MWR Welcomes Chris Marciani as Vice President Sales and Service

CORNELIUS, N.C. - - Today Michael Waltrip Racing announced Chris Marciani will serve as Vice President Sales and Service for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series operation.

"The future is very bright for MWR and the company is enjoying a tremendous amount of momentum right now," Marciani said. "The race teams are competitive on the track and the company is anchored by great partners like NAPA, Aaron's, Best Western and Toyota."

"MWR has a great piece of inventory left to sell for 2010 and beyond, the second half of the No. 00 with David Reutimann," continued Marciani. "Since he has become the 'Franchise' I look forward to talking to corporate partners about his remarkable run for 'The Chase' and the value he brings to partners. MWR has a championship-caliber Nationwide Series team with a lot of inventory left, so it's going to be exciting to sell national programs with real value."

Marciani joins the company following his two-year tenure as Vice President of Partnership Marketing at Bobcats Sports and Entertainment. While with the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, he managed the team's existing corporate partnership base and new business development. Ty Norris, Vice President and General Manager, was instrumental in Marciani making his next career move.

"Ty Norris called me and told me there was a position opening up focused on sponsorship sales and service," Marciani said. "In doing my due diligence before joining the company, it was easy to see the company's growth and the unique assets that drive value for corporate partners."

The new position at Michael Waltrip Racing is a homecoming of sorts for Marciani. Before joining the Bobcats, Marciani was a Senior Account Manager in NASCAR's Corporate Sales and Marketing office in New York for nearly five years.

"I moved to Charlotte two years ago to run the NBA team's sponsorship group," Marciani said. "Coming to Charlotte was easy because I was familiar with the community through racing."

In addition to his work with Fortune 500 companies in the NBA and NASCAR, Marciani served as Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the Arena Football League from 2001 to 2003. His responsibilities included developing new business and activating corporate partnership agreements.

Prior to that, the University of Southern Mississippi graduate (Business Administration and Marketing) was the Director of Client Services for SME. In this role, Marciani was primarily responsible for managing and selling marketing and branding services. Marciani first entered the sports business in 1996 with the Collegiate Licensing Company, where he served as University Services Assistant.

Now, Marciani is looking forward to his newfound opportunity with Michael Waltrip Racing and returning to NASCAR.

"I have a great understanding of the sport and why corporate partners find so much value in NASCAR," Marciani said. "Fan passion starts with the teams and drivers. Having an opportunity to represent MWR is exciting to me. MWR has so much to offer between Michael Waltrip, who is the owner and a two-time Daytona 500 champion, to David Reutimann, who is a great racer and just a solid all around guy. I look forward to contributing to the program and helping the team grow to a four-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series operation."