American retail chain 7-Eleven has announced a new associate sponsorship deal with American driver Danica Patrick and her No. 7 GoDaddy.com team.
Under the terms of the deal, the retail brand’s logo will now adorn Patrick’s driver suit in addition to the No. 7 GoDaddy.com car. The sponsorship is an addition to 7-Eleven’s long-term primary sponsorship of Andretti Autosport driver Tony Kanaan and his No. 11 Team 7-Eleven IZOD IndyCar Series entry. The two sponsorship deals are part of a multi-year agreement with IndyCar Series racing team Andretti Autosport.
Rita Bargerhuff, 7-Eleven’s vice president and chief marketing officer said: “7-Eleven will also have a presence on the No. 7 entry as well as with Tony and our winning No. 11. Tony and Danica will certainly provide a one-two punch for 7-Eleven, both visibly on the track and in promotions throughout the season.”
Andretti Autosport chairman, president and chief executive Michael Andretti was excited about the sponsorship: ”7-Eleven is part of the foundation of our racing program and has been since 2003. They are always an active supporter and marketer of our team and drivers, and we’re excited about their promotional plans for the upcoming 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season.”
“This is a great opportunity to build upon the strong platform we have established with Andretti Autosport, Tony Kanaan and the Team 7-Eleven program,” added Bargerhuff. “We have had the pleasure of working with Danica since she joined the Andretti team three years ago, and we look forward to this expanded relationship.”
The 2010 racing season is 7-Eleven’s eighth season as Kanaan’s primary sponsor. 7-Eleven has enjoyed a relationship with the Andretti Autosport team for the last six years which has included an IRL series championship with Team 7-Eleven driver Tony Kanaan in 2004, when he won the IZOD IndyCar Series championship breaking numerous IRL records. Throughout its sponsorship of Andretti Autosport, 7-Eleven has supported many of the other team entries as an associate sponsor.
Wisconsin-born Danica Patrick is one of the world’s most-popular female athletes. Patrick qualified and finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005, becoming the first and only woman ever to lead the historic race. Patrick also became the first woman ever to win a series event when she won the Japan Indy 300 on 20th April, 2008.
Financial details have not been released but the deal is believed to be worth a high six figure sum.
Source: Sports Pro
