CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Danica Patrick will be introduced as the first female member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family during a Thursday news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The 30-year-old fulltime Nationwide Series driver and part-time Sprint Cup driver joins current CCRF members Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart.
Patrick will be directly branded with Coke Zero. Among her first promotional appearances will be at the Coca-Cola 600 weekend at CMS to promote the adventure movie “Battleship” with one of the movie’s stars, Brooklyn Decker. She also will compete in the 600 as the third of her 10 Cup races this season.
“To be with Coca-Cola is one of those things you only dream about as a driver,” Patrick told ESPN.com. “A lot of legendary drivers have been a part of the Coke family, so I feel very fortunate.”
“She is going to invigorate what we’re doing with the Coca-Cola Racing Family,” said Sharon Byers, the senior vice president of Sports and Entertainment for Coca-Cola.
Patrick will add Coca-Cola to her brand that already includes GoDaddy.com, Nationwide Insurance, Tissot, Chevrolet, Peak Antifreeze, William Rast clothing and Hot Wheels. She will add to her net worth that Forbes estimated at $12 million in 2011, ranking eighth among NASCAR drivers. She was the only NASCAR driver to make the Forbes Top 100 celebrities list in 2011 (she was 96th).
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
