Danica Patrick re-ups with Stewart-Haas, gets new sponsor for 2016
Danica Patrick is staying at Stewart-Haas Racing. And she's got a replacement for her current sponsor, GoDaddy.
Nature's Bakery will be Patrick's primary sponsor in 2016. The company will sponsor 28 races after GoDaddy announced earlier this year that it was leaving Patrick's No. 10 car at the conclusion of the 2015 season. Nature's Bakery is a "snacks and food brand that supports health conscious living and active lifestyles with our 4 pinnacles of achieving balance - nature, activity, nutrition and community."
According to team co-owner Tony Stewart, Patrick's contract extension is a "multi-year" agreement. Teams generally line up driver and contract sponsorships so they can be reworked at the same time.
Patrick, 33, has been with Stewart-Haas Racing ever since she moved to the Sprint Cup Series in 2012. In 105 career Cup Series starts she has six top-10 finishes. She's currently 21st in the 2015 standings and has two top-10 finishes in 23 races. While Patrick has received criticism for her lack of race wins and time spent at the front of the field, she remains as one of NASCAR's more marketable drivers. Stewart-Haas had said it wanted to keep Patrick as a member of its four-car team as a teammate to Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Stewart.
“It’s an honor to represent Nature’s Bakery and also a great deal of responsibility,” Patrick said in a team release. “They have ambitious goals and they’re going to rely on me and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing to deliver. I have ambitious goals too. It’s why I came to NASCAR and, specifically, to Stewart-Haas Racing. There’s still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I’m looking to continue my professional journey with a brand as determined as I am.”
Patrick was the face of GoDaddy's marketing efforts when she was sponsored by the company in both the IndyCar Series and in NASCAR. The company cited a desire to move to more international marketing when it said it was leaving NASCAR in April and said it would like to sign Patrick to a personal services contract.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
