|
 Patrick, one of NASCAR'S most high-profile drivers, has been
sponsored by GoDaddy since 2007 and the Internet domain name service
said it is negotiating to keep Patrick as a spokeswoman under a
personal services agreement.
"We love Danica and all she does to empower and inspire people,
especially women, which is why we are working to keep her in the
GoDaddy family," GoDaddy Chief Marketing Officer Phil Bienert said
in a statement.
"NASCAR has been a tremendous domestic platform ... but at this
stage, we need a range of marketing assets that reach a more
globally-diverse set of customers."
Patrick is in the midst of her best Sprint Cup Series to date with
two top-10 finishes that have given her the record for most top-10s
by a woman in NASCAR's top series, with six.
She signed with GoDaddy for the 2007 IndyCar season and in 2008
became the first woman to win an IndyCar race.
GoDaddy helped transition Patrick into NASCAR, as her primary
sponsor, starting with the Xfinity Series and then moving into
Sprint Cup full-time in 2013.
She is one of 14 elite drivers who have led laps at both the Daytona
500 and the Indianapolis 500.
Patrick was a fixture in Super Bowl ads for GoDaddy until her 2015
commercial for the company, which showed a puppy falling out of a
truck, was pulled after pressure from animal rights groups.
[to top of second column] |
"GoDaddy has been an incredible partner for a very long time, almost
nine years, and as I've said before, our brands have really grown up
together," said Patrick.
"I'm excited to work with GoDaddy on a personal level moving
forward, but will miss having their bright green color on my racecar
next year," said Patrick.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Larry Fine)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
