The IndyCar Series star who is beginning the transition to NASCAR made the decision after finishing sixth in her ARCA debut Saturday at Daytona. An official announcement will be made Monday.
Crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who initially was against Patrick beginning her limited Nationwide schedule at Daytona, didn’t hesitate to give a yes vote following the ARCA event.
“Me and Rick [Hendrick] told her the first time we ever met her, that Daytona might not be the place you want to do it,” Eury said of starting her part-time Nationwide schedule. “It’s basically a [Sprint] Cup race. You don’t want to put her in a situation where she is going to fail. We told her to come down, run this race, get her feet wet and if you’re comfortable do it.
Despite her performance in the ARCA race, Patrick still hesitated to run close to the car ahead of hers, a necessity in restrictor plate racing to remain competitive.
“That’s the kind of thing that is going to take gradual time, to get used to bump drafting,” Eury said Saturday. “We just keep talking. This tonight is the most homework we can do.”
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