SourthenILdeerhunter Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 "MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Danica Patrick will make her Nationwide Series debut in the No. 7 Chevrolet Saturday at Daytona, JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced Monday. Patrick, Earnhardt, and team officials convened Sunday following the ARCA event at Daytona, in which Patrick raced to a sixth-place finish in her stock-car debut. The decision for Patrick to compete in the Daytona Nationwide Series event is supported by sponsor GoDaddy.com and JRM co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Eury Jr., and Rick Hendrick. "Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do,"m Patrick said. "The ARCA race was a blast, and I'm not ready for my first Daytona Speedweeks to end just yet. I want more racing." Patrick's entry in the Drive4COPD 300 puts her in a JR Motorsports tandem with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet. Patrick will continue her Nationwide Series schedule on Feb. 20 at Fontana and Feb. 27 at Las Vegas. Patrick is guaranteed starting positions in all three races based off JRM's acquisition of points from CJM Racing's No. 11 team, which finished 15th in the 2009 Nationwide Series owners' point standings. "I think Danica proved to everyone that she can compete in stock cars at a high level, and right now seat time is extremely important," Kelley Earnhardt said. "She has worked extremely hard during the past two months for this opportunity. Her dedication and work ethic is infectious." Patrick, the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race, had considered not competing at Daytona because of the uniqueness of restrictor-plate racing and also the number of Sprint Cup drivers in the event. But having survived a spin and moving from the back of the pack to near the front during the ARCA race, Patrick felt as if she progressed enough to make her NASCAR debut on NASCAR's biggest stage a day before the Daytona 500. "There's been a lot of people, a lot of really good people, that have told me it's not the right place to start," Patrick said Friday. "It's a weird race. There's so many Cup guys out there. I don't want to be out there and make a mistake and take somebody out that's running for a championship or, God forbid, take out one of the Cup guys and making them mad right away. "And it will not happen on purpose but it will be inexperience, so I just want to play it smart." Sporting News Wire Service contributed to this report. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Yada yada yada............ Hopefully she'll go back to Indy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 GO Danica!! Just hope she dont mess up, get nervous and take somebody out. If she does I hope its Montoya!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I have to say ,I was impressed with her ARCA debut. I hope she does well, but this race will be a whole lot different than the ARCA race was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledrop Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 If a woman can win in the PBR then why not Nascar? not that i want it to but anything can happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecumseh Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I can't wait to see how she does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeaveragehunter Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I am a huge fan. I can't wait to see if she can stick it to the good ol' boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anchorpoint Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 She'll be in a Cup race by midseason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Yada yada yada............ Hopefully she'll go back to Indy. Ditto. Another classic NASCAR commercialism gaff IMHO. I'm betting some of the good ol' boys rub up some of that pretty paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 She did OK in the two plate races. She'll be a 25-43 place car on downforce tracks, where it takes some talent to get around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Shes hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 It will be interesting how she does. I hope she gets the hang of it and doesn't just go out and be in the way or cause a mess like most rookies do for a while But then again....They still let Michael Waltrip put around and cause wrecks..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 The commentators are definitely behind her. She never hit the breaks in the wreck yesterday. If she woulda breaked like the cars behind she likely would have minimized damage if not avoided the wreck all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Shes hot! Yup......... I'd rather see her in a swimsuit any day than Jr. or JJ or the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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