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

Danica Patrick will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018, Patrick announced Tuesday on her Facebook page.

Patrick joined SHR in 2012, racing part-time in the Monster Energy Cup Series before moving to a full-time schedule the following year. She recorded seven top-10 finishes in 180 starts in NASCAR’s premier division, with a best of sixth. In 2013, she became the first female driver to win a pole in a Cup Series race when she captured the top starting position in Daytona 500 qualifying.

Patrick, 35, entered NASCAR with much fanfare after becoming the highest finishing female driver in the Indianapolis 500 (third, 2009) and the first to win an IndyCar race. But her star-power in recent years has rescinded due to continued middling results on the track.

That decline has led to sponsorship difficulties where SHR and Patrick have struggled to find the necessary funding to support Patrick’s No. 10 team. Her previous primary sponsor, Nature’s Bakery, unexpectedly dropped its funding in January alleging Patrick and SHR breached its multi-year contract with the snack food company. Nature’s Bakery had two years remaining on its deal.

“It has been my honor to drive for Tony Stewart, Gene Haas and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing for the past six seasons,” Patrick said in a statement. “Together we earned a Daytona 500 pole, seven top-10 finishes and we also had some exciting racing along the way. My time driving for them, however, has come to an end due to a new sponsorship arrangement in 2018. Sponsorship plays a vital role in our sport, and I have been very fortunate over the course of my career, but this year threw us for a curve.

“I wish SHR the best of luck with their new sponsorship and driver. Thanks for the memories. Right now, my focus is on the remainder of the 2017 season and finishing the year strong. I have the utmost faith in myself and those around me, and feel confident about my future.”

Patrick currently sits 28th in the Cup standings with a best finish of 10th at Dover International Speedway in June. In four full seasons, her best year-end points ranking is 24th.

What it means: With Patrick having publicly said many times this year that she wasn’t enjoying herself accompanied with SHR not having an anchor sponsor for the No. 10 team, it’s been apparent her returning to SHR for another season was unlikely.

On Tuesday, SHR announced Smithfield Foods would join the organization as a primary sponsor for one of its four teams. But neither SHR nor Smithfield revealed which team it would back and indicated that SHR’s driver roster would have a different look next season. Another sign Patrick, a noted fitness enthusiast, wasn’t in SHR’s future plans.

What Patrick does from here is unknown. Her signing with a different team is an option, though doubtful as she would still need a sponsor and a team willing to meet her salary demands. And a return to IndyCar is even less likely for a multitude of reasons. With the recent launch of a clothing line and a lifestyle book coming out in January, don’t be surprised to see Patrick pursue a career outside of motorsports.