Danica Patrick will be looking for a new daddy next
season.
USA
TODAY Sports reported today that GoDaddy will not return as
sponsor of Patrick’s Stewart Haas Racing No. 10 Chevrolet in 2016, choosing to
focus its marketing efforts on small business and international markets outside
of NASCAR. The online domain registry will attempt to sign Patrick to a new personal
services contract.
Patrick
is currently in the final year of her Stewart-Haas contract, and enjoying the
most competitive season of her NASCAR career. She is currently 16th
in the championship standings with a pair of Top-10 finishes and a best finish of
seventh in nine starts.
"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," said GoDaddy
chief marketing officer Phil Bienert to USA
TODAY. "We have the utmost respect for Stewart-Haas Racing, and
they've been phenomenal partners. But at this stage, we need a range of
marketing assets that reach a more globally-diverse set of customers."
GoDaddy’s
decision marks the end of an on-track relationship that dates back to 2007,
when Patrick drove for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series. They have
served as her primary sponsor since 2010.
SHR executive vice president Brett Frood said the
team is actively seeking new backers for Patrick and the No. 10 team.
She is obviously a unique situation being the only female driver in Cup. I don't believe there will be any problem in lining up new sponsor(s), if they haven't already done so.
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