Danica Patrick’s uncertain sponsorship situation was cleared up some Tuesday morning when Stewart-Haas Racing announced Aspen Dental would increase its commitment to sponsor Patrick in 2017.
Aspen Dental increases sponsorship commitment to Danica Patrick
Patrick’s previous sponsor, Nature’s Bakery, is being sued by Stewart-Haas Racing for breach of contract, and Aspen Dental’s increased support helps bridge the funding gap.
Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Aspen Dental will serve as primary sponsor on Patrick’s No. 10 Ford in a “double-digit slate of races,” according to a SHR release, and will be on the car for the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. The company had been slated to be Patrick’s primary sponsor in four races this season. TaxAct and Code 3 Associates will sponsor Patrick in three races apiece, leaving roughly half the inventory of the 36-race Monster Energy Cup Series schedule available.
Patrick was originally set to have Nature’s Bakery as an anchor sponsor for a second straight year, but SHR is suing the snack food company for breaching its contract with the team co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. SHR filed a $31.7 million lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery on Feb. 3 for payments owed to the team, plus interest. The civil suit is ongoing.
Nature’s Bakery claimed Patrick violated her contract by endorsing competing products on her social media accounts, and sent a letter to SHR on Jan. 19 terminating its three-year contract with the team. The Reno, Nev., based company was to sponsor Patrick in 20 to 25 races this season, but according to SHR had made several requests to restructure payments due to cash flow problems before attempting to void its deal.
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