son of Sterling Marlin and grandson of the late Coo Coo Marlin, was born in Columbia, Tennessee on October 29, 1980. He made his NASCAR debut in 2000...
competed for the team in two races and A. J. Foyt IV
A. J. Foyt IV
Anthony Joseph "A.J." Foyt IV is an American race car driver. He competed in the IndyCar Series and briefly in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, then called the Busch Series. He is the grandson of A. J. Foyt....
competed in one race for the team. It was announced in July 2006 that Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
would sponsor the car for nine races and the team would feature Ricky Craven
Ricky Craven
Richard Allen Craven is an ESPN broadcaster who works ESPN2's NASCAR Now and a race analyst for the network. Prior to his ESPN duties, he was a NASCAR driver who won in four different series—the K&N Pro Series, and the three national series. He occasionally served as a pit reporter when NASCAR...
, Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras is the first Mexican-born driver in any NASCAR national series. He has competed in the Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series .-Busch Series:...
, and Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
as drivers. Fitz Motorsports changed the car number to #44 for 2007 and Ruben Pardo
Ruben Pardo
Ruben Pardo , is a Mexican racecar driver. He currently drives the Family Dollar Dodge for Fitz Motorsports in the NASCAR Busch East Series, and part-time in the Nationwide Series. He is the brother of fellow NASCAR driver Carlos Pardo, who died in 2009.Pardo began racing in motorcycles, eventually...
qualified for the team's first race at the Telcel-Motorola México 200, followed up by another start at Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
. Mike Bliss
Mike Bliss
Michael Bliss is a NASCAR driver who has run in all three major series. He currently drives the #19 Chevrolet Impala for TriStar Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He began racing at age 10...
also drove the #44 with Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
sponsorship at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in May 2007. For 2008, Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace
Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
was signed to drive the #36 with sponsorship from Shark Energy Drink. Although Wallace missed the season opener at Daytona, he ran all following races until owner Armando Fitz announced on March 17 that the #36 team would only run part time due to a lack of product distribution, and the owner points of the 36 were switched the #28 of Wallace's new team. The #36 began running part-time with Pardo and Charles Lewandoski
Charles Lewandoski
Charles Lewandoski is a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Background:...
driving midway through the season.
Car #40 history
This car made its debut in 2003 at the Tropicana Twister 300 as the #82 Jani-KingJani-King
Jani-King is the world's largest commercial cleaning franchise company reporting more than 12,000 franchisees serving tens of thousands of customers worldwide....
Chevrolet driven by Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
, who finished 21st. Randy LaJoie
Randy LaJoie
Randall LaJoie was a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series , where he is a two-time champion. Presently, he does not have a full-time ride. He is the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie.-Early racing career:LaJoie started racing go-karts when he was 12 years old...
drove the car again at Phoenix, finishing 14th. LaJoie continued to run the car part-time in 2004 with sponsorship from Goulds Pumps
Goulds Pumps
Goulds Pumps, Inc. is a United States manufacturer of industrial pumps based in Seneca Falls, New York. It was founded by Seabury Gould in the 1840s. The company is now owned by ITT Industries.-Downs, Mynderse & Company:...
, his best finish being 13th at Las Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. In 2005, the team switched to #40 with sponsorship from Jani-King
Jani-King
Jani-King is the world's largest commercial cleaning franchise company reporting more than 12,000 franchisees serving tens of thousands of customers worldwide....
and Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission
The first Cottman Transmission Center was established in 1962 and the company later expanded to hundreds of locations throughout the United States and Canada. It was named after Cottman Avenue in northeast Philadelphia. Cottman continues to operate hundreds of car repair centers throughout the...
. Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
began the season with the team, with Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras
Carlos Contreras is the first Mexican-born driver in any NASCAR national series. He has competed in the Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series .-Busch Series:...
and Scott Lagasse Jr.
Scott Lagasse Jr.
Scott Lagasse Jr. is a race car driver on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit. He currently drives the #43 Ford for Baker Curb Racing. He is the son of former Sports Car & NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse Sr.. Lagasse Jr is a former member of Chip Ganassi Racing driver development program...
filling in. Towards the end of the season, Contreras, Paul Wolfe, and Erin Crocker
Erin Crocker
Erin Mary Crocker Evernham is an American race car driver. She drove the #98 Gillett Evernham Motorsports owned Dodge Charger in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. In the past, she played soccer, tennis, and varsity lacrosse on both her high school and college teams...
got majority of the starts in the car. Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
ran the Aaron's 312 at Atlanta in March in the car after the transmission on his regular #41 Discount Tire car mysteriously locked up during qualifying for the race. For 2006, Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
purchased the team's owners points and began a partnership with FBR to run the #99 Aaron's
Aaron's
Aaron's, Inc. is a lease-to-own retailer. The company focuses on leases and retail sales of furniture, electronics, appliances, and computers. It is divided into three major divisions: sales and lease ownership; corporate furnishings; and manufacturing. The incorporation of manufacturing as well...
Dodge.
Other Series
In addition to the Busch Series, Fitz Motorsports operates race teams in other series as well. In 2007, they fielded entries in the NASCAR Busch East Series with Ruben Pardo as the team's driver, with Pierre Borque racing on a part-time basis, and the NASCAR Mexico Series, where Carlos Pardo drove the team's FitzContreras Racing entry, along with development driver Maxime Dumarey.In 2007, the team partnered with Hyper Sport to race in the Grand Am Series.
Ruben Pardo raced in 2008 in the East Series for Fitz. For 2009, former Rusty Wallace Racing driver Chase Austin
Chase Austin
Chase Austin is an American racecar driver. He is a former development driver with Hendrick Motorsports and Rusty Wallace Racing. He is currently a part-time driver in the INDYCAR Firestone Indy Lights series.-Background:...
will pilot the #32 Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series and Jarit Johnson, younger brother of three time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
will drive in the Camping World East Series.