GODADDY.COM EXTENDS SPONSORSHIP WITH JR MOTORSPORTS AND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
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MOORESVILLE & CONCORD, N.C. January 7, 2009: GoDaddy.com today extended its partnerships with JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports, which will give the world’s leading registrar of Internet domain names a significant presence in NASCAR’s top two series in 2009.
This season, GoDaddy.com will be the primary sponsor for 20 Nationwide Series events with JR Motorsports and seven Sprint Cup Series races with Hendrick Motorsports. The company also will be an associate sponsor of Hendrick’s No. 5 Sprint Cup Chevrolets with driver Mark Martin.
The pact includes two Nationwide Series races with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 5 Chevrolets of JR Motorsports. Earnhardt is a GoDaddy.com spokesperson, a two-time Nationwide Series champion (1998 and 1999) and NASCAR’s most popular driver.
In addition, GoDaddy.com will back the No. 88 Chevrolets of JR Motorsports and driver Brad Keselowski in 18 Nationwide Series races. Keselowski, 24, also will attempt a seven-event Sprint Cup schedule in the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolets of Hendrick Motorsports. The Cup effort will be led by veteran crew chief Lance McGrew.
Details of the Nationwide and Cup programs, including race dates, will be announced at a later time.
Keselowski recently completed his first full Nationwide season, finishing third in championship points. Fans voted him the series’ most popular driver after posting two wins, 11 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s in 2008. In November, he made his first two Cup-level starts, recording solid top-25 efforts for Hendrick Motorsports and GoDaddy.com at Fort Worth, Texas, and Homestead, Fla.
GoDaddy.com’s first foray into auto racing came in December 2006 with the Indy Racing League’s Danica Patrick. The company moved into NASCAR last season as a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series (two events), Nationwide Series (six events) and Camping World Truck Series (five events).
The extension and expansion of the GoDaddy.com relationship completes the 2009 sponsorship picture for the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolets. The company joins Unilever (11 races) and Delphi Corp. (six races) as primary sponsors of championship contender Keselowski in the Nationwide Series.
BOB PARSONS, CEO AND FOUNDER, GODADDY.COM (ON GODADDY.COM’S SPONSORSHIP OF JR MOTORSPORTS AND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS.): “It was an easy decision for GoDaddy.com to sponsor NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. once again this season. Extending the race schedule for Nationwide Series fan favorite Brad Keselowski is icing on the cake for us.”
PARSONS (ON THE VALUE OF THE SPONSORSHIP.): “Working with world-class organizations like Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports helps make this sponsorship valuable for GoDaddy.com. The popularity and track achievements of these drivers make them an ideal fit for the GoDaddy.com brand, and we look forward to a successful 2009 season.”
DALE EARNHARDT JR., OWNER, JR MOTORSPORTS (ON GODADDY.COM’S SPONSORSHIP OF JR MOTORSPORTS.): “I’m happy to be partnered with GoDaddy.com again, and I appreciate the much larger role they are playing in our organization this season. I was fortunate enough to visit the Go Daddy headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., recently and was extremely impressed with what I saw -- not only in the technology, but also the people. I consider myself quite knowledgeable when it comes to computers and the Web, and it’s fun to be able to bounce ideas off each other in making this partnership really click. I look forward to seeing Brad drive the Go Daddy car this season in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.”
KELLEY EARNHARDT, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, JR MOTORSPORTS (ON GODADDY.COM’S SPONSORSHIP OF JR MOTORSPORTS.): “GoDaddy.com not only reinforced their commitment to this program, but stepped up in a big way during what is certainly a challenging time for all race teams in searching for sponsorships. Our relationship with GoDaddy.com has been valued from the beginning, because it relates strongly to Dale’s persona and interests. The 2008 season was our maiden voyage, so to speak, and it proved to be a memorable one, as JR Motorsports and Go Daddy went to Victory Lane with Ron Fellows at Montreal. We anticipate continued success in this partnership in 2009.”
RICK HENDRICK, OWNER, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS (ON THE GODADDY.COM SPONSORSHIP.): “It’s exciting to see a company like GoDaddy.com come into our sport and recognize the terrific opportunities it offers. The fact that they’re increasing their involvement is a success story, and it speaks to the value that NASCAR continues to deliver to our marketing partners. We appreciate our partnership with Go Daddy and look forward to showing them a great return on their investment.”
HENDRICK (ON BRAD KESELOWSKI’S SEVEN-RACE SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE.): “This was a no-brainer for us. Brad has shown the talent, and now it’s a matter of getting him more track time and experience. He did a great job in his first two Cup races (in 2008), but there’s plenty of room for growth. Brad has a bright future, and it’ll be fun watching him progress this season.”
BRAD KESELOWSKI, DRIVER (ON GODADDY.COM SPONSORING HIS NATIONWIDE AND CUP SERIES EFFORTS IN 2009.): “I’m very lucky to have GoDaddy.com on board for both series in 2009, and I’m looking forward to having a great season. We’re going to make a run for the championship in the Nationwide Series and have some strong runs in the Sprint Cup car. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the support they’re providing, and I personally appreciate their confidence in me as a driver.”
KESELOWSKI (ON RUNNING THE ENTIRE 2009 NATIONWIDE SERIES SCHEDULE.): “My goal for next season is to win the Nationwide Series championship. I want to run well on a weekly basis and have the consistency that’s necessary to be in the title picture. I will have great sponsors on board and a great team behind me so there’s no reason why we can’t make that happen.”
KESELOWSKI (ON RUNNING SEVEN SPRINT CUP RACES FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS IN 2009.): “I’m looking forward to being in a Cup car more often. I’m really excited to continue working with Lance (McGrew, crew chief) and have additional seat time in the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. The more races I run, the better I will get. That will prepare me for whatever opportunities come along in the future.”