This week Danica Patrick finally made the long-anticipated announcement that she will indeed test the NASCAR waters next year.
As she did in IndyCar, Patrick will enter a male-dominated world in an attempt to break through and find the success that has eluded women in racing for time immortal.
Of course, when she made the announcement strutting out wearing not much more then six-inch stiletto heels, skintight leggings, a leather jacket and a smile, the message to NASCAR and its female fans was quite clear.
Based on Danica Patrick’s example in IndyCar, women wanting to break into NASCAR no longer have to worry about whether they can actually drive a racecar; only how good they look lying on the hood in a bikini. Gone will be the days when a racer has to actually understand the mechanics of the car, it will be all about how to look scintillating and sexy while performing a strip tease in a television commercial.
There was a time when Patrick seemed to have a sincere desire to race and do it well; but once the marketers took over and her bank account started to fill, Danica Patrick became less of a racecar driver who happens to be a woman and more of a woman who wants to drive a racecar.
Starting with a spot in an SI swimsuit issue and transitioning to provocative commercials for her sponsor, Patrick has become less about auto racing and more about the most common truism in advertising; Sex Sells. And that’s something Patrick has learned to do well.
Now instead of focusing on her attempt to break into the world of stock car racing, most of the attention will be on the woman that is becoming a sex symbol, not a racecar driver.
While nobody should be critical of someone who wants to make a buck, when that person starts to lose who they are they can leave fans in the dust. It’s kind of like a favorite singer who sells their soul to a record label and becomes someone different.
Her pairing with Dale Earnhardt Jr., arguably the sports most popular driver, is a marketers dream. It’s also a necessary teaming given the purported six figures Patrick is demanding for each NASCAR race she’s competing in and the deep pockets Earnhardt Jr. has personally. It also comes at a time when most Nationwide Series teams are struggling financially.
In her current form Patrick’s foray into NASCAR can no doubt hurt, rather then help, other potential female racers such as Chrissy Wallace. As a member of a longtime NASCAR family, Wallace has tried to break the same stereotypes that Patrick seems to portray. Wallace does her talking on the track, not in a magazine layout.
No one should wish anything but success on the track for Patrick. Many of her detractors would no doubt cheer should she become a winner or a frontrunner. However, thanks to those whose fortunes will rest on a scantily clad supermodel selling products the attention on Patrick will probably be away from the track, not on it.
If Patrick continues to try and sell herself as a sex symbol and loses focus on the track, the barriers for women in NASCAR could begin to go up again. Soon the old trophy girls, complete with short skirts, tight shorts and tiny t-shirts will follow. And if her on-track performance is anything less then brilliant, the marketers dream could become NASCAR’s nightmare, setting back the diversity the sport has tried so hard to attain.
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Comments
Is it just me? Or does DP seem "dumb as a rock." Her greatly anticipated press conference was as silly as my kids playing dress up. "Uh...do you wanna show em the car?...Uh..right now? Uh...was I spose to say that?" I really expected more from Parsons and Patrick. They seemed like they had no idea what to do. It was humorous at best. If that's the quality of "exposure" she is gonna be getting in the big leagues, it will be laughable. If I were her (thank God I'm not) I would fire my agent and the producer of that press conference. NASCAR will no doubt get a shot in the arm from Patrick. Money is tight and she will loosen some cooperate wallets...that's for sure. Let's hope, for her sake, she can actually drive a car.
Lighten up Greg. You and I have both seen MUCH less qualified, less experienced, less successful, less savvy drivers behind wheel than this driver is. I apparently missed your column expressing your indignation at Michael Waltrip having the gall to use his boyish charm, humor and good looks to sell auto parts. What is the diff? You gotta sell what you have to offer.
PLEASE DUDE..................... u know this IS 2009 GOING TO B 2010. She is HOT and a GOOD driver. R u still back in the cave days ??????? whats your problem cuz she is beautiful ??... I see old fat women on the same hate trail ,,,,, Why?????????????
PLEASE DUDE..................... u know this IS 2009 GOING TO B 2010. She is HOT and a GOOD driver. R u still back in the cave days ??????? whats your problem cuz she is beautiful ??... I see old fat women on the same hate trail ,,,,, Why?????????????
My whole point in this article was the objectification of women, that's the problem I have with her move...If Sarah Fisher were making the move there would be a lot less attention paid A: because her track record isn't as good as Dancia's and B: Fisher hasn't sold herself out and plastered her bikini clad bod all over like I feel Danica has..she's a race car driver not a Hooters waitress...
My only thought on the Danica issue is whether any of us (including Danica herself) can resonably expect her at, whatever, 5' 2" and 125 lbs. to be able to run 500 laps at Bristol or 4 hours at Dover, etc. It has nothing to do with gender, but simple physics. To be a success in NASCAR's top division she'll ultimately need to run twice as many races that are twice as long in cars twice as heavy as she's ben used to. THAT, to me is the question.
Danica's "chip on her shoulder" attitude will play out for only so long if she doesn't have some degree of success. If the results don't come in a reasonable timeframe, her testiness will make her out as the bikini clad prima donna publicity seeker promoting her off track "brand" that a lot of NASCAR faithfull think she is.
I'm all for her coming to NASCAR in a bikini. Don't really care if she ever gets behind the wheel. Besides if her record in IRL is any indication she won't be much of a threat.
Seriously, I think the point Greg is making is that with her fair record in IRL why is so much fuss being made by the media and fans? Why all the interest from top tier teams to get an average driver? Because she's hot, looks good in a bikini and sex sells. That's why she's getting the red carpet treatment - because sponsors know she will get attention they don't care if she succeeds as a driver or not. And quite frankly, while I love to look at her I can't take her seriously as a driver until she starts being more known for wins than being a hot chick who happens to drive a race car.
The Woman is nothing more than than a sleeze in very expensive clothes. NO ROOM IN NASCAR FOR T&A !!!!!!
This silly girl is in for a rude awakening. She has no experience or any idea about the technical issues she will face. To jump into Nascar part time without any relevent experience is absurd. Kelly took the money, soon Big E will be rolling around in his grave.
Jersey Devil says... "resonably expect her at, whatever, 5' 2" and 125 lbs. to be able to run 500 laps at Bristol or 4 hours at Dover, etc."
Mark Martin's height is listed as 5-6 with his weight being 135 pounds. Doesn't seem to hamper him any.
P.S. Engle, funny, you've nothing to say about Milka Duno getting an ARCA test, a driver arguably with much less talent than Danica.
Funny how that works, actually no it isn't, your bias is just hanging out for all to see.
@ Marc - yes, Mark Martin is a smaller man, but he is also in agruably better shape than any man in the series save for Carl Edwards and the many pit crew members who are actual athletes. Men have more upper body strength than women. Robby Gordon was not that far off when he questioned that about her a long time ago.
Personally I wish that Patrick would stay in Indycar. That means I only have to hear about her for a month at a time (since I live in Indy). I don't think she used to be this way. I agree that marketers have made her a "brand" and unfortunately that brand is necessarily sleazy. She has always been beautiful but it is possible to be beautiful and not have to resort to selling sex to sell herself. Personally I think she would have been more intriguing if she refused to do SI or the GoDaddy stuff and stuck to the business of proving herself on the track.
You guys are adding about 20lbs to her weight, she is both short and skinny. I have heard her weight as just over a 100lbs. I think she comes up short physically, mentally, experiencely, just hope she don't get killed.
obviously beaunut has never had a date.........ever. go away you are what is wrong with this country..... you claim freedom rules then when someone does it you don't like. ur an idiot and i hope you go away before my children get old enough to see this world.
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