[h=2]Ford remains committed to Patrick's SHR entry[/h] Monday, 06 February 2017


Kelly Crandall
Despite the legal dispute between Stewart-Haas Racing and Nature's Bakery, Danica Patrick will have plenty of support to ensure she competes this season.


Last Friday, Stewart-Haas filed a $31 million breach of contract lawsuit in N.C. Superior Court against the food company, alleging Nature's Bakery refused to pay the organization. Additionally, the suit revealed Nature's Bakery terminated its sponsorship agreement with Stewart-Haas last month although it is scheduled to be Patrick's primary sponsor through 2018.
After Stewart-Haas stated its intention to field Patrick's car this year, Dave Pericak, Global Director, Ford Performance, spoke of his "commitment" to seeing Patrick's efforts unaffected during a media teleconference Monday afternoon.
However, Pericak would not say whether Ford would provide sponsorship for Patrick should she need it. After sponsoring Patrick in 28 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races last season, Nature's Bakery was scheduled to be on the No. 10 Ford in 20 to 25 events this year.
"We're going to let that, unfortunately, play out through the court system and see how it works out," Pericak said. "I'm hopeful that we're going to come to a resolution on that, but at the end of the day 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 going to affect our ability to hit the track and run that car and run it the way it needs to be run."
Stewart-Haas will compete under the Ford banner beginning this season after making the switch from Chevrolet. It will Patrick's fifth full season in the Cup Series.
While Nature's Bakery will not be on the car, Patrick will have sponsorship from TaxAct, Aspen Dental, and Code 3 Associates in select events.
"I don't really want to make any additional comments given where we are in the whole situation, and it's very unfortunate that we're going through it right now," Pericak said, "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."