Super Danica

Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 9, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)
Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 9, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)

AVONDALE, Ariz. –The reports of Danica Patrick’s demise from sponsor GoDaddy.com’s Super Bowl commercials clearly were premature, according to company founder Bob Parsons, who announced at a Thursday press conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., that Patrick would appear in both of the company’s 30-second spots on Super Sunday.

The hiring of ad agency Deutsch Inc. to produce the Super Bowl commercials fueled speculation that GoDaddy.com might change directions in its marketing, but Parsons scotched those rumors with his announcement at the press conference.

The news took Patrick by surprise — at least to an extent.

“It was a surprise, but it was mostly a big surprise because he said he said I’d be in both of them,” Patrick told the NASCAR Wire Service after the formal question-and-answer session. “I know they’ve been working on creative and getting that in, so I thought maybe one commercial… but to be in both of them is very, very flattering, and I just want to do a good job for them.”

At a press conference this afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway, Patrick gave some insight into COPD. November is COPD national awareness month, and DRIVE4COPD is the official health initiative of NASCAR. Patrick is a celebrity ambassador for DRIVE4COPD, and she’s helping people learn about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in memory of her grandmother who died from emphysema, a form of the disease. Danica remembers how her grandmother struggled to breathe and the impact that had on her life. She’s raising awareness for COPD as the leading ambassador for the DRIVE4COPD campaign. DRIVE4COPD is a public health initiative that is designed to raise awareness of COPD and screen the millions who may be at risk for the disease.

“November is the month and orange is the color,” Patrick said. “I have been working with COPD on raising awareness for that disease which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for a few years now. My grandma had it and she passed away and it was an opportunity for me to do something really good and try and help other people.”

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.