Well, look what we have here: Danica Patrick is removing one layer of speculation by signing with JR Motorsports. Watching the Nationwide Series just got a little more interesting.
Of course, now there’s the question of WHICH races Patrick will run in her limited 2010 schedule. That ought keep all the fans and talking heads busy for another month with all kinds of speculation. It’ll be crazier than the weeks leading up to NFL draft day.
I know there’s some of you out there just going nuts over this. Oddly enough, some of the most vocal opposition is coming from women- in my experience- women with a more traditional mindset. I don’t think they are by any means lumping themselves in with the “barefoot and pregnant” crowd- I think it has some to do a simple ingrained notion of NASCAR being a “man’s playground.” Me? I just point to history and say it’s a case of “been there, done that” for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Really, I think it has a little more to do with WHICH girl it is crossing the line. Some don’t like her attitude, some don’t like what Danica’s done by all but baring her assets. On the other side of the coin, I point to Carl Edwards. I agree it cheapens one’s image to use sex to sell, but she ain’t the first, and she sure won’t be the last.
I suppose I could always fall back on the “Why not? If Sam Hornish can cross over, if Dario Franchitti tried it, why not Danica?” Then I think, “Wait. Bad examples.” Hornish and Franchitti actually looked legit coming in with a proven record coming in. Patrick just has a fuel mileage win to point to.
Then it got me thinking. I am reminded of a driver who came up to cup driving with just a single , fuel mileage win in the Busch Series. He actually turned out pretty well. He won four Cup championships. IN A ROW.
That example is flawed too, but you get what I’m saying. None of us really know who will be the one to sip the sweet wine of NASCAR success. Finding the next big thing is a lot more art than it is science. Remember Casey Atwood? What’s Brad Coleman doing these days anyway?
All I’m saying is why not? Nobody will ever know what Danica Patrick is capable of until she tries it. History suggests it’ll literally be a bumpy ride, but sometimes history ain’t worth the paper it’s written on (excuse the grammar.) Somebody has to be the trail blazer. Can you say with certainty that Danica won’t be the first woman to win a NASCAR national touring series race?
I’ll give her credit for this: she talked to a lot of savvy racing people before she took the plunge. Say what you want about Danica Patrick’s driving ability or the choices she’s made marketing-wise, but give her credit for this:
The girl’s not dumb. No matter how this plays out, Danica Patrick has huge upside, and she’s doing it joining forces with the most marketable name in motorsports- Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s a match made in Heaven.
What kind of show it will be remains to be seen, but there WILL be a show.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
ummm..Danica will never win..she hasnt the talent..now Chrissy Wallace..if she was givin equal equipment could win..just saying..the people so enamored of Danica base it all on looks and media exposure..if you crack the shell..you’ll find a mediocre driver with a mediocre career in a mediocre series…sorry media brainwashin machine..ya cant alltempacheer me into believing :P
But it just about always takes someone like Danica to pave the way for the Chrissie’s. The pioneer normally has to be larger than life, get-in-your-face, tough and willing to take people on to break barriers. Whether or not Danica succeeds as a racer, and I hope she does, she’ll do other women who want to race a good turn just by being there.
I think it is great..She did research which is great and you all forgot about Tony Stewart jumped over a 2-time cup champion..and what about mario andretti winning the daytona 500..this isn’t a suprise she do good specially with hendrick’s being involved..
Yeah…double the “don’t forget about Stewart”! My only problem with this thing is it’s a shame … based on money (and I guess “exposure”) alone…someone like Danica gets all the hoopla and attention..and someone more deserving of a chance..but with lessor backing…has to root and claw and go at a snails pace to get a chance at running..a.k.a. Chrissie Wallace. I remember Stewart helping Chrissie with a race or two..I wish that had blossomed into Tony backing Chrissie for more races in the Nationwide Series (and possibly a Cup races or two) and seeing what she can do. I guess we can just watch and see how the whole thing plays out..at this point it is all just alot of bells and whistles and speculation..
You are putting a lot on Danica helping women long term. Consider this, she comes in with her diva attitude, big concessions she’s demanded, displays some sexy body parts in her promotions, then falls flat on her face on the track! Just what does that do for other women drivers?
Using Tony Stewart and Mario Andretti As examples? WOW! More like Janet Guthrie as an example. Lets not elevate her too far as the second coming. It’s a long way back down to mediocrity where she maintains her current standing. She doesn’t fit her hype. Other female drivers could suffer because Danica doesn’t live up to what far too many people want her to do. I just don’t see her having what it takes to do our deal.
“What kind of show it will be remains to be seen, but there WILL be a show.”
That last sentence in the article says it all. If you think the media went nuts over Jimmie winning 4 in a row, just wait till until they have Jr. as the owner and Danica as the driver on one team. And the closer it gets to her first NASCAR race, the worse it will get.
Jr. is already the media’s “boy” and you add Danica to the mix, we’ll be lucky if we see short snippits of the race in between all the interviews and Go-Daddy commercials.
Okay, Danica going to Nascar ends the speculation. Will she do well or even win is the next question. But if history is any guild to her chances all we have to do is look at the previous female drivers who’ve down reasonably well in Nascar–and some have won (he says, pointing at Patty Moise):
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/06/053006Madding.asp
It’s 2009, very soon to be 2010, can’t we just accept the fact that there are woman drivers? Can’t we also accept that they have talent and deserve a shot at the big-time (lesser male drivers get that chance all the time–you know the names, seen them lose their ride because they just didn’t have it, while others of questionable still manage to hang on)?
Danica coming to Nascar means little to me, not because of her gender or talent, she’s just another diversion away from the real problems with Nascar. Fans will watch the races she’s in, both on Tv and at the track, then interest will fall off again in the races she’s not in…
Nascar needs to focus on the racing. And media should do its job and remind them at every opportunity (as should fans) of that problem. Fix that issue and not focus on the sideshow and fans will return.
Why are so many people not wanting to give her a fair chance? With the backing of JRM and Hendrick, just maybe it will work. But people please, lets give her a fair chance before you throw her under the bus.
Anyone who thinks she can’t drive or that the IRL is a lower series just needs to go to utube. type in indy car wrecks. This will remind you how incredible difficult and dangerous that sport is. Remember she has never wrecked out on the track in the high speed ovals. Maybe in the pits or on a road course. Give her a chance, I will watch her at Daytona in the 24hr, ARCA, Trucks, and NW. She will give it good go and with the right instruction might have some good runs. All you wieners who think racing is easy should take your Explorer up to 120 and turn left.
I agree with those who say let’s give her a chance. Hey Jim, you stole my Jimmie Johnson comparison. LOL But, I have been saying that all along. Jimmie one one fuel mileage race in the Busch series and never finished in the top 5 in points. Am I saying that Danica will be ”the next Jimmie Johnson”? No, but what I am saying is give her a chance before you trash her abilities. You never know. She may be great and she may be lousy, but let’s all take a deep breath and just see what she can do. Like you said Jim, it will be a show, so let’s sit back and enjoy it.
Oops, spell check misses word useage. I meant Jimmie “won” one Busch race. Sorry.
As far as I am concerned they have just ruined a family sport with this no good taking off my clothes woman just to help their disappointing ratings. Give Chrissy Wallace a shot. At least she doesnt take her clothes off to have people like her
Fox News Channel is saying that Nascar is hoping that Danica can turn around lackluster ratings and attendance.
If Nascar, Brian France, are really serious about turning around ‘lackluster falling ratings and attendance’ they need to get Jr. out of HMS and into a competitive car. Marybeth
I bet all the women would be upset as she uses her body for money. They really just need to improve the racing and let someone else win besides Johnson.
Boring racing does not cut it
welcome to nascar…the sport that thinks with its weenie..my missus thinks danica is a horrid role model that perpetuates woman as sex objects..i dont really care so much for that either way..i just want talent to rise to the top and danica is lacking..and i feel her epic collapse into circus joke will set back legit female talent from moving ahead..my mom drove scca amateur rally’s when iw as a wee lad in the late 60’s and early 70 with my dad..they alternated driving and navigating..so talented woman are out there..nascar needs to open it eyes and realize that nascar fans are kinda sick of sideshows and want racing..the real fans that is
As a man whose wife has raced successfully in many divisions, I’ve been close up with the neck of the red mentality. let’s just give the girl a chance. talent will show.
I can’t wait to hear the radio between her and Eury. How long will it take for her to speak Suthren? She’ll probably start with “ Hay Joonyer. We goin’ back to the Whiskey t’nite? I sure had me a fine time last nite and you can sure GoDaddy. That ole Tony, he sure is mean. He keeps tryin to tell me how to drive that stupid car but I jest don’t git it. I’m sure you can relate, cantcha Sweety. Let’s just go on down to the Whiskey and forget ‘bout all this stuff. Lord knows we can afford it. HEE HEE.
I’m sorry but I think this is a match made in hell. :( I don’t like Danica-not because I’m jealous because she’s attractive (I’m female btw),-I do think she’s attractive face wise, & I’m certainly not jealous of her body, although I’m more than chunky to borrow that term from another article on here, LOL! I don’t want to be that skinny! I do think she’s a decent driver (although she only has 1 win). She deserves to race in any series that she wants. I say all this to say that I dislike Danica because of her ATTITUDE!
Nascar is more butt-backwards than ever if they actually think she can help them ratings. etc. wise. Yes, she’ll bring them more(temporary) attention, but I feel it has the potential to backfire. There are those in the garage, etc. in Nascar who feel that Nascar should only be white, male, & American, particularly Southern. I was very vocal & still don’t like how the Marc Davis situation was handled. 1 of my points was what will happen if someone else , in this case Danica, gets into it with another team? Will they go too far, call her out of her name, etc? Nascar has failed to address this type of mentality. Until this is dealt with, what’s the point, Nascar AGAIN getting bad publicity for being racist AND sexist?
I too would love to see more deserving, or at least, more LIKABLE ladies get opportunities. Go Sarah & Milka!
Danicas record in IRL racing is mediocure at best so what makes you think she can compete in nascar, outside of the liberal media which worships her , she has shown nothing to race fan’s. except a lot of skin.
@Billy Bob: It’s the Indy Racing Series not the IRL anymore.
As for Danica, the Indy Racing series doesn’t need her anymore. It’s got female racing drivers who have talent and will do well in the future. I’m betting that given her struggles with the Andretti Team this year, Patrick just might step up her Nascar plans and make a permanent move to stock cars.
Will she win or be competitive? That’s a relative situation. I’m mean, who wins in the Nationwide series beside Cup affiliate drivers, right?
I think it’s now or never move to Nascar for Danica. She’s no kid anymore and it’ll take her a few years to be a factor in races–unless it’s a fluke.
I’ll confess I’m not a fan of hers (her whining drives me nuts, especially when she bitches about struggling on road courses. I mean, she did spend the bulk of her early career in Europe and in road-racing series after all and other road-racers come to Indy car racing and adapt…), but I do think she can be competitive eventually.
My advice? Set aside the attitude toward Danica’s attitude, she might be better in stock cars (after a learning curve) in time. She’s just as deserving as any other newcomer to Nascar for the chance to prove herself.
Danica will continue to do what she does best, she will continue to run a safe race with no chance of winning then strip for nascar instead of irl racing, danica sideshow has been good for IRL racing and will probaly do the same for nascar but at some point the novelity will wear off if she dosen’t win some races.
Danica is not making money racing, she makes the bulk of her money by stripping and the media loves it, so danica gets the spotlight, male sportswriters go home to a wet dream while half of the women in america yell you go girl while the other half feel degrated by her antics.