Originally posted by NASCAR.comPatrick announces she will drive for JR Motorsports Will race No. 7 in a limited Nationwide schedule in 2010
By Sporting News Wire Service December 8, 2009 04:55 PM EST
PHOENIX -- In broad strokes, Danica Patrick painted a picture of her future in NASCAR.
But there was far less detail on her landscape Tuesday morning than on the giant frescoes of Arizona's natural wonders high above the Rotunda floor at Chase Field, where the IndyCar Series' most popular driver announced a two-year Nationwide Series deal with JR Motorsports.
Here's what we know after the 40-minute news conference, where Patrick, JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt and GoDaddy.com founder and CEO Bob Parsons unveiled the No. 7 Chevrolet that Patrick will drive in a limited number of Nationwide races in 2010.
Patrick will make her stock-car racing debut in the ARCA race Feb. 6 at Daytona International Speedway, the day before the Super Bowl. To prepare for that event, Patrick will participate in an ARCA test Dec. 18-20 at Daytona.
Most of Patrick's Nationwide races will be bookended around her IndyCar season, which begins March 14 in Brazil and ends Oct. 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Web hosting provider GoDaddy.com will sponsor Patrick in the races she runs.
Tony Eury Jr., former Sprint Cup crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a JRM co-owner with Kelley Earnhardt, Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick, will serve as Patrick's crew chief.
Beyond that, plans are vague. Still to be worked out are Patrick's Nationwide debut, her entire Nationwide schedule (probably 10-12 races), and where and when she will test after Dec. 20. The unanswered questions, however, didn't dull the luster of Patrick's flamboyant foray into a realm where the cars aren't as fragile as they are in the open-wheel ranks.
"I think my determination and commitment are really going to be what makes this thing go well," said Patrick, who arrived at the news conference as the "GoDaddy Girl," wearing her familiar zippered GoDaddy outfit and black gladiator heels.
After the formal portion of the news conference, Patrick admitted she'll feel the pressure to perform in her new role as a stock-car driver.
"I'm a competitive driver, and I always want to do well, and this will be absolutely no different," she said. "In fact, there's no reason to think it'll be any less [pressure]. There's going to be a lot of people watching, and there's been speculation for a long time about it.
"I will approach this just like I do every other race that I go to, and I'll give it my all."
I'm glad to see Danica give NASCAR a shot, but I wonder...why JR Motorsports? Wasn't Smoke looking to sign her to a contract earlier in the year? She would have made a great signee for a small Nationwide team. Stewart and Newman and Danica? I like that team.
Originally posted by OliverI'm glad to see Danica give NASCAR a shot, but I wonder...why JR Motorsports? Wasn't Smoke looking to sign her to a contract earlier in the year? She would have made a great signee for a small Nationwide team. Stewart and Newman and Danica? I like that team.
There IS the small matter of Stewart-Haas not having a Nationwide program. Whenever Tony and Ryan were running Nationwide races in '09 they were either in Hendrick, JR Motorsports, or Kevin Harvick Inc. cars.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Originally posted by OliverI'm glad to see Danica give NASCAR a shot, but I wonder...why JR Motorsports? Wasn't Smoke looking to sign her to a contract earlier in the year? She would have made a great signee for a small Nationwide team. Stewart and Newman and Danica? I like that team.
There IS the small matter of Stewart-Haas not having a Nationwide program. Whenever Tony and Ryan were running Nationwide races in '09 they were either in Hendrick, JR Motorsports, or Kevin Harvick Inc. cars.
if Kyle Busch taught us anything today (truckseries.com) is that if you want to start a team, do it. Sure, Tony doesn't have a Nationwide program, but who's to say he can't start one?