Danica Patrick wore an all-white Tax Act uniform to NASCAR’s preseason media event, raising eyebrows about her sponsorship situation. Patrick and Stewart-Haas Racing last year signed a deal with Nature’s Bakery as Patrick’s primary sponsor. The company founded in 2010 by the father-and-son duo of Dave and Sam Marson was new to NASCAR last season and was scheduled to sponsor more than 20 races this year. SHR told The Associated Press on Tuesday that conversations with Nature’s Bakery are ongoing. ‘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, the team told AP. SHR stressed it is moving forward with a full season for Patrick and its other three entries. Nature’s Bakery is one of the smallest primary sponsors in NASCAR, with fewer than 500 employees in the United States. The company’s products are sold in all 50 states and 22 countries.(Associated Press)(1-24-2017) UPDATE: Stewart- Haas Racing filed a $31 million breach of contract lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery on Friday, accusing the company of refusing to pay millions of dollars it owes the team to sponsor driver Danica Patrick this season. Nature’s Bakery was scheduled to sponsor at least 20 races this NASCAR season, the second year of a three-year deal to be the primary sponsor for Patrick. The lawsuit filed in state superior court says Nature’s Bakery had cash flow issues not long after signing its sponsorship agreement and asked to rework the payment schedule on the more than $15 million the company owes the team each season. SHR also accused the company of eventually concocting ‘a scheme to avoid further payments by claiming Patrick had been endorsing competing products and was not using her social media presence enough to promote Nature’s Bakery. The suit says Nature’s Bakery sent a letter to the team on Jan. 19 terminating the sponsorship agreement, and that the company has missed several re-scheduled deadlines to pay. The lawsuit seeks $31.7 million, plus interest for the breach of contract. The pairing with Nature’s Bakery was a natural fit for Patrick because she heavily promotes a healthy lifestyle and clean eating. She has started a fitness program that will be turned into a book, has launched an active-wear clothing line and uses her social media channels to encourage fans with recipes and workouts. Patrick has also promoted Nature’s Bakery on social media, and has claimed she ate the fig bars before she was partnered with the company. According to the lawsuit, Nature’s Bakery took issue with Patrick using Instagram to promote Six Star Pro Nutrition Protein Powder, Purely Inspired Protein, home-made energy balls, a homemade spinach smoothie and various other homemade meals. SHR maintains none of those products is in competition with fig bars or brownies, and that Nature’s Bakery ‘liked most of the Instagram posts. An exhibit filed with the suit includes numerous Patrick photos from Instagram that show Nature’s Bakery had ‘liked the post. SHR claimed Nature’s Bakery never complained about the Instagram posts until it began missing payments and accused Patrick to be in breach of contract.(Associated Press) AND: The initial report has been updated with additional details: The lawsuit filed in state superior court says Stewart-Haas Racing had ‘significant concern Nature’s Bakery could afford a primary sponsorship, but founder David Marson ‘provided repeated assurances that Nature’s Bakery had the cash flow and funds to meet all the financial requirements. Nature’s Bakery did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday. ‘It is an unfortunate situation, as the team has delivered on all aspects of its contract and was prepared to do so again in 2017. Ultimately, this is a situation that will be resolved in a court of law, the statement said, adding the team is moving forward with plans to field four cars in the Monster Energy Cup Series while also expanding to include a full-time Xfinity Series team. ‘The litigation with Nature’s Bakery will not impact the organization’s on-track efforts, the statement said. (Associated Press)
