Danica Patrick won’t return to Stewart-Haas in 2018

[Panther_99FS]

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/09/12/danica-patrick-out-stewart-haas-racing/?linkId=100000001089639


My time driving for them, however, has come to an end due to a new sponsorship arrangement in 2018.

[stansdds]

Right, has nothing to do with you being a consistent 20-something place finisher. I think we all wondered how long Danica would continue in NASCAR with her lack of wins.

[Blackbird686]

Saw this on Fox News...

Danica Patrick on Tuesday announced on Facebook that she was losing her NASCAR ride with Stewart-Haas racing for 2018, due to a sponsor shakeup, which could mark the end of her career in the series.
http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2017/09/12/danica-patrick-has-headache-and-is-climbing-walls-according-to-instagram-posts.html

Often wondered how much longer she would stick with NASCAR... when she starts getting close in any given race, she ends up either getting stacked up by some other driver, or doing it on her own.

BB686:US-flag:

[Panther_99FS]

Everyone jokes about Montoya and the jet dryer....
Well stuff like this didn't help Danica stay either....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbEbfoONa6Y

[stansdds]

I guess she is a bit like Cole Trickle, from Days of Thunder. She's hit everything out there except the pace car. :biggrin-new:

[Victory103]

I follow her on Instagram, seems like a great cook with all these health/fit meals, maybe a shot on Food Network?

I understand the sponsorship thing, but in my form of racing (motorcycles), if you don't get results your ride is up for grabs pretty quick.

[stansdds]

I follow her on Instagram, seems like a great cook with all these health/fit meals, maybe a shot on Food Network?

I understand the sponsorship thing, but in my form of racing (motorcycles), if you don't get results your ride is up for grabs pretty quick.

And now NASCAR is going the same route. There are fewer businesses and organizations today with money to burn on racing teams than there were 10 years ago. Sponsors do not want to put their name on a losing team/driver. So if a team/driver is not winning poles, not winning segments, not winning races, their days in the Cup Series will be short. There is a lot of younger talent coming up, so out with the old, tired, and not consistently in the top 10 and in with the new. It's just the way it is.

[PRB]

So... Smithfield Foods is leaving the RPM for SHR. But they left with a public statement, saying, more or less, that they wanted to sponsor a winning team. That sort of public "food fight" is a little unusual isn't it? Then, DP says she's leaves SHR saying it was because of "sponsorship issues". Hmm. Coincidence? Do you suppose Smithfield joined SHR with a condition..? Maybe they said they would sponsor the #10, as long as it was with a different driver? Cole Custer maybe? In any case, it's sad to see her go. I pulled for her each weekend, but it just never happened.

[stansdds]

So... Smithfield Foods is leaving the RPM for SHR. But they left with a public statement, saying, more or less, that they wanted to sponsor a winning team. That sort of public "food fight" is a little unusual isn't it? Then, DP says she's leaves SHR saying it was because of "sponsorship issues". Hmm. Coincidence? Do you suppose Smithfield joined SHR with a condition..? Maybe they said they would sponsor the #10, as long as it was with a different driver? Cole Custer maybe? In any case, it's sad to see her go. I pulled for her each weekend, but it just never happened.

That could certainly be the case. Money talks and NASCAR has become a big money sport.

[Panther_99FS]

Almirola to the #10 car.....
http://www.racer.com/nascar/item/145572-almirola-smithfield-unveiled-at-stewart-haas

I really thought S/Haas were going to go for a young XFinity driver....

[Terry]

Almirola to the #10 car.....
http://www.racer.com/nascar/item/145572-almirola-smithfield-unveiled-at-stewart-haas

I really thought S/Haas were going to go for a young XFinity driver....


I suspect that was a Smithfield decision, Aric must have made a friend in a high place.