Danica Patrick Finishes 21st in Coca-Cola 600

Danica Patrick and the No. 10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) scored a 21st-place finish in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

 

Patrick started the race from the 19th position but quickly dropped outside of the top-20 as she battled a tight-handling racecar. Crew chief Billy Scott called for wedge and air pressure adjustments to help improve the car’s handling, but Patrick dropped as low as 29th.

 

A quarter of the way through the race, Scott had the Nature’s Bakery team add a spring rubber to the right-rear spring and make a packer adjustment. On the subsequent run, Patrick reported that the car was too loose on entry and exit.

 

Patrick ended up three laps down to the leader after a series of long, green-flag runs near the midpoint of the race. In the second half, she worked her way back inside the top-25 and was scored in the 22nd position when the caution waved for the final time at lap 339. Patrick had just been passed once again by the leader, putting her four laps down.

 

On the final run, Patrick was able to pick up one additional position to take the checkered flag in the 21st spot.

 

“I’m glad we were able to salvage a decent finish from tonight,” Patrick said. “The last run was the best the car had been all night. I have to thank Billy and the rest of my Nature’s Bakery team for making good adjustments all night and making the car better. We just need to figure how we can start out closer.”

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