Wonder Woman has a lot of super powers. Now, add super-speed to the list, as she’ll grace the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series car of Danica Patrick for two upcoming events, both timed to help promote the amazing Amazon’s upcoming feature film solo debut.
Patrick’s No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Fusion will have Wonder Woman’s logo on the hood, along with Gal Gadot’s image there and on the side panels, in the May 13 races at Kansas Speedway, and in the Monster Energy Open, a prelude to NASCAR’s annual All-Star race, May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both races will air on cable channel Fox Sports 1. Patrick has a history of winning fan votes, so there’s a pretty good chance she and Wonder Woman will make the prime time running of the All-Star race, even if she doesn’t earn a transfer spot by winning the Open.
And, yes, for you Wonder Woman collectible completists out there, the car will be available as a die-cast model.
Pre-order Danica’s #WonderWoman die-cast now at https://t.co/ya068j1n8f! pic.twitter.com/4hopSHWYiN
— Lionel Racing (@Lionel_Racing) April 26, 2017
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The co-sponsor on the car is Code 3 Associates, a non-profit organization that specializes in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas. So, that’s kind of a great association for both Wonder Woman and DC Comics. You can watch the unveiling of the Wonder Woman paint scheme as seen on the Fox Sports 1 show Race Hub, here:
Here it is. @DanicaPatrick‘s No. 10 Wonder Woman/One Cure Ford. #NASCAR #RaceHub @FS1 @StewartHaasRcng https://t.co/IVKTxRb7pD
— FOX SPORTS: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 26, 2017
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Patrick seemed to be seeing the image for the first time herself at the unveiling, pointing to Gal Gadot’s image on the hood and saying in apparent amazement, “I think that looks like me.”
This isn’t the first time DC Comics have graced NASCAR machines. Last year, superstar drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson each drive cars designed to promote the release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Personally, I’ve thought for a long time that DC Entertainment should sponsor a NASCAR team on a regular basis. The sport doesn’t enjoy quite the race day attendance it once did, but there are still upward of 100,000 fans at the track every weekend, most of whom have kids that need to be entertained on long drives home. So, apart from using a NASCAR paint scheme and driver/car appearances at local comics shops to promote its books and tv shows, DC could easily set up a trailer in the concessions area to to sell comics, reaching a potential audience every week that is three and four times the monthly circulation of most of its titles. Sure, newsstand distribution is dead, and comics shops are on life support, but no reason DC can’t take it’s product to where the people are!
Patrick us struggling this year and there are rumors she may be inching toward retirement soon. But she is short on sponsorship this year and DC could do a lot worse than to align itself with her star power.
Wonder Woman will hit theaters June 2, but DC may want to promote the new writer of the comic book, Shea Fontana, to young female race fans, and there’s also the Justice League movie to promote toward the end of this year’s NASCAR season. The CW Supergirl show and Batgirl comics are also naturals for a Patrick paint scheme. Heck, Shade the Changing Girl, even! And there’s no reason Danica couldn’t just as easily hawk boy heroes and shows.
And if Patrick and her show car were to do an appearance at the local comics shop, it’s not just female fans who would swarm the joint, because Danica Patrick!
