Mooresville, N.C. (July 16, 2008) – Petty Enterprises announced today that Michael Bartelli has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of the legendary race team and the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
“We are excited to have a marketing executive of Mike’s acumen and reputation join us,” said David Zucker, Chief Executive Officer of Petty Enterprises. “His proven ability to help brands realize value from motorsports marketing will be an invaluable asset to the Petty organization and our partners. He is a strategic thinker who built a leading motorsports agency from the ground up and his experience across a multitude of consumer product categories will serve us well as we grow our businesses.”
Bartelli will further strengthen the race team marketing group led by Brian Moffitt and the Richard Petty Driving Experience efforts led by President Brian Flynn. Bartelli joins Petty Enterprises from Millsport’ s Charlotte-based motorsports division where he spent eight years, and was most recently, its President. He is credited with taking the agency from its early stages in motorsports to a recognized leader in the industry.
Prior to Millsport, Bartelli served as Vice President, Business Development for Action Performance Companies, the world’s largest manufacturer of licensed motorsports merchandise at the time. He began his industry career in Daytona Beach, FL where he served as Director, Marketing Partnerships for International Speedway Corporation (ISC), the world’s leading promoter of motorsports events.
Named to Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal “Forty Under 40” list of the industry’s top young achievers in 2005, Bartelli also serves on the Charlotte board of directors for the National Sports Marketing Network, the national trade organization for the sports business industry.
In his new role, Bartelli will be responsible for directing and overseeing all sales, marketing and licensing activities of the Petty Enterprise companies. He will report directly to Zucker.
“I’ve been around motorsports awhile, have great respect for what the Petty’s stand for and couldn’t let a chance to be part of history pass me by,” Bartelli said. “The recent investment by Boston Ventures, David joining as CEO, the re-signing of Bobby Labonte and the integration of race team and driving experience operations are clear signs of things to come from this organization. I’m really looking forward to helping build the future of one of the most recognized brands in all of sports.”
About Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises, founded in 1949 in Level Cross, NC by Lee Petty, is the most successful organization in NASCAR with 268 race wins and 10 Sprint Cup Series Championships. NASCAR icon and seven time Sprint Cup Series Champion Richard Petty is the most recognized figure in all of North American motorsports and continues to be a highly sought after brand ambassador. Located in Mooresville, NC, the organization operates two NASCAR Sprint Cup teams, the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team of Bobby Labonte and the #45 Marathon/Wells Fargo/PVA Dodge team of Kyle Petty; as well as the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
About Richard Petty Driving Experience
Richard Petty Driving Experience, a motorsports entertainment and automotive services company headquartered in Concord, N.C., produces and facilitates NASCAR-style stock car drive and ride-along experiences, auto manufacturer ride and drive programs, safe driving programs, mobile marketing events, and production services to the film industry. The company has permanent facilities in Las Vegas, Walt Disney World, Concord, N.C. and Chicago. Richard Petty Driving Experience will operate more than 1,200 track days at 25 locations nationwide in 2008.
For more information, call 1-800-BE-PETTY
