Danica Patrick has established herself during the last several seasons as a talented and capable driver in the IndyCar Series. And she seems to be hoping her learning curve in NASCAR is even quicker.
Patrick ran an ARCA series event Saturday at Daytona, finishing sixth place despite a spinout in the early part of the race. As a result, she and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. have decided to push up her debut on NASCAR’s Nationwide Series from Feb. 20 to Saturday, when she will run in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona.
“Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do,” Patrick said Monday as the decision was announced. “The ARCA race was a blast, and I’m not ready for my first Daytona Speedweeks to end just yet.  I want more racing.”
As if it wasn’t a big enough weekend of racing anyway, Patrick just made things that much more interesting, especially for the casual race fan.
No woman has ever made her Nationwide Series debut at Daytona, and she may actually be one of two to do so Saturday, Chrissy Wallace, daughter of veteran driver Mike Wallace, is attempting to qualify as well. They could be the first father-daughter duo ever to compete on the series.
But the focus squarely is on Danica. Will she be a novelty or prove, as she has been for several years in open-wheel racing, that she can be competitive?