Can Danica Play Spoiler At Richmond?

So far, 13 drivers have locked themselves into the playoffs by securing a win. The remaining three spots are currently held by drivers via their position in the point standings but, with one race to go before the start of the playoffs, there are other drivers and teams who can capitalize on one last opportunity to race their way in with a victory.

Danica Patrick and the No. 10 Warrior by Danica/HSN.com Ford Fusion team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will be one of the groups looking to play the spoiler role and race their way into the NASCAR playoff field Saturday night.

Patrick has nine NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond and her best finish to date was a 15th-place result earned in September 2016. In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond, she finished a career-best 18th in September 2011.

In addition to her stock car experience at the track, Patrick also competed in five IndyCar Series events at Richmond. She earned a fifth-place finish at the .75-mile oval in June 2009, which is the best of her four IndyCar top-10s at the track.

As Patrick and the No. 10 team enter Saturday’s race with one more shot at making the playoffs, her No. 10 Ford will feature the branding of her Warrior by Danica Patrick clothing line and HSN.com.

While Patrick is used to the fast-paced lifestyle of a professional racecar driver, off the track she enjoys a fashionable and fitness-oriented way of life. Warrior by Danica Patrick is a lifestyle collection with a mix of active, “athleisure” and casual wear. Function, fashion and comfort is what the brand stands for with attention to detail and shape. The HSN collection, which launched in January 2017, is available at HSN.com in sizes XS to 3X and items range in price from $24.90 for Leopard Foil Print Gloves to $89.90 for the Faux Leather Jacket with Hood.

With Warrior by Danica Patrick and HSN.com on the No. 10 Ford this weekend at Richmond, Patrick and her team will be in search of a win Saturday night as they have one last chance at making the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoff field.

“I’ve been interested in fashion and clothes since I was a little girl. For the last 10 years, I’ve dreamed about having my own clothing line, but I was waiting for the perfect situation with the perfect partner. When HSN came along, I knew it was the right time. It’s been exciting seeing the Warrior line come together. We’ve created what I believe is really the perfect ‘athleisure’ collection that transitions through your day, no matter what you’re doing. And now it’s surreal that a project I’ve worked so hard on will be featured on my racecar this weekend. The car looks great and I can’t wait to preview the fall collection on Facebook Live at the track Saturday.”

Why did you create Warrior by Danica Patrick as an “athleisure” line?

“I’d say my go-to style is pretty much ‘athlesiure’ wear. So, that’s why Warrior, being an ‘athleisure’ line, is so authentic for me. Aside from that, I tend to wear jeans and shorts in the summer. But for the most part, I wear t-shirts, leggings, sweatshirts, hoodies and casual, loose bottoms like boyfriend jeans. ‘Athleisure’ is the perfect way to wear everything when you’re out running errands.”

What are your overall thoughts on racing at Richmond?

“I’ve always enjoyed going to Richmond. I had fun racing Indy cars there. I liked driving the Xfinity car there, as well. We didn’t have the greatest results, but it was still fun.”

What makes the racing so good at Richmond?

“When you have a good car, it creates opportunities to pass. Turns one and two are kind of tight, and three and four are more of a long corner, so it’s a challenge to set the car up. We slip and slide there a bunch, anyway. There is more grip at night and I’m thankful for that.”

There are three playoff spots on the line as the series heads to Richmond. Are you expecting anything crazy to happen, or will it be business as usual?

“I highly doubt it will be business as usual. You want to get the most points possible because those spots are open and people are going to try like hell to win the race. There is always that last great push at the end and it will be interesting to see how it turns out. There might be a few yellows.”

At-Track PR Contact: Annette Randall, True Speed Communication (704-875-3388 ext. 805, Annette.Randall@TrueSpeedCommunication.com)

• The Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway will mark Danica Patrick’s 180th career start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In nine previous starts at the .75-mile oval, Patrick’s best NASCAR Cup Series finish is a 15th-place effort she earned in September 2016. In three Xfinity Series starts at the track, Patrick’s top result was an 18th-place finish she scored in August 2012.
• In addition to Patrick’s stock car experience at Richmond, she has competed in five IndyCar Series events there. In that span, she earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes. Her best IndyCar result at Richmond was a fifth-place effort earned in June 2009.
• Warrior by Danica Patrick: Patrick is used to the fast-paced lifestyle of a professional race car driver but, off the track, she enjoys a fashionable and fitness-oriented way of life. Warrior by Danica Patrick is a lifestyle collection with a mix of active, “athleisure” and casual wear. Function, fashion and comfort is what the brand stands for with attention to detail and shape. The HSN collection, which launched in January 2017, is available in sizes XS to 3X and ranges in price from $24.90 for Leopard Foil Print Gloves to $89.90 for Faux Leather Jacket with Hood.
• Live from Richmond: In conjunction with Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400, Patrick will facilitate a digital live stream from her Facebook account. During the live stream event, which will also be live on HSN.com, Patrick will preview seven styles from her October collection. The live stream will begin at 2 p.m. EDT and will last approximately 30 minutes.
• Back on HSN in October: Patrick will be live on HSN on Oct. 19 to showcase the entire Warrior by Danica Patrick fall assortment, including the items that will be previewed inSaturday’s digital live stream. Visit HSN.com for show times and to shop the entire collection starting Sept. 8.
• Raising Awareness: In honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Patrick will utilize a special teal-and-gold-accented steering wheel made by Max Papis Innovations in the No. 10 Ford Fusion for on-track activities throughout the month of September. Patrick is one of several NASCAR drivers helping to support The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s second annual “Drive for Teal & Gold” steering wheel campaign. The effort is focused on raising awareness and funding for those two causes. At the end of the month, the steering wheel will be signed by Patrick and donated to The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation to be auctioned off via the NASCAR Foundation’s charitable auction site.
• For the History Books: Since Patrick began competing in NASCAR on a part-time basis in 2010, she has made plenty of history. Here is a recap of how she has altered the record books through the years:
  • Became the first woman to win a NASCAR Cup Series pole when she set the fastest time in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500.
  • Led laps 90 to 91 of the 2013 Daytona 500, becoming the first female to lead NASCAR’s most prestigious race. She also led laps 127 to 129.
  • Became the first woman to lead a NASCAR race under green (Daytona 2013). Janet Guthrie led five laps under yellow in 1977 at Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway.
  • Finished 2013 Daytona 500 in eighth place, the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the “Great American Race.”
  • Finished 10th in 2012 Xfinity Series points, the highest points finish by a woman in the history of NASCAR’s top three series (Cup, Xfinity, Truck).
  • Competed in every NASCAR Cup Series race in 2013, becoming the first female driver to complete an entire season in the series.
  • Became the first female to compete in the non-points NASCAR All-Star race (2013) and Sprint Unlimited (2014).
  • Have the most starts of any female in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
  • With seven top-10 finishes, holds the record for the most top-10 finishes of any female in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
• History Maker in IndyCar: Patrick became the first woman to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series in April 2008 by winning the IndyCar Series Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan.
• Big Stage: In seven Indianapolis 500 starts, Patrick finished in the top-10 six times, including a third-place result in 2009, the best finish ever for a woman in the historic race.