Danica Patrick will make her first career NASCAR start from the 15th position in today’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
Oh, by the way, defending Nationwide Series champ Kyle Busch will start from the pole position after all-day rain washed out Friday’s qualifying session.
Patrick, who finished sixth in last weekend’s ARCA race, will be seated in the No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet, which carries owner’s points from last season to allow her to make her first NASCAR start without a qualifying effort. Villages Daily Sun
In her final practice Thursday, Patrick laid down a lap at Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile high-banked oval of 183.072 m.p.h.—fifth fastest of 51 drivers on the track that day.
She was faster than NASCAR superstars such as Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart and her own boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Toronto Sun
Patrick’s talent, confidence and preparation have helped her make a good first impression at Daytona this week, earning respect from some in the NASCAR garage who weren’t sure she’d be able to make a smooth transition from IndyCar—although a few dissenting drivers have complained about the cascade of media attention she’s drawing.
Patrick’s move to NASCAR has revved up interest, something most drivers say they welcome.
“I’m glad she’s here and (for) the fans she’s bringing in,” Johnson said. “The thing that is going to be tough for her, she doesn’t even get out of the car to get a bottle of Gatorade without a camera on her. So at some point, that stuff is going to be aggravating. As long as she’s used to it and ready for it, she’s going to do a good job with it.”
But in a sport where media exposure directly affects a driver’s value to sponsors, some competitors have vented frustration about the attention Patrick is receiving.
Scott Speed posted a note on his Twitter feed saying that the media seems to consider Patrick the best driver since Dale Earnhardt Sr. and is “also related to Jesus.” Regan Smith used his Twitter account to suggest that ESPN should dedicate one channel to Patrick and another, lower-profile channel to the rest of the drivers.
ESPN officials say they’re trying to strike a balance between feeding casual fans who might tune in to watch Patrick and hard-core fans who might be turned off by too much coverage of one driver.
Patrick says she can’t control what’s being said or written about her. She says she’s in NASCAR to race and learn, not to overshadow other drivers.
“That’s not my mission, is to be the big story,” she said. ESPN
| 
|