In Charlotte, Jim Utter wrote driver Danica Patrick "enters the final year of her current contract" with Stewart-Haas Racing "at a crossroads in her NASCAR career, a season to determine whether she can match her success in marketability with results on the track." GoDaddy "has given no indication whether it plans to continue the high-dollar sponsorship of Patrick in NASCAR beyond this season." The company has "featured Patrick less and less in its recent national advertising campaigns." During Thursday’s Daytona 500 Media Day, Patrick "was prodded again on whether she has had substantive contract renewal talks, a question which she seemingly did not appreciate." She said, "It’s frigging February, buddy. It’s really a matter of cart and horse. It’s sponsor and team. Both are happy, so it’s a matter of getting GoDaddy in a place where they’re happy and committing to something, and from my understanding the team wants that, too, and it’s just a matter of time" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/14).
THE SHIRT STUFF: In Ft. Lauderdale, Miriam Valverde reported wildlife artist Guy Harvey will "create race-themed t-shirts and other merchandise" after signing a deal with ISC to "illustrate the company's tracks and registered marks on clothing and other products, giving him an opportunity to extend his ocean conservation message to thousands of race fans" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 2/13).
MAXIM IMPACT: BK Racing on Friday announced that it "has partnered with Maxim Magazine and Maxim Fantasy Sports" for the '15 Sprint Cup Series campaign. The magazine and its fantasy-sports subsidiary "will serve as the co-primary sponsor for J.J. Yeley's No. 23 Toyota during the season-opening Daytona 500," along with Dr Pepper (FOXSPORTS.com, 2/13).
