Stewart-Haas Racing is optimistic about re-signing Danica Patrick

Stewart-Haas Racing expects Danica Patrick to continue in the No. 10 Chevy beyond this season. 

Patrick, who qualified 21st for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, is in her third season with SHR and her fourth full-time year in NASCAR.

We’re very optimistic and working hard on sponsorship. I’d say sooner than later we’ll have something to report.

Joe Custer

Joe Custer, Chief Operating Officer for SHR and Haas F1 Team, told motorsport.com on Saturday, “We’re very optimistic and working hard on sponsorship. I’d say sooner than later we’ll have something to report.”

Measured gains

Patrick, 33, is currently 19th in the Sprint Cup point standings but has been as high as 13th in 2015. Her performance has improved dramatically at short tracks this season with career-best top 10 finishes earned at both Martinsville Speedway (seventh) and Bristol Motor Speedway (ninth).

While Patrick’s average qualifying effort is exactly the same as last year (22.3), she has shaved three positions off of her average finish of 20.3. And Patrick has been running at the finish of all 15 races.

When Custer was asked about Patrick’s contribution to SHR — the only company in NASCAR to boast three champion  drivers — he replied, “She brings everything to us.”

“It’s a whole different level,” Custer says of Patrick’s appeal. “With our sponsors and our driver lineup, she brings something that the others don’t — and that’s really what you look for — adding to the pot. Danica adds to our pot — and her performance is getting to where she is more comfortable. 

“We still have some work to do there, but I think not only on the sponsorship side but the competition side is where we want to see it. Consistency and her feedback, it just keeps getting better and better. Her consistency is better and better. She’s finishing races. She’s working with her crew chief to make her cars better during the race and so she’s finishing better at the end. There’s not just one area where she has improved, it’s all across the board.”