The Danica Patrick super thread (Danica enters Nationwide Daytona) - Page 4 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

MJ_N_09 · 7 Sep 2009, 17:48

I promise, this is the last update.

Danica to NASCAR in 2010 but not leaving IRL: Danica Patrick will "all but certainly" be in NASCAR in 2010, but won't give up Indy car racing and will limit next year's activity to the Nationwide Series and Trucks, according to a source very close to the situation. Tony Stewart is the "star candidate" to be her partner and mentor in NASCAR, the source said, adding that Patrick's recent visits to Stewart-Haas Racing were much more than social -- that she and Stewart were discussing a deal, and are close to one. The plan is for Patrick to run a significant number of Nationwide races, with additional seat time in Trucks and ARCA cars. Stewart took a similar transitional path to NASCAR in 1998, running a full Indy car schedule and also 22 Nationwide (then Busch) races. Patrick's likeliest first stock car race would be the ARCA event at Daytona during SpeedWeeks next February. Because Stewart's team has neither Nationwide cars nor trucks in its stable, a third partner will be brought into the mix, the source said -- possibly Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports, or, more likely, Kevin Harvick Inc., which fields both Trucks and Nationwide cars. Patrick is close to signing a contract renewal with Andretti Green Racing for Indy cars, the source said, but it's not a done deal yet. Sponsorship is not considered an issue for America's top female driver, and the first car manufacturer to sign Patrick to a NASCAR deal would get a big boost in brand exposure.(ESPN)(9-6-2009)

Guess it's happening in some form.

fieldodreams79 · 7 Sep 2009, 18:52

good for her. she ought to be starting in the trucks.
more seat time for her all year...
lucky seats.

MJ_N_09 · 7 Sep 2009, 23:16

Good thing that someone talked her down into a realistic scenerio, because a partial season phase in that spans throughout parts of 2010, not just like the final few months of said year, actually gives her a chance.

JHamilton · 7 Sep 2009, 23:51

Well... it should boost crowds for a year or two. She's just started tapping the final few nails in the coffin that is her career though. Hope she makes pleny of money.

**Snapper Baz** · 8 Sep 2009, 17:27

She's not going to shine overnight but I think She'll gradually get in there and mix it with them all. She's a sponsors goldmine and she'll get more than enough attention from sponsors, teams and fans...it will do nothing but good for the sport in the begining...time will tell if she becomes a laughing stock or the next big name in NASCAR, I hope it all works out for her having been around to chat with her when she was in Formula Ford here way back!! ... here's one of my pics of the lass!

Dutton · 8 Sep 2009, 23:41

I just don't think she's good enough to have what one could call a particularly successful career with NASCAR.

Well, given long enough, she could probably get herself going pretty well in the trucks. Not setting the world on fire, but running quite well (she isn't an actively poor driver); Nationwide? Consistent top-20 runner, given long enough, is about the best I could see (but I wouldn't be putting any money on it); Cup? She will be gubbed week after week (aftter week.....). I just don't think she could be given long enough to be anything other than a rear-runner (simply not good enough).

Good luck to her, though. It'd be good if she could get it working for her.

fieldodreams79 · 9 Sep 2009, 12:01

Tony Stewart is the most successful "cross over" driver in the modern era (barring guys that went to racing stockcars right after they left Sprint cars). JPM and Ambrose are showing real pace. AJ, Speed and Hornish are not faring as well.

i really can't put DP in the same class as any of the above drivers.
i dunno...maybe she'll be stockcar natural.

MJ_N_09 · 27 Sep 2009, 06:28

Plans have been abandoned.

"Danica staying in Indy Car: Danica Patrick is now, officially, staying in the IndyCar Series. Patrick signed a three-year contract to remain with Andretti Green Racing during last weekend's event at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. She will continue to drive the #7 car with a Motorola-based sponsorship. Patrick could not be reached for comment Thursday night, but it is believed she has not resolved her options for driving a stock car in the future. Tony Stewart told reporters during last week's Sprint Cup Series race in Loudon, N.H., that he has "not made an offer'' to Patrick."

Well there were two sides of the coin. Danica basically told everyone that she struck a deal with Tony Stewart to run ARCA and Nationwide for him, but Tony himself said he never even offered her a deal, espicially since he has nothing to run in the lower levels.

How ridiculous! She's apparently a total liar or very pretentious. Did she honestly think that her ride would magically appear out of thin air? Apparently so. Not to mention that she refuses to comment on this now.

She pulled this same publicity stunt in 2006, and did it again now. Great job, she had me fooled.

MJ_N_09 · 10 Oct 2009, 20:15

Please disregard last comment. Negotiations still go on.

muggle not · 10 Oct 2009, 22:36

I really look for the deal with Jr to materialize. It is a good fit. Kelley will work out something for the mutual benefit, she is a smart woman. I see Danica running some races next year for Jr in Nationwide.

fieldodreams79 · 10 Oct 2009, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Please disregard last comment. Negotiations still go on.

can i disregard this one too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

I promise, this is the last update.

to add something to the discussion:

JR will welcome her open with arms.

let the ridicule begin.

Knowlesy · 10 Oct 2009, 22:52

Unfortunate ordering of words there.

fieldodreams79 · 10 Oct 2009, 23:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Unfortunate ordering of words there.

yikes...that's what happens when you multi-task.
can i be banned for a comment like that?

MJ_N_09 · 11 Oct 2009, 01:47

I'd prefer you not to, but it's Knowlesy's call.

Hmm, Danica in the #5 Boost Mobile(?) Chevy...We may not be too far off.

MJ_N_09 · 21 Oct 2009, 22:08

Danica and JR Motorsports/MWR? ESPN.com has confirmed that IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick is talking with JR Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing about running a limited schedule of about eight Nationwide Series races -- plus a few Truck and maybe ARCA events -- in 2010. Kevin Harvick Inc. could be a player. But sources say those aren't the only options as Patrick begins preparing for a potential NASCAR career after her IndyCar career is over.

Welcoming AmericanLeMansFans refugees.