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05.16.17
MECS Open Pre-Report
For Danica Patrick, there are two ways to make it into Saturday’s Monster Energy All-Star Race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway to contend for the $1 million winner’s check: win one of the segments in Saturday’s Monster Energy Open, or win the Monster Energy All-Star Fan Vote.
She has three chances to race her way into the field for the Saturday night’s featured event. This year, the winner of each of the three segments in the Open will advance to the All-Star Race. Patrick has earned top-10 finishes in all four prior starts in the Monster Energy Open.
Patrick’s other hope for making the All-Star Race is via the Monster Energy All-Star Fan Vote. She is one of 22 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers eligible for the All-Star Fan Vote this year. Fans can vote through 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday by visiting NASCAR.com/FanVote. In 2015, Patrick became the first repeat winner of the fan vote after previously winning in 2013. Last year, Patrick was also voted into the All-Star Race by the fans.
This weekend, Patrick’s No. 10 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will sport a special paint scheme featuring “Wonder Woman.” The iconic “Wonder Woman” logo appears on the hood and TV panel while “Wonder Woman” herself graces the hood and both door panels. In theaters June 2, Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins.
In addition, Patrick’s No. 10 Ford will feature the One Cure initiative through a collaboration with Code 3 Associates. One Cure is a project led by the Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center, where innovative cancer treatments for pets are being evaluated in clinical trials to benefit people. The center sees more than 1,500 new animal cancer patients every year, with approximately 400 patients enrolling in carefully monitored clinical trials specific to their cancer type. The canine and feline patients are helping pioneer cancer research, moving cutting-edge treatments out of the laboratory and into clinical practice, ultimately providing hope to the next generation of animal and human cancer patients.
Whether she races her way in or gets voted in by the fans, Patrick hopes to be racing the No. 10 “Wonder Woman”/One Cure Ford Fusion for a shot at $1 million in Saturday night’s Monster Energy All-Star Race.
DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 "Wonder Woman"/One Cure Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
How do you feel about the Open and making the 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 All-Star Race three times, 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.”
How helpful is the All-Star Race weekend to prepare for the Coca-Cola 600?
“I feel like the All-Star Race is a great opportunity for the teams. It allows a team to try something different. At this point of the year, you’ve kind of worked your way into the season pretty far, you’ve logged a lot of race miles and practice miles and there’s probably something at that point in time where you wish you had time to try it. And so, to have that opportunity to test a different car or a front clip, an aero package, a mechanical package, something different, the All-Star Race is a really, really good opportunity for that.”
Monster Energy Open Notes of Interest:
The Monster Energy Open at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway will mark Danica Patrick’s fifth start in the non-points event. She has earned top-10 finishes in all four prior starts. In 2015, Patrick became the first repeat winner of the All-Star Fan Vote after previously winning it in 2013. She was also voted into the All-Star Race by NASCAR fans in 2016.
“Wonderful” Paint Scheme for Patrick: Patrick’s No. 10 Ford Fusion will sport a special paint scheme featuring “Wonder Woman” for the Monster Energy Open. In theaters June 2, Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins. In addition, Patrick’s No. 10 Ford will feature the One Cure initiative through a collaboration with Code 3 Associates.
Wonder Woman: Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on its shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers – and her true destiny.
One Cure: Cancer is cancer. The One Cure program is founded on the principle that cancer affects all creatures and that treatment breakthroughs come through collaboration between scientists and doctors who are working with both people and pets. This approach is known as comparative oncology. It is the core of One Cure and serves as the guiding concept for the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. The center works to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in pets and, by working with the human medical field, translates research findings and knowledge to help people with cancer. For more information, visit onecure.com.
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. Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will donation a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Dallas dogs throughout the month of May at the SHR retail store and online shop to One Cure. In addition, Patrick will match the team’s donation to One Cure.
Racing at Home: The May race events in Charlotte are a time for many in the NASCAR community to spend a little extra time with their families after many weeks on the road traveling the NASCAR circuit. For several members of the No. 10 “Wonder Woman”/One Cure team, racing in Charlotte is also a return to their home track. Jackman Nate House hails from the nearby town of Gastonia, front tire carrier Tyler Bullard is from King, and engineer William Lee is from Fuquay-Varina.
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 six 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.