Race Weekend Central

BSNews! Allstate and Progressive Explore 2013 Sponsorship For Danica

A spokesman for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has announced that two different car insurance companies have expressed an interest in sponsoring NASCAR’s most popular female driver, Danica Patrick, possibly full-time by 2014. The two companies are Allstate and Progressive.

This could prove to be a huge boon for Danica, or it might prove to be a huge headache as she is currently a spokesperson for Nationwide insurance. As one might expect, any sponsorship by a rival insurance company would only be allowed at the Sprint Cup level as Nationwide currently sponsors NASCAR’s lower series.

While Nationwide doesn’t directly sponsor Danica’s car on the race track, she does do their ‘Vanishing Deductible’ commercial at the track and often takes it a step further by vanishing from contention and even behind the wall during races.

In that light, meaning ‘product recognition,’ Allstate and Progressive have shown interest. Allstate with their safe driver bonus check and Progressive with their much advertised ‘snapshot discount’ program.

If Progressive decides they like Danica, Flo might even teach her to take off her helmet and have perfect hair!

BSNews has learned that Allstate, during the 2013 racing schedule, has ‘unofficially’ offered Danica a ‘discount bonus check’ for every six months that she drives accident free.

“We really have laid that offer out there,” said an Allstate official in an uncannily deep voice and who wished to remain unidentified. “We understand that she is still learning out there and we just thought that this just might give her a little incentive. If we are going to enter into a full sponsorship in the future, we want to know that it is worth it and, more importantly, she is worthy of it. Obviously we couldn’t have a car sponsored by an insurance company on the track and crashing all the time.”

“To be perfectly honest, we don’t really have any money set aside for this fund as we figure…what are the chances?” he crooned majestically.

Progressive on the other hand is taking a more scientific approach.

“We actually have a deal set up with SHR where we have been given permission to plug in our snapshot module into the actual race cars,” said a cardboard cut out of Progressive spokesperson, Flo. (Can you say ‘Awkward’ for our reporter?!)

Snapshot is a program that actually monitors a persons driving habits, sort of like a ‘black box’, and records such things as average speed, braking and acceleration habits, among others.

“If all goes well, and we like the data, we are prepared to make a multi-race and multi-year deal with Danica and SHR,” said Flo. “I think we could be really good partners. First thing I would do is show her how to take off her helmet and still have perfect hair, every time. Next I think I’d get to work on those lips…she needs a new shade of lipstick!”

In a totally unrelated announcement, Burger King, sponsor of the No. 83 driven by Landon Cassell, is offering free BK Stackers on Mondays every time Landon beats Danica.

Here’s to hoping Burger King doesn’t go bankrupt with this promotion.

BSNews: Your first thought is our first name!

Stay off the wall,

Jeff Meyer

“Contact Jeff Meyer”:https://frontstretch.com/contact/14350/

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