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11.11.15

Phoenix 500k Pre-Report

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2015) – Nearly nine years ago, GoDaddy, now the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, partnered with Danica Patrick, a promising star who was heating up the track in the IndyCar Series. That relationship grew over the years and continued as the driver transitioned from open-wheel cars to the stock-car ranks of NASCAR.

As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series enters the penultimate race of the 2015 season and Patrick’s longtime sponsor plans to exit the sport at the conclusion of the year, her No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will feature a special paint scheme at both Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The paint scheme celebrates the company’s long bond with Patrick by featuring memorable photos from their nine-year partnership, including her history-making pole award for the 2013 Daytona 500.

In addition, the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet also features the hashtag #GoingTheDistance to reference the fact that just as Patrick and the No. 10 team “go the distance” on the track, GoDaddy and its employees “go the distance” for customers. Last week, the GoDaddy Racing Twitter account shared a video thanking Patrick and NASCAR for helping the company build its brand over the years, and the company encourages fans to share their favorite GoDaddy Racing memories on social media with the #GoingTheDistance hashtag.

The special paint scheme will make its debut in Sunday’s Phoenix 500k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on the mile oval at Phoenix, the home track for GoDaddy, which is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, about 40 miles northeast of the facility.

In six Sprint Cup races at Phoenix, Patrick finished a career-best 17th there in November 2012. She earned a 26th-place result in March and scored a 22nd-place finish at the track last November. Patrick has also made five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix with a career-best 10th-place effort there in November 2012. In one IndyCar Series race at the “Jewel in the Desert,” Patrick finished 15th in 2005.

As Patrick returns to Phoenix this weekend, she and the No. 10 Chevrolet team will look to “go the distance” and improve upon their recent results at the track to get GoDaddy, and all of the company’s employees who will be in attendance, a solid finish.

DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:

With two races left in the Sprint Cup Series, how do you assess your team’s performance this year?

“I think we’ve had an average season. We had a new driver and crew chief combination this year, so that created some challenges. But we’ve grown a lot and we’ve had some good races and some bad ones. Honestly, it’s just extremely challenging to be great every weekend in NASCAR. It’s a very, very, very competitive sport, in many aspects – especially in the team aspect. But, I think growth is the most important thing to see, and we’ve had some of that this year, for sure.”

Phoenix is always a big weekend for the GoDaddy team, given that the company is based in nearby Scottsdale, and this weekend your No. 10 Chevrolet features a special paint scheme. Talk about that.

“It’s always fun to go to Phoenix because of GoDaddy. They have been a great partner for nine years. Our brands have grown up together and it’s cool to see some of the great memories we’ve shared over the years on the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet this weekend. We’ll always be a part of each other’s history and it’s a fun way to salute GoDaddy’s time in NASCAR. I know I’ll have a lot of fans in GoDaddy green pulling for me at the racetrack this weekend and we plan to give them something to cheer for.”

Do you have a lot of friends coming out for this race?

“I do, actually. GoDaddy will have a lot of people at the track, and then I have a lot of friends coming out, as well. It’s a nice race for everyone to see and, hopefully, everyone has a good time.”

What are your overall thoughts on racing at Phoenix this weekend?

“We had a solid race there last fall. It was one of my first weekends working with Daniel (Knost, crew chief) and hopefully we can do even better when we return to the track this weekend. I like Phoenix and think it’s a great track, so I hope we can have another smooth run and do well.”