GoDaddy.com Drives New NASCAR Deal
GoDaddy.com has landed a deal as a primary sponsor with Hendrick Motorsports in its inaugural NASCAR run.
GoDaddy will be primary sponsor of Hendrick’s No. 5 Chevy for six events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the wheel for some of those races. Fellow team drivers Mark Martin and Ron Fellows will also pilot the GoDaddy car.
When the car isn’t displaying the black, green and orange GoDaddy colors, the Internet domain name company will be an associate level partner of the car throughout the season.
The deal represents GoDaddy’s first NASCAR run, but not its initial involvement in motorsports: It sponsored Indy racer Danica Patrick last year and was a presenting sponsor of the Inidianapolis 500 in the first year of a three-year pact.
GoDaddy had previously run some TV spots during NASCAR races, and decided to take the next step.
“We like NASCAR fans and the sport and we believe it will translate into some healthy business,” said Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of GoDaddy.com. He said the NASCAR exposure would enable the company to reach a new consumer base.
GoDaddy’s NASCAR deal is for one year, but Parsons is leaving the gate open for a return run: “If the thing is what we expect it to be, we’ll be in with both feet the following year,” he said.
