Ford exec: Danica Patrick’s lack of sponsorship won’t affect performance

A high ranking Ford executive said Danica Patrick’s No. 10 Ford will contest every Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this season, even though Stewart-Haas Racing is suddenly experiencing a significant sponsorship shortage on Patrick’s car.

Dave Pericak, the global director of Ford Performance, said Patrick’s performance will not be negatively affected by the sponsorship uncertainty. SHR is beginning its first with Ford after a long and successful association with Chevrolet, which included two championships and 36 wins. Ford’s recruiting and signing SHR was considered a coup within the industry.

“What I would say is we’re gonna let that unfortunately play out through the court system and see how it works out,” Pericak said in a teleconference with reporters on Monday. “What I can say is that you have my commitment and the commitment of Stewart-Haas Racing and everyone that’s involved, that it is not gonna affect our ability to hit the track and run that car, and run it the way that it needs to be run.

“It’s very unfortunate that we’re going through it right now, but one way or another I can just tell you that you will have that 10 car on the track and it will be ready to perform.”

SHR, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, filed a $31 million lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery last week alleging the snack food maker breached its contract with the team by defaulting on monies owned and terminating its contract early. Nature’s Bakery signed a three-year contract to serve as Patrick’s flagship sponsor beginning in 2016, calling for the company to act as primary sponsor for 20 to 28 races.

Nature’s Bakery terminated that contract on Jan. 19, claiming Patrick voided the deal by promoting competing products on her social media accounts. SHR refuted those claims and in its lawsuit contends the Nevada-based company was experiencing cash flow problems and couldn’t handle the costs associated with sponsoring Patrick, one of NASCAR’s most recognizable drivers.

Because Patrick is lacking an anchor sponsor for the majority of the 36-race schedule, and with the season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 26) just weeks away and SHR also needing additional funding for Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 car, speculation has arisen whether SHR would be able to field four full-time teams as originally planned. (SHR’s other drivers, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick, have full sponsorship deals secured.)

SHR reaffirmed its commitment to run four cars in a statement to SB Nation on Jan. 24. Patrick does have primary sponsorship deals in place for 2017 with Aspen Dental (four races), TaxAct (three), and Code 3 Associates (three).