Reports: Danica’s Nascar deal to be unveiled Tuesday
December 8, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under Other Racing, Parc Fermé
Danica Patrick, who today “Tweeted” about a plate of cookies, apparently will have sweeter things on her plate on Tuesday.
Multiple sources say her long-rumored part-time drive in Nascar will become official later today.
ESPN is one place the big news is starting to make the rounds; more build up should continue until we reach a Danica crescendo.
Danica Patrick will announce on Tuesday in Phoenix her decision to drive a part-time Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports in 2010, a source close to the negotiations told ESPN.com on Monday.
GoDaddy.com, which is handling the announcement at an 11 a.m. press conference, sent out a media alert late Monday afternoon.
[snip]
The plan is to enter Patrick in the ARCA Series opener in February at Daytona International Speedway and get her approved by NASCAR for the Nationwide race.
ARCA owner Bobby Gerhart recently was contacted about putting Patrick in one of his cars for a Dec. 18-20 test at Daytona. He told ESPN.com on Monday he expected her to be in a car prepared by JR Motorsports at the test.
[snip]
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick, the co-owners of JRM, have made no secret they are pursuing Patrick.
“She’s going to drive stock cars for somebody, someday,” Earnhardt recently said. “It’s just too much of a — look at all the Formula One guys over here checking [NASCAR] out — the writing is on the wall for her and several other guys. I think it’s exciting. She would be great for our sport. She wants to see what’s up.”
More Danica, more Danica, more Danica. It’s what the world needs now, people.
I know what you’re saying: Lay off the Danica news! I get it, but she’s a juggernaut, and, after all, as long as it keeps her from competing in Formula 1, what’s not to like?
Also, here’s a serious question for debate. How — or will — her move to Nascar help open-wheel racing, in general, and especially in the U.S.? Maybe she will draw more Nascar fans back to IRL? And maybe by extension to F1?
[OK, OK, I'm guessing "no," but is it at least possible?]
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Yes, lay off the Danica news. Will she set NASCAR ablaze as she did IndyCars, winning pole after pole, race after race, imperiously sweeping through the seasons, crowned as champion each year before a wheel is turned because she is just so unstoppable?
Or am I thinking of some other prodigious talent that has won championship after championship, race after race…hmmm, how many has she won again?
Cheers