Danica Patrick to Run Nationwide Series and Trucks Next year in NASCAR -- Stewart to be Partner

[Dirty]

Source: Danica to try NASCAR in '10


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By Ed Hinton
ESPN.com
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HAMPTON, Ga. -- 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.
"I can pretty much guarantee at some point she's going to be over here," Stewart told reporters Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, meaning NASCAR in general and hinting at something the source confirmed and clarified.
MAKING A MOVE

Danica Patrick's points finish has improved every year in the IndyCar Series. This year, through 15 of the 17 races, she's fifth in the standings.

Season	Points	Best finish
2009	5th	3rd
2008	6th	1st
2007	7th	2nd
2006	9th	4th
2005	12th	4th

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.
There's no way Patrick would a) plunge immediately into the Cup level next year, or b) give up Indy car racing until she's sure she can do well in NASCAR, the source said.
"She doesn't have some misguided idea that it's going to be easy," Stewart said. "She wants to do it the right way. She has the intention of doing everything right."
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.
But clearly now, Patrick's interest in NASCAR is more than a long-suspected bargaining chip with Andretti Green.
"She's looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Hey, this is what I want to do,'" Stewart said.
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.
"I'm intrigued to hear a little bit more about what her thoughts are, and what she's planning to do," said Brent Dewar, vice president of Chevrolet Global, who was here Saturday to visit with Chevy teams. "We'll probably talk at a future event at a future location."
T.J. Patrick, Danica's father, has for several years urged her to switch to NASCAR where the money, TV ratings and sponsorships are much bigger than in the Indy Racing League. But, reached by phone Saturday evening, T.J. Patrick said he's under a gag rule from his daughter during the negotiations, and that he isn't being kept in the loop anyway.
Ed Hinton is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at edward.t.hinton@espn3.com.


Source: Danica Patrick to race in NASCAR's Nationwide Series in 2010 - ESPN

[Reno Paul]

I think driving the trucks could be a good start for her.........Hope she don't turn out to be the Michelle Wie of Nascar......

[doc mercer]

She is starting to get on my nerves like Sarah Palin

I can't believe they had her do a swimsuit issue as her body is average at best and would require at least a case of Bud Lite for me to consider playing Billy Shoemaker and mounting her ass for the ride

[Dirty]

I think driving the trucks could be a good start for her.........Hope she don't turn out to be the Michelle Wie of Nascar......

Michelle Wie is still way too young to write her off... Patrick will be successful and so will Wie

[Dirty]

Danica Patrick is fine as hell and has a hot ass Bod...Anyone that denies that has sniffed too much Glue

[doc mercer]

She aint a top 100 in Austin ...

them boys in Georgia spend too much time around females with 4 legs and a tail

[Dirty]

who said she was top 100 anywhere?

there are more than 100 attractive women in this world... some more than others... She is attractive... much more attractive than MOST women in this world

[doc mercer]

To each their own ....

she has never caught my attention like Gulbis

[Reno Paul]

Michelle Wie is still way too young to write her off... Patrick will be successful and so will Wie

I was referring to the circus act that Wie did when she was competing against the men.

[doc mercer]

I felt bad for her ...

Her Mom and Dad handled that real nice and I am glad to see she finally looks happy

Wie has about as much shot at being a Top 125 player on the Men's Tour as I do of
winning the Boston Marathon

[Heartman]

I agree and disagree Dirty. I think she looks good. I don't think she's going to make it as a driver. Both Franchitti and Hornish are better drivers than her, in my opinion, and they both had major problems adjusting to a different car and racing style. I'm impressed with Montoya, but I think he is way more talented than she is. I think she might have a few good runs, but in the end, she'll go back to Indy cars. I guess we'll find out over the next 2 or 3 seasons.

[doc mercer]

fuck it

bigger question: how many fights can she get into with other drivers?

[Heartman]

Too bad she's been married for a while. Ray evernham would have signed her a few years ago, when he still owned a team. He's better off with Erin anyway. HAHA!!!

[Reno Paul]

Erin Crocker against Danica Patrick in a match race using trucks........I'd say Danica -130

[Heartman]

I'd say Danica has more talent and Erin has more Nascar experience. Erin would win now, but Danica would win once she got used to the trucks.

I think it's going to be a hard road for Danica. You never know, I've been wrong before.

[Dirty]

It is going to be interesting to watch.. and if Jr. and Stewart are behind her she will have every chance to make it

[Heartman]

It should turn even more fans on to Nascar. If she gets on a good team, she's got a shot. I give her credit for trying it out.

[Dirty]

Her going to NASCAR Definitely can't hurt

[doc mercer]

Heartman:

don't be so hard on yourself ... we've all been wrong before and having to "reload" with
Bet Jamaica after dumping the entire bankroll on Florida minus 73 makes you a new legend and the front runner for the GIQ Poster of the Month from where I sit