Navy sets sail with Atwood, FitzBradshaw

CONCORD, N.C. -- The U.S. Navy, which abruptly switched its sponsorship package from Roush Racing's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program last week, will back a nine-race Busch Series and Winston Cup program with FitzBradshaw Racing and driver Casey Atwood.

	Casey Atwood

The 2003 program, which includes eight Busch Series races and the Sept. 28 Winston Cup EA SPORTS 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, begins with Saturday's CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Atwood, who has not driven a Busch Series race since the 2000 season finale, will drive a No. 82 Chevrolet as a teammate to full-time FitzBradshaw driver Kerry Earnhardt.

Atwood was released as the driver of Ultra Motorsports' No. 7 Sirius Dodge at the end of last season, after he contended for Winston Cup Rookie of the Year for Evernham Motorsports in 2001.

He is scheduled to drive a car for Evernham in next month's Pocono 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, but had no other definite plans.

"The opportunity to be back in the driver's seat is great," Atwood said. "And driving for the Navy and FitzBradshaw Racing is an ideal situation in which to accelerate my career."

Atwood is scheduled to drive the No. 82 Navy Monte Carlo in Busch races at Daytona International Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway in July, Bristol Motor Speedway in August, Richmond International Raceway in September, again at Lowe's in October and Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.

"Everybody with FitzBradshaw is pleased about gaining the Navy as a sponsor," team co-owner Armando Fitz said. "I know my partner Terry (Bradshaw) is especially pleased as he just returned from Germany on a USO tour and because his father was in the Navy."

"Adding cars and sponsors has been one of the main goals of FitzBradshaw Racing since its inception in late 2001," Bradshaw said. "As I've said before, NASCAR teams are built sponsor by sponsor, race by race.

"This is our second year and we continue to attract new sponsors and maintain our existing ones. We offer branding options that are unique to this sport and desired by marketers."

Roush Racing, which continues to evaluate the future of its two-truck program in the Craftsman Truck Series, with driver Jon Wood, whose truck carried the Navy backing and rookie Carl Edwards; was upset by the Navy's decision.

"The Navy, through General Motors' lead agency, Campbell-Ewald, submitted bid criteria to us only two weeks ago, that had no chance of being fulfilled by Jon Wood's Craftsman Truck team," said John Miller, director of sponsor development for Roush Racing, last week. "The criteria were clearly targeted to allow the winning bidder to be only a Winston Cup or Busch team."

In the team's statement the Navy did not acknowledge its reason for the change.

"The Navy is proud to associate with FitzBradshaw Racing," Rear Admiral Steven J. Tomaszeski, Commander Navy Personnel Command, said. "Armando Fitz has years of experience in the racing business and Terry Bradshaw has a hall of fame reputation as a winner at every endeavor he takes on. Experience and a reputation for winning are synonymous with the Navy."