Go Daddy sponsors Earnhardt-designed speedster
Go Daddy Group Inc. extended its reach into the auto racing world this week, saying it will sponsor a NASCAR car designed by top driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolets car is fielded by JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. It will be driven by Earnhardt, Mark Martin and Ron Fellows in six races of the 2008 season.
Go Daddy said Tuesday it will serve as an associate-level partner for the No. 5 cars all season.
Earnhardt will be the first to drive the Go Daddy car April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.
"It's racy and edgy," he said. "It's a sharp-looking car and we are going to have some fun driving it this year."
The black, orange and green car sports Go Daddy's wavy-haired cartoon mascot on its hood and its GoDaddy.com domain name on the sides.
"We are excited to join Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports for our first NASCAR sponsorship," Go Daddy chief executive officer Bob Parsons said. "It's a natural fit. These guys are all about winning and being the best. That's exactly what GoDaddy.com is about."
It is the first NASCAR sponsorship for the Scottsdale-based domain name registrar. Go Daddy began sponsoring Indy car driver Danica Patrick in 2006 and sponsored the ABC-TV broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 race this year.
Go Daddy also plans to advertise on the 2008 Super Bowl broadcast. The ads for previous games brought the company national notoriety when censors rejected its first attempts as too suggestive.
The company shot three commercials in Los Angeles last week and is waiting for network approval.
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