Indy car racer, Danica Patrick, is taking a step out of her comfort zone and into the light of NASCAR. The 2010 season brings Patrick into the ARCA cars and Nationwide series. For those people that do not follow NASCAR, the Nationwide series is formerly known as the Busch race. This race is for those drivers who are still considered amateurs and beginners.
The Nationwide series is where every driver starts out, and then he or she can move his or her way up to the Sprint Cup. Patrick will still be actively racing in the Indy car series, but she will also dip her toes in the water of ARCA and the Nationwide series during her free time. Respectively, if Patrick can conquer her goals and make it to the Sprint Cup, she will be the first woman since 2005 to make it that far.
Danica Patrick's Beginnings
Patrick's Indy sponsor, GoDaddy.com, will also be her sponsor in the NASCAR races. Although Patrick has not quite signed a renewal contract with Andretti Green Racing for Indy, the possibility is definitely still there. Since Patrick is driving in the truck and Nationwide series first, she must find a team that sponsors both races. Tony Stewart's team runs solely for the Sprint Cup, but JR Motorsports is in the running along with Kevin Harvick, Inc.
ESPN has stated that Patrick officially signed a two year contract with JR Motorsports to drive the #7 GoDaddy car in NASCAR. The plan for Patrick is to get her in the Daytona ARCA opener in February 2010. If everything goes well, and she gets approval from NASCAR, Patrick will race in the Nationwide opener. Considerably, since JR Motorsports is Patrick's new team, Tony Eury, Jr. will be the crew chief. Eury, Jr. is cousins to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and was Earnhardt's former crew chief.
Danica Patrick Fun Facts
- Patrick is one of the most recognized female athlete in the United States
- Patrick was named, in 2008, the first female to achieve a victory on a major closed-course race
- Patrick, along with her sister, competed in kart racing as a child
It is no secret that Danica Patrick can bring in a lot of money with racing, and it can make it insanely easy to be picked up by a sponsor. Unfortunately, with today's economy, hiccups are even hitting the larger teams. Many owners do not want to chance it with a new driver. Visit the website for more information on NASCAR schedules and race times.
www.sports.espn.go.com."Danica to Try NASCAR in '10" by Ed Hinton
www.indycar.com
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