Danica to NASCAR

[Don]

Ron........yes, her career avg finish was in the 25 to 30 range. However, I do not believe Shawna had the race car and Team to consistently have better finishes. Danica will have the advantage of an excellent race car and support, Hendrick is a partner with Dale Jr as owners.

Here's one that I had not previously seen, from the Sunday Parade Magazine:

Danica Patrick Races Past Criticism:

Q What does race-car driver Danica Patrick think of stock-car legend Richard Petty’s statement that car racing isn’t a sport for women?—Tom Tucker, Hammond, Ind.

A “It doesn’t bother me,” says 27-year-old Patrick, who placed third at last year’s Indy 500 and will soon compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “Men and women are crossing gender barriers so much now, and people are more open to it than in the past. I’m always received with positivity and people wanting me to do well. So that’s what I’m feeling.”

[Wayne Maybury]

Don

May be she should go into politics as she sure stick handled around that question very nicely.

Wayne

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Don

A “It doesn’t bother me,” says 27-year-old Patrick, who placed third at last year’s Indy 500 and will soon compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “Men and women are crossing gender barriers so much now, and people are more open to it than in the past. I’m always received with positivity and people wanting me to do well. So that’s what I’m feeling.”

I'm sure her reception isn't hurt by the fact that she is very good looking (not to mention a decent driver)....

[Ron61]

I hope that she does do well and I was somewhat surprised by Richard Petty's remarks.

Don,

I saw on the NASCAR site that Jr. had said he doesn't even talk to her, and his sister handles all of that. Wonder what brought that on.

Ron

[Don]

" I saw on the NASCAR site that Jr. had said he doesn't even talk to her, and his sister handles all of that. Wonder what brought that on "

From the onset, Dale Jr has mentioned that his sister, Business Mgr, was handling all the negotiations etc with Danica. Might go back to the adverse publicity Dale has received since joining Hendrick that he has too many other distractions which has contributed to his poor race results

[Ron61]

Yea, that could be it. He always did like to party and that was one of his Father's gripes when he was still around. Plus, lets face it, Jr will never be the driver his Father was and he will always be compared to Dale Sr. That isn't really fair, but is part of being a super stars son and trying to follow in their foot steps.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Yea, that could be it. He always did like to party and that was one of his Father's gripes when he was still around. Plus, lets face it, Jr will never be the driver his Father was and he will always be compared to Dale Sr. That isn't really fair, but is part of being a super stars son and trying to follow in their foot steps.

Ron

Ron, of course there will always be that comparison. However, on the other hand, would the son of a super star even make it to that level if it were not for his father? I'm not specifically pointing a finger at Dale Jr. but just playing the devil's advocate, in general.

Wayne

[Ron61]

Wayne,

That is hard to tell. Some of them have had fair success in other sports and others have failed miserably. Also a couple have had no interest at all in following in their Father's footsteps and have gone on to other things and did well.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Wayne Maybury

Ron, of course there will always be that comparison. However, on the other hand, would the son of a super star even make it to that level if it were not for his father? I'm not specifically pointing a finger at Dale Jr. but just playing the devil's advocate, in general.

Wayne

Good point Wayne. I also think it needs noting that racing in the 80s to the 90s is a lot different than now. Jr came in during the end of an era so the proper question, to me at least, is if Jr with his skills drove during the same time as his father, would he have been as successful, and with all the penalties for breathing on a competitors car would Sr be as successful today? At times it seems that drivers are getting penalized and called to the Nascar trailer for looking cross-eyed at another car. Sr would not hesitate to move someone out of his way if they were holding him up. That type of driving gets you penalized laps today (depending on who you are it seems at times).

[Don]

" At times it seems that drivers are getting penalized and called to the Nascar trailer for looking cross-eyed at another car. Sr would not hesitate to move someone out of his way if they were holding him up. That type of driving gets you penalized laps today (depending on who you are it seems at times) "

For 2010, which I believe correlates to the drop in TV viewing, NASCAR has recently stated, there will be a higher tolerance level for more aggressive driving, i.e. , fewer trips to the NASCAR trailer by the drivers......time will tell. Even " banging fenders " was part of the NASCAR comments

A few years ago, believe Jeff Gordon took Rusty Wallace out of the top spot by tapping the bumper in a corner....to get the win.

Seems there were conflicting reports on whether passing below the yellow line would be allowed. Latest I read, no passing for both Daytona & Talledaga ( sp ? ) , the drivers agree .

[Ron61]

Don,

This is the latest on the yellow lines and the rules. They also say it may change in the article.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/head...ine/index.html

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Don

For 2010, which I believe correlates to the drop in TV viewing, NASCAR has recently stated, there will be a higher tolerance level for more aggressive driving, i.e. , fewer trips to the NASCAR trailer by the drivers......time will tell. Even " banging fenders " was part of the NASCAR comments

A few years ago, believe Jeff Gordon took Rusty Wallace out of the top spot by tapping the bumper in a corner....to get the win.

That was the 2nd race at Bristol in 02. I remember the race well. That was about the end of it though. 2 years ago both Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon both got warnings for 2 separate incidents with each other a couple of weeks apart. Pretty much sent the message that it would not be tolerated. Last year someone (I can't remember who, maybe denny hamlin or robby gordon, as I was pretty much tuned out at that point) got parked for a couple laps under green for what I felt was a very minor bump and what could have well been non intentional.

I will likely start the season and hope for the best. If Nascar makes the changes it sounds like and I enjoy watching, I will continue. Most of 09 I was watching because I always watched. I went to races here locally at TMS and was bored. Pretty sad when you are at the track and bored.

[Ron61]

Also they need to do away with the boring interviews and let the drivers say what they think. I remember one race where Dale Jr. got fined and penalized 50 points for saying, "We didn't prove Sh** today." The first NASCAR race ever televised was the Daytona 500 where I believe it was Donny Allison and Cale Yarborough were having the fist fight after taking each other out short of the finish line and Richard Petty won. That fight alone brought in a lot of new fans.

Ron

[Excaliber]

Rumor has it there will be no holes allowed in a womans race suit and no high heels.

...and just when I thought it was gonna be great.

[Ron61]

But think of the after race interviews when she is in a bikini and high heels. No one will remember what she did in the race,

Ron

[Don]

Danica's 2010 NASCAR schedule: No doubt there will be many opinions whether Danica will be read for a Nationwide race at Daytona after one start in ARCA, especially since that race will have a number of Sprint Cup drivers. Would be disastrous for any possible acceptance and success in NASCAR if inexperience created a major wreck.

"We want to give Danica the best opportunity to compete at Daytona, and that includes making sure she is 100 percent comfortable in that driver's seat," Kelley Earnhardt said. "The Nationwide race there is perhaps the most competitive race of the year. Once the ARCA race is complete, we will get with Danica and make a decision based on the best interests of her, the team, and our sponsor Go Daddy."


MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2010) - Danica Patrick will compete in 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series races with the possibility of 13 in her debut season with JR Motorsports, co-owner and general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today.

The only event uncertain on Patrick's schedule is the Feb. 13 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet is entered in the event, but its driver will not be determined until after Patrick's race in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event on Feb. 6. Patrick will compete in the Daytona ARCA race in a JR Motorsports-prepared No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.

Articles:

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=355855

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...SCAR/100129920

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/artic...t_Daytona.html

[Don]

*** Danica interview from Friday 2/5, decision to be made on next weeks NASCAR Nationwide race, depends upon the quality of her driving, not only the finishing position. Realizes the challenge and the level of competition with a number of Cup drivers in the race.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=356686

*** ARCA starting grid, Danica is 12th. The 9 time ARCA champ Frank Kimmel starts 13th

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=356651

*** " The field of 43 for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, a lower-tier stock-car event, will include a record six women "

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/sp...nt&tntemail0=y

[Ron61]

It is great to see more women getting into racing. It sounds as if Danica and Duno already have a rivalry going.

Ron

[Don]

Quote from Dumo:

On Friday, Duno sat serenely in the back of her trailer, which was parked next to Patrick’s, and said it was “a coincidence” that she decided to venture into stock-car racing a few days after Patrick did.

“It just happened at the same time,” Duno said with a shrug.

“Every year I had an offer for the Busch Series,” she added, referring to the Nascar minor-league circuit now known as the Nationwide Series. “So this is not something new.”

When Duno was asked how she would describe her relationship with Patrick, she demurred.

“Can I pass to the next question?” Duno said. “That is my answer.”

Believe Duno is the driver that Danica has had a number of differences with regarding her driving skills in the IRL, including a pit " discussion " , Danica went to her pit , after a racing incident

[rustyBob]

Todays ARCA race should be a good race.........
i will be watching........