Accident Leaves Patrick 40th at Martinsville

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Danica Patrick and the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet SS team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) left Martinsville (Va.) Speedway with a 40th-place finish in Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race after an accident ended her day early.

Patrick started the race from the 16th position, but she slipped back to 20th before the caution flag waved for the first time at lap 50 as she battled a car that was loose on entry and tight in the center of the corner. The team made air pressure adjustments and added tape to the grille when they pitted for tires and fuel at lap 53.

On the following run, Patrick remained inside the top-25, but the handling issues persisted. Crew chief Daniel Knost called for more extensive adjustments when the team pitted again at lap 104. Patrick restarted in the 27th position at lap 112, but when the field stacked up on the restart, the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet sustained damage from contact.

The team pitted twice for repairs and got Patrick back on track before the field went green. When the caution flag waved again a few laps later, Knost had Patrick stay out, and she lined up 22nd for the lap-141 restart.

At lap 155, contact from the No. 38 car sent Patrick into the wall. The No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet sustained significant right-front damage, forcing the team to pit to make repairs. After a lengthy pit stop to work on the damage, the team decided to go to the garage area to work on the car. Patrick returned to the track at lap 191 in the 41st position, 25 laps down to the leader.

With less than 100 laps to go, Patrick and the No. 38 car again made contact. Patrick brought her car to the garage area, where it was determined that the additional damage sustained was too significant, thus ending the team’s day. Patrick was credited with a 40th-place finish.

TSC PR

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