Sponsorship of Danica Patrick's NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 7 car is locked in for 2010. (Photo: Getty Images)

In addition to getting Patrick acclimated to her part-time Nationwide schedule, Kelley Earnhardt has to sell sponsorship to keep the No. 88 car on the track as that car is not fully sponsored for 2010.

“It’s been the most difficult thing I think I’ve ever been challenged to do is put sponsorship together right now,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “Even with leveraging Dale Jr. and his relationship with the team, companies are looking at the ways they’re spending money and they’re spending it differently.”

The one person sponsorship has been found for is Patrick, whose new GoDaddy.com commercial will debut in the next couple of weeks and could be considered risque.

“GoDaddy, they have their own way of marketing. … For Danica, that’s where she’s been and I think it’s great,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “She’s a beautiful lady. If she can work both sides of it and be an athlete and be a sexy woman on the same side, that’s stand up for her. To be in the swimsuit issue with Sports Illustrated and to be an athlete, that’s a great thing. At least she’s just not a beautiful model, she’s got athletic talent as well.”

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