Patrick loses NASCAR ride

Danica Patrick, the only female driver at NASCAR’s top level, could be at the end of her stock-car racing career after a sponsorship shake-up left her without a ride at StewartHaas Racing.

Patrick posted a statement on her Facebook page Tuesday saying her time with Stewart-Haas “had come to an end” due to a new sponsorship arrangement for the team next season. The statement came shortly after Smithfield Foods said it will leave Richard Petty Motorsports to become a primary sponsor at SHR in 2018.

The news is a blow to RPM, which is also losing driver Aric Almirola. But it also forced changes at SHR, which has struggled with sponsorship for three of its four cars.

“It has been my honor to drive for Tony Stewart, Gene Haas and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing for the past six seasons,” Patrick wrote. “Sponsorship plays a vital role in our sport, and I have been very fortunate over the course of my career, but this year threw us for a curve.”

Patrick, whose NASCAR career has been polarizing given the attention she receives despite her lack of success, closed the post by writing: “I have the utmost faith in myself and those around me, and feel confident about my future.”

Patrick, 35, has launched a clothing line, has a book coming out next year and has made a huge transition into promoting a healthful lifestyle.

Sponsorship has been hard to come by for a number of drivers and teams. SHR’s Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch need sponsorship on their cars too. Busch, the Daytona 500 winner, does not have a deal with SHR for next season.

Patrick has driven for SHR her entire Cup career. She has seven top-10 finishes in 180 starts and is 28th in the standings, the lowest in her career.