Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet SS team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), left Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway with a 27th-place finish after overcoming a pit-road speeding penalty and a loose wheel in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Irwin Tools Night Race.
Patrick started the event from the 32nd position and worked her way up to 29th before the caution flag waved for the first time at lap 52. The team pitted for right-side tires and fuel to gain track position, but Patrick was penalized for speeding on pit road. Since the team would have to start from the tail of the field due to the penalty, crew chief Daniel Knost called Patrick back to pit road for left-side tires and fuel.
The No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet lined up 36th for the lap-58 restart, and Patrick raced her way up to 25th before the caution flag waved again at lap 125. On the ensuing long, green-flag run, Patrick went a lap down to the leader. She ran inside the top-30 until she brought the No. 10 Chevrolet to the attention of the GoDaddy team for a green-flag pit stop at lap 313 after noting an issue with the right-front tire. A loose wheel proved to be the culprit, and Patrick returned to the track in the 33rd position, five laps down to the leader.
She was able to work her way back up to the 27th position before taking the checkered flag.
“The pit-road penalty and the tire issue really ruined our night,” Patrick said. “I’m proud of the guys on the GoDaddy team for never giving up and working hard all race long.”
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