CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the 2017 NASCAR Media Tour kicked off with drivers and teams showing off new sponsors and uniforms, one particular absence stood out for Danica Patrick.
Nature's Bakery, the primary sponsor of Patrick's No. 10 machine for 28 races in 2016, was nowhere to be seen on her uniform. When asked about the lack of Nature's Bakery logos on Patrick's TaxACT uniform, Stewart-Haas Racing released the following statement:
"Nature's Bakery and Stewart-Haas Racing are in discussions about how the sponsorship might look in 2017. Both sides have options, and it's a matter of determining what is best for both parties.
"Stewart-Haas Racing remains focused on its preparation for the 2017 NASCAR season."
Charlotte Media Tour kicks off with @DanicaPatrick on the mic. #shrFORDward pic.twitter.com/lAVCPVlIbD
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) January 24, 2017
Patrick is entering her fifth full season in NASCAR's Cup Series, all with Stewart-Haas Racing. She is the highest-finishing female in Daytona 500 history with an eighth-place finish in the 2013 event after earning the pole position.