New month, new look for Danica

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Oct. 2, 2013) – In the spirit of breast cancer awareness, Danica Patrick is trading green for pink for the month of October.

Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

The car was unveiled in New York City alongside the pink Chevrolet Camaro SS that served as the pace car for last month’s Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and will also pace the field at Talladega and Martinsville.

Following up on a $50,000 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation along with the Public Interest Registry, GoDaddy’s “Round-up for Charity” lets customers round their purchase up to the nearest dollar with proceeds going to the foundation. In addition, GoDaddy is also donating a portion of proceeds from sales at Patrick’s merchandise trailer throughout the month of October.

Chevrolet will donate $200 for every lap the pink Chevrolet Camaro SS leads the field under caution for the Atlanta, Talladega and Martinsville races. Since 2011, more than $2.2 million has been raised for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative. In addition to the pink pace car program, the activities have included dealership walks, national test drive promotions and national service rebate promotions.

The pink No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet SS takes to the track for the first time for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas.

Patrick scored her first career IndyCar Series pole at the 1.5-mile oval in July 2005 and has three top-10 results in IndyCar Series competition at Kansas. In addition, she finished in the top-15 in each of her two Nationwide Series starts at the track in 2011 and 2012.

Perhaps a little pink will provide good results for Patrick – while raising awareness for a very important cause.

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

Talk about your trip to New York City Tuesday with GoDaddy and Chevrolet to raise awareness for breast cancer.

“It was a fun and productive day. Both GoDaddy and Chevy have come up with really cool ways to raise money and awareness. GoDaddy has replaced the normal ‘GoDaddy Green’ color on my car with the color pink for the entire month of October. So I’ll be driving a pink car for the next several races. GoDaddy and the Public Interest Registry made a $50,000 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and their Round-up for Charity promotion lets customers round up their purchase to the nearest dollar with proceeds going to National Breast Cancer Foundation. Plus, a portion of proceeds from sales at my merchandise trailer at the racetrack throughout the month of October will be donated. Chevrolet is using the pink Chevy Camaro SS as the pace car at three NASCAR races and, for every lap the car leads the field under caution, Chevy will donate $200 to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative. I did an event with Chevrolet last month in Atlanta where I had the privilege to meet survivors and sign autographs for them and give them rides around the racetrack in the Pink Chevy Camaro SS, so that was pretty amazing. The passion, the strength and the fight the survivors have really is inspirational. And getting the message out there is important. I have a friend from high school who took the breast cancer gene test six or seven years ago and it was positive, so she decided to have a double mastectomy. We’ve all been affected by it in some way or through someone we know, so it’s important to raise awareness and that’s why I’m proud to be a part of what GoDaddy and Chevy are doing. It was a great event on Tuesday.”

This is your third Sprint Cup Series start at Kansas. What are your thoughts on this weekend’s race?

“I’ve always liked going to Kansas. It’s a nice facility and I’ve got a lot of experience there compared to some places. Even if a lot of it is in IndyCar. I think our 1.5-mile program is better than it was in the spring, so I feel good going into this week. I think the test on Thursday will be an advantage and help us, especially in qualifying.”

You mentioned the four-hour test Thursday. How valuable is that track time?

“Anytime you can get track time, it’s a good thing, especially if you’re a rookie. I certainly don’t mind going in a day early to get four extra hours on track. Every bit helps and I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, we’re able to learn a lot and have a good weekend.”

A few weeks ago, it was announced that you’ll be co-hosting the American Country Awards with Trace Adkins in December. How did that all come about?

“It’s the first time someone’s asked me to host and it’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve really gotten into country music in the last year or so. I’m excited. Country music fans and the people and the artists are so nice. I got the first introduction with Miranda Lambert when I was asked to be in her video for ‘Fastest Girl in Town.’ And she was awesome. Then, Colt Ford asked Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) and I to be in his newest video and we shot that last month. It just all fits and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m a little nervous, though. I’m told it’s going to be really easy, with no issues and no problems, but I just keep thinking, ‘That can’t be true’ (laughs). But these guys are the professionals and we’ll be ready. I co-hosted ‘The View’ a few years ago and, lately, I’ve presented awards at the ESPY’s every year. I’ve been asked to present awards at a lot of awards shows and I’d like to do more, but scheduling is tough because of how much we race. I’m excited, though – this is a big next step.”

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