Maybe Danica didn't like those ads either

Posted by Iannucci | 2/06/2009 | 15 comments »
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Not to re-open the can of worms that is any conversation regarding Danica Patrick, but earlier this week Sports Business Daily caught up with her adrenaline-fueled father. Dadica, who moonlights as both her manager and motorcoach driver, confirmed that this very week his daughter changed representation for her marketing and endorsement affairs.

“It was just time for a change of pace,” said T.J. Patrick, Danica’s father and business manager. “It was a move designed to get more into sports marketing. Endeavor isn’t really a sports marketing group. We went that avenue and then Danica decided to try something different.”

“She didn’t really get anything out of the win (at Motegi) at all, other than some media coverage,” T.J. Patrick said.

In noting that Woods’ agent will now be part of her representation team, T.J. said with a laugh, “We’ll take Tiger’s leftovers.”
So if you see Mrs Hospenthal driving a Buick anytime soon, you'll understand why.

And now the 'Anonymous' Fanicas and Danica Haters will resume their practice of oh-so politely slamming each other in the comments section.

15 comments

  1. The SpeedGeek // February 06, 2009 11:06 AM  

    Ooh! Me first!

    Danica is teh suq. I bet she stil dosnt win any races thiis year. ROTFLMAOHAHAHAHAHAH!!&!&!#

    Sorry, couldn't help it. Seriously, (hopefully) good move by her. It's nice to see some solid career awareness by Dad there.

  2. Anonymous // February 06, 2009 12:42 PM  

    Cheers to Daddy Patrick if he helped with his daughter's PR management move to IMG. Let's hope that her new crew keeps her the polar opposite of career advice like this:

    “Those ads are edgy and they break through,” said Zak Brown, CEO of Just Marketing International, an IndyCar marketing partner. “I don’t rate it as a negative because they put her in high-profile places.

    Did this guy "sell" the "I am INDY" concept as well? IRL marketing has left a lot to be desired... so getting one of their 1st class PR firms to comment on Danica....

    ... is like the 0-16 Detroit Lions still consulting former GM Matt Millen! Just Marketing Inc? More like Just Goofin' Inc.

  3. Anonymous // February 06, 2009 2:01 PM  

    While I loved the ads I still think this is a good move as Danica defintely deserves more publicity than she gets already. Being the first ever female winner, having such a fun and passionate personality that breathed main stream interest back in the sport, and of course not to mention her being super hot! With a new PR Team and Michael Andretti calling the shots for her on the track,I think that 2009 will go down as the "Year of Danica."

  4. EnsErmac // February 06, 2009 2:20 PM  

    I'm a usual Danica hater, but I really have no issue with this. That firm made Tiger Woods into a marketing machine. In this tough time of obtaining sponsors, the IndyCar series needs Danica now more than ever. Although Viso and Doornbos on the same track is going to be pretty interesting, Danica presents another interesting point in IRL 2009.

  5. Anonymous // February 06, 2009 2:32 PM  

    AZZ045,

    Come on man, why'd you have to bring my beloved Lions into this? lol

  6. Anonymous // February 06, 2009 7:25 PM  

    “She didn’t really get anything out of the win (at Motegi) at all, other than some media coverage,” T.J. Patrick said."

    It's obvious where the mindset is in the Patrick family, they obviously care more about making money than racing.

  7. Anonymous // February 07, 2009 5:50 AM  

    Geez,

    Are we not all out for money to some degree? If she was only out for money she would have jumped ship for NASCAR already (guess your forgetting that). She has went on record as saying she wants to help bring back the popularity of open wheel racing and I am sure that is part of her motivation as well. If you love open wheel racing like I do you should be glad for that, and for her!

  8. Anonymous // February 07, 2009 11:52 AM  

    What cracks me up is the number of people who are on her case because she wants to maximize her earning potential.

    Folks, Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, etc. all make money OUTSIDE OF RACING, if it's okay for them, why isn't it okay for her? Sheesh......some of you are like the annoying brat in school that gets into everybody else's business and complains to the teacher about what's going on.

  9. Anonymous // February 07, 2009 12:51 PM  

    Well, Damon, those people have won more than one race.

  10. Jesse // February 07, 2009 8:16 PM  

    I refuse to join the ranks of those complaining that she hasn't done anything for the series on one hand, and then making fun of her for this on the other. It's a solid career move on her part, regardless of how it came about, and a responsible step forward. I'm not aboard the Danitrain, but this is progress, people.

  11. Anonymous // February 07, 2009 9:54 PM  

    If a company wants you to endorse their product, are you going to turn it down because you have fewer wins than you peers?

    HECK NO!

    Make what you can, while you can, because when it's over....well, you know the rest.

  12. Anonymous // February 08, 2009 4:33 AM  

    In terms of selling products it's all in how well you market their products, it's not about winning. Lots of people have high levels of success but don't get sweet marketing deals b/c their personalities arn't suited for it. Pick your men's tennis star over the past 25 years other than McEnnroe or Agassi for example. I hope Danica win's more races, but that's totally not the issue here.

  13. Anonymous // February 08, 2009 9:35 AM  

    vitorfan: Unfortunately they are also MY Lions... I live in metro Detroit & have watched this NFL train wreck up close & personal. :( :(

    Damon has this right... we see Dale Jr, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, & numerous NASCAR guys "sellin' stuff" & making a ton of $$$ off the track.

    Earnhardt SR. made MORE $$$ off the track than on. Even Mikey Waltrip... who is 3-500+ (?) in his Cup career makes a ton of money on a less than stellar career (using 1st place trophies as a guide).

    Danica will never win with some of the fans... Before she won last year, we heard the b*tchin' & moanin' that she never won anything! Now that she has scored that victory the new rallying cry seems to be is "Big Deal... its Only ONE Win..."

  14. pressdog // February 09, 2009 6:47 AM  

    One of the several things I give Danica credit for is being a shrewd biddness woman -- or having a shrewd biddness posse, whichever. Flirty Curty Cavin once wrote that Momica, Dadica, Hubica and Danica get together one morning a week and have a little business meeting re: Danica Inc. I'm pretty sure that's where my three requests for Q&As got shot down. (That's a lie, they don't even make it that far.) I give Danica full marks for capitalizing as much as she can on her popularity. Everyone reading this would do EXACTLY the same. "Hey, pressdog, you're a marginal blogger who has never won anything and has fewer skills than many of your peers, but we think you are cool. Will you accept $5 million to be in a TV commercial and talk about your beaver?" That would be a "Yes." Danica changing representation is a no-big-deal event, IMO. She should go with whoever she thinks handles her brand best while making her tons of cash.

  15. Anonymous // February 10, 2009 5:19 PM  

    Big difference P-Dog... You, the readers, & I didn't score a major contract from Motorola. We don't have a butt-load of endorsement deals that also pay nice $$$ & does NOT make us talk about our "beaver".

    I'm sure Mr. Rahal paid her a nice yearly salary as well & the Argent endorsement check didn't bounce

    Point is Ms Danica is not starving & can afford to make respectable bidness decisions. She's not anything like us, brother!!!

    Another thing, if it was all about the cash-o-la she would have grabbed Hef's Playboy offers (which she says she has turned down).