during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 5, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York.

Danica Patrick's Richmond sponsor raises more questions about her future with SHR


Advertisement

Danica Patrick has a new sponsor, which is good news, right?

No, not really.

When Patrick races her No. 10 Ford Fusion at Richmond or Stewart Haas Racing on September 9, her sponsor will be -- Warrior, by Danica Patrick.

That's right. Her own clothing line is sponsoring her car.

Advertisement

With sponsorship a main topic of conversation, it speaks volumes that Patrick has to rely on her own clothing line for sponsorship. She's already lost sponsorship with Go Daddy, and has recently noted that reports of her negotiating a buyout with SHR are incorrect -- but still troubling.

"There's no buyout needed," she told USAToday. "I don't have a sponsor. It's contingent on the sponsor."

RELATED: Danica Patrick has accomplished a feat for only the third time in her career

SHR is struggling with sponsorship, which it will need to keep its team going. The Sports Daily reported:

Advertisement

Patrick's nearly decade-long relationship with GoDaddy that spanned back to her time in IndyCar ended after '15, and SHR has run into challenges securing primary sponsorship. Nature's Bakery earlier this year backed away from its three-year, $45M deal after one season.

That sponsorship trouble, in part, has led to her teammate Kurt Busch already being dropped. Monster, the energy drink company, has been the primary sponsor of Busch's car the last two seasons and, according to NBC Sports, is weighing its future with NASCAR.

Patrick has been on a bit of a hot streak lately -- she's just finished a trinity of top-20 finishes, which is only the third time that's happened in Patrick's career, and she's achieved a career record with four consecutive top-15 finishes.

 

 

Advertisement