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09.26.17
Apache Warrior 400 Pre-Report
Danica Patrick and the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Ford Fusion team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to Dover (Del.) International Speedway for Sunday’s Apache Warrior 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in search of another top-10 finish at the track.
When the series visited the concrete mile oval in June, Patrick was scored as low as 31st early in the race. On three occasions, Patrick went a lap down to the leader, but the team persevered and was able to get back on the lead lap each time due to taking the wave around, earning the free pass and catching a break as the caution flag waved in the midst of green-flag pit stops.
She lined up in the 15th position as the race went into overtime and, despite sustaining damage on the white-flag lap, Patrick was able to take the checkered flag in the 10th position. The effort marked Patrick’s career-best NASCAR Cup Series result at the track and the team’s best finish of the 2017 season.
While Patrick has made 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover, she also has NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East experience at the track. In three Xfinity Series starts at the track, Patrick’s top-result was a 16th-place finish earned in September 2012. When Patrick competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Dover in 2010, she earned a sixth-place finish.
As Patrick returns to Dover, she knows that while a top-10 finish is the team’s goal, it won’t necessarily be easy to obtain at the track nicknamed the “Monster Mile.”
“Dover is fun,” Patrick said. “It’s fast and it can make for a really long day of racing. I think that’s part of the appeal of it – how demanding it can be. We definitely want to stay out of trouble, which is easier said than done at these types of tracks.”
Patrick and the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Ford Fusion team enter Dover on the heels of back-to-back 18th-place finishes at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The results marked the first top-20 finishes for the team since Patrick earned a 15th-place result in July at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.
After scoring five top-15 runs this summer and a top-10 at Dover, Patrick and the No. 10 team are ready to get back into contention for another top-10 finish at the “Monster Mile.”
DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
How tough is Dover to drive?
“It can be a real challenge. It’s quite quick and, when you come off turns two and four, it drops you down like a roller coaster. You just have to have a good setup and make sure everything is working right or it can be a long day. It’s actually a pretty long race, so you have to be prepared. But it’s a fun track and I’m looking forward to it.”
What are your thoughts about Dover?
“I always like going to Dover. The track is pretty fun. I remember everyone telling me how unique and challenging Dover was prior to my first race. At the time, I didn’t have a whole lot to compare that track to. They said it was like a larger version of Bristol, but I hadn’t raced at Bristol yet, either. Dover is fun. It’s fast and it can make for a really long day of racing. I think that’s part of the appeal of it – how demanding it can be. We definitely want to stay out of trouble, which is easier said than done at these types of tracks.”
Apache Warrior 400 Notes of Interest:
The Apache Warrior 400 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway will mark Danica Patrick’s 183rd career start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In 10 previous starts at the concrete mile oval, Patrick’s best NASCAR Cup Series effort is a 10th-place finish she earned in June.
In addition to her NASCAR Cup Series experience at Dover, Patrick has made three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. Her top result in that series was 16th place in September 2012. Patrick also earned a sixth-place finish in the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Dover.
Media Availability: Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), will be available to members of the media in the Dover International Speedway infield media center at 9:15 a.m. EDT Friday.
Dallas Dogs Available: A plush version of Dallas Stenhouse, the 3-year-old miniature Siberian Husky that belongs to Patrick and her boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr., is now available for sale. Race fans can purchase their own Dallas plush dog at the SHR team store in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the SHR online store and at Shop.DanicaPatrick.com. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will benefit animal charities.
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.
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.