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05.16.16
Sprint Showdown Pre-Report
VOTE FOR DANICA AT: www.NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote
For Danica Patrick, there are two ways to make it into Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway to contend for the million-dollar winner’s check: win one of the segments in Friday’s Sprint Showdown, or win the Sprint Fan Vote.
Friday night, she has three chances to race her way into the field for Saturday’s featured event. This year, the winner of each of the three segments in the Sprint Showdown will advance to Saturday’s race. Patrick has earned top-10 finishes in all three prior starts in the Sprint Showdown.
Patrick’s other hope for making the All-Star Race is via the Sprint Fan Vote. She is one of 24 Sprint Cup drivers eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote this year. Fans can vote through 5 p.m. EDT Friday on the NASCAR mobile app or by visiting NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote. Last year, Patrick became the first repeat winner of the fan vote after previously winning in 2013. According to NASCAR officials, the margin of victory for the fan vote was the closest in history.
Whether she races her way in or gets voted in by the fans, Patrick hopes to be racing the No. 10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet SS for a shot at $1 million in Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race.
DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 Nature's Bakery Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
How do you feel about the Showdown and making the Sprint All-Star Race field?
“By all means, as a driver, I want to get in legitimately by racing my way into the show. If being voted in is my last chance, then I’m grateful for my fans. My fans are always there for me. I’ve seen a number of posts on social media from my fans about voting and I’m grateful for their support.”
You’ve been voted into the Sprint All-Star Race twice, now. How did you feel about that?
“I’m extremely fortunate to have some great fans. They’re very active across all the social media platforms and just, in general, cheering for me out loud at the racetrack. I’m just extremely fortunate. I don’t take them for granted for a second. I have to say that, from a driver’s perspective, I would rather race my way in but, if I have to get in by fan vote, what other way is better than that? I mean, to have the fans put you in the race was something special. I have been so lucky in my career to have such great fans everywhere I go, so I have to say thank you for that.”