Press Release

BACK
TMNT 400 Pre-Report

09.13.16

TMNT 400 Pre-Report

A number of musicians have put their own spin on the blues standard “Sweet Home Chicago,” a song that talks about going back home to Chicago.

As the Blues Brothers sang in 1980…

Come on
Oh baby don’t you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Nature’s Bakery/April O’Neil Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), might be singing that same tune this weekend for Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.

She grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, which is 115 miles northwest of the racetrack and 90 miles northwest of Chicago. She will have some friends and family in attendance, but she’ll also have a special paint scheme on her No. 10 Chevrolet this weekend.

Nature’s Bakery partnered with Nickelodeon for Sunday’s race and Patrick’s car will have a special Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired paint scheme featuring the character April O’Neil on the hood. The unique scheme was designed by Chicago artist Hebru Brantly, whose work is often described as pop-infused contemporary art.

When Patrick takes to the track at Chicagoland in her No. 10 Nature’s Bakery/April O’Neil Chevrolet this weekend, not only will she be returning to her “home” track, she will also be returning to a facility where she has experienced a measure of success. In four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the track, she finished a career-best 19th there in September 2014 and has two top-20 finishes to her credit. In four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, she finished a career-best 10th in June 2011 and has earned three top-15 finishes. Patrick also competed in six IndyCar Series events at Chicagoland, earning a pole award in September 2005, two top-10 race finishes and six top-15s.

Come on
Oh baby don’t you wanna go
Back to that same old place
Sweet home Chicago

 

This weekend, it’ll be “Sweet Home Chicago” for Patrick, who’s looking for a good run for the Nature’s Bakery team.

DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 Nature's Bakery/April O'Neil Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing: 

Your car features a special “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” paint scheme with the character April O’Neil for this weekend’s race. Talk about that.

“The Nickelodeon-sponsored races are really cool because they truly are fun for the entire family. It’s really cool that Nature’s Bakery and Nickelodeon have teamed up to put together an awesome paint scheme with the Turtles on it and, of course, the beautiful April O’Neil. I watched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid. I don’t remember a ton about the show, but I totally remember the theme song.”

 

What are your overall thoughts on Chicago?

“I enjoy any reason to get to Chicago. I just love the city. It’s a great place. There’s so much to do and the restaurants, the shopping – it’s just a world-class city. I’ve been going there ever since I got my driver’s license. I would drive downtown and park by the Water Tower and my girlfriend and I would put on our rollerblades and tear it up on Lake Shore (Drive).”

 

You grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, about 115 miles northwest of Chicagoland Speedway. Will you have a lot of family and friends at the race this weekend?

“There are going to be a number of people out there. I normally don’t have a lot because I don’t exactly volunteer tickets because it’s a lot of work and there’s a lot going on during the weekend. For people who come out to the track, you want them to have a good time and, if you don’t feel like you can help them have a good time, then there’s not much point. But it will be nice to have family and friends out. It’s a little different because I rarely have people at the races with me. It’s nice to see everyone and have their support and hopefully we put on a good show for them.”

 

Sunday’s race kicks off the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Does that change things?

“The Chase format makes it more exciting and interesting and adds an extra element to things. It adds an extra storyline to a lot of weekends, especially those at the speedways where unexpected things happen. But no matter what weekend it is, you are trying to do as well as you can.”