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So what kind of message would a Danica Patrick in her current form coming to NASCAR send to young female racers hoping to make it in the sport? (AP)
Dario Franchitti won his second IndyCar Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday by using a smart fuel mileage strategy call by team owner Chip Ganassi that allowed him to go from third to first, win the race and secure the title.
This past season was the first full one for Franchitti after trying his hand in NASCAR. The foray into NASCAR was nothing short of disastrous for the Scotsman who won the 2007 IndyCar title.
While Franchitti was winning his race Sunday, the rumors in NASCAR again centered on Danica Patrick’s continued flirtation with the sport.
Despite widespread reports that she has signed a contract with her current IndyCar team, the talk around the NASCAR garage was that Patrick is still considering giving NASCAR a try.
The rumors have the tails wagging and hounds barking since Danica Patrick is a marketers dream. Because in America sex still sells and while Patrick is a so-so driver at best, no one can argue that her face and figure sell whatever it’s attached to. It’s not about racing stats it’s about BWH measurements. Top-10’s, top-5’s, pole positions and race wins mean less then the old fashioned 34-26-34.
And that’s just a shame.
According to published reports, Patrick has set forth certain conditions for her NASCAR ride. From a single race salary ranging anywhere from $50,000 to $8 million to being guaranteed a car that has enough owner points attached so she won’t have to worry about making races on speed. No doubt fruit baskets in her dressing room and only a certain brand of sparkling water, along with a masseuse were discussed as well.
The sad truth is, even with the outrageous demands Patrick seems to want, NASCAR teams desperate for cash haven’t dismissed her. That’s because they know that with Danica Patrick’s signature on a contract the sponsor wallets would open up like floodgates. For cash strapped teams it would be akin to Jed Clampett finding ‘black gold’.
If she did sign with a team, they would turn her over to a sponsor who would immediately slap a branded bikini on her and start selling, while the team would be saying ‘please make sure you spell our name right on the check.’
Racing should be about how you perform in the racecar not how you look spread out on the hood.
Anyone who watched this weekends IndyCar finale was treated to a Danica commercial fest that included her all male pit crew dressed up like women and a titillating spot urging viewers to visit a website to ‘see more’ as a provocative Patrick walked towards the camera unzipping her jacket. No word on how many were disappointed when they found out that ‘seeing more’ meant eyeing Patrick wearing a tank top emblazoned with the sponsor’s name, but no doubt the sponsor grinned at the pageview count.
So what kind of message would a Danica Patrick in her current form coming to NASCAR send to young female racers hoping to make it in the sport? NASCAR already has a black eye from a minor scandal several years ago when a married team owner courted his young female driver. She faded from the scene shortly after, perhaps before her potential was ever even realized. The couple recently got married by the way.
While that incident was never really discussed publicly, no doubt the story still floats around the edges haunting some in the sport. And if Patrick decides to come to NASCAR we now want to send the message to young female drivers that it’s not about how you race, but how you look? You don’t have to actually win any races… but you might want to consider some implants.
It’s hard enough for a parent to try and teach a daughter to celebrate her own self worth, that looks don’t matter as much as character does, when they are assaulted by images of a scantily clad woman sprawled out on the hood of a racecar. It’s not the kind of image our young women should ascribe to and not one NASCAR should either.
Most fans don’t care what their driver looks like in a bathing suit, only that they can win races.
By the way, Patrick finished 19th at Homestead Sunday. Not that anyone noticed, they were probably all on the Internet trying to ‘see more.’
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Comments
Damn good article Greg
Awww, now you have ruined it with opinion. This is just chauvinist. Please just stick to reporting. I enjoy your reporting on NASCAR.
Chauvinist? No Beverly, I wish there were some females drivers in NASCAR…in this case I believe too much focus is on the way she looks and not on the way she drives. Objectifying women rather then seeing them as a person is chauvinistic and too much emphasis is being placed on Dania the object, not Danica the racer…
All this is going on while a more worthy driver, Chrissy Wallace, has her career in a holding pattern for lack of sponsorship. Shame.
greg engle knows what's up !
Are you serios?. At the bottom of this article you promote an article about Carl Edwards being in the bodies issue for ESPN. How come he gets a pass & Danica gets slammed for doing the same thing?. maybe it's you who should be an equal oppertunity chauvanist.
Rich, Carl established himself as a successful racer before taking off his shirt for the world, and in the EPSN mag ESPN said ‘the issue is a testament to the work the athletes do, the effort they exert and the price they sometimes pay in reliance on their most important asset – their bodies’…and Carl wasn’t paid for his magazine spread, nor does he actively solicit endorsements based on his looks…
And FunkyD I couldn't agree with you more...
Greg, I have just one question what will stop or slow the decline attendance and ratings of NASCAR. I'm sorry but I just can't think of anything at this point. Maybe NASCAR will get off their high horse and do something about it but in the meantime NASCAR needs Danica for what ever reason. Yea sure she'll flop as a driver but I can recall tons of other drivers that came to Cup and floundered. This is coming from a man that has been called a chauvinist a time or two. It may not be the only thing that gets NASCAR out of the tank but it sure wouldn't hurt. Just my opinion.
CT you have a vaild point..but Danica isn't the answer...I'll have an article that addresses some of the decline tomorrow, but for now I'll say that attendence is down due to the economy and the ratings decline, I feel, will come around with the change to the times being more uniform next year...remember, NASCAR is still the number two spectator sport in America...T&A in NASCAR certainly isn't the answer...
NO ROOM IN NASCAR FOR T&A!!!!!! GO CHRISSY!
Hey Greg...I hate to correct you on this one. But the actual measurements of choice are 36-24-36! Come on man, do your homework!
Let's all face the facts...within a couple weeks we will all read the headline, "Patrick Signs 2 Year Deal with JR Motorsports." It's coming and there's not much we can do about it. NASCAR needs a shot in the arm and this is the prescription for ratings. There has always been a little hint of sex appeal in NASCAR. (ie. Miss Sprint Cup, Model wives, trophy girls) CARS AND GIRLS JUST GO TOGETHER! The best thing Danica could do is back her sex appeal with track appeal. If Danica can drive as good as she looks it will be a winning combination for NASCAR in the future.
Greg, Yes the economy may have an effect on attendance, in the NFL in 07 it was 17.6 million to 17.5 million in 08. Attendance at the races fell for a third straight year in 08 from an average of 130,000 per race to 118,000, and this is NASCAR estimates but I just can't believe that the economy has that much effect on the TV ratings. This year's opening NFL game between the Steelers and Titians drew 20.9 million viewers, that was the biggest audience for any sporting event since the Super Bowl. Fox news also reported that 25 million people tuned in for it's week one game making it the most watched week one game ever on Fox. The bottom line is the NFL's ratings is maintaining or increasing and NASCAR's is declining. Now what is that attributed to? It lies solely at NASCAR's front office in Daytona. We have become an "entertain me" society and until NASCAR gets it, they will never recover. How do you think Humpy Wheeler was so successful at Charlotte?
REALITY CHECK: It's all about MARKETING! On the "guy-side," Michael Waltrip proves that an average race-driving "pretty-boy with marketing savvy" will excell in the "racing business" more than those only gifted with "driving talent." "Marketing Studs" always "beat-out" the "Racing Stud/marketing dud" in the $pon$or$hip Chase! (Kyle Bush wins more races in one year than MW has in an entire lifetime, but who gets more "actual" TV face-time [including commercials]?)
In the "cubic-dollar world" of motorsports, Danica understands that she MUST bring all of "her ammo" to "the fight" for her racing career's survival!
I'm positive that "Go-Daddy" is buying the HMS/Mark Martin ride for Danica's future in NASCAR Cup! We can spend countless hours debating the merits of her driving ability, but one thing is for sure... Danica IS NOT stupid!
Maybe the male chauvanist pig that wrote this article should ask why a womens has to dress up in a bikini to get sponorship. Could it possibly be because that is the best way to get attention. Your very article states the OPINION that her driving is just average. So what is a girl to do with idiots like you bashing her in the press for what she is trying to accomplish in a MAN's world. Grow some balls and go afer the men.
Damn terrible article Greg.
Thanks Greg for having the guts to say it when many veteran writers are too "pc" to say NO to Danica. Are you kiddin' me? When was the last time or the first time she's "seen" a stock car race and we're talking her about driving in one? And for all you wo(men) that don't know squat about racing, stay in the kitchen! It would be different if she was kickin' ass and takin' names in IRL, but she's getting more press than Dario Franchitti who won the IRL Championship! In the last FOUR YEARS, she's led less than 150 laps, hell I'll give her 200 laps. ONE pole. ONE race. What car owner in NASCAR really wants her? All her sponsors are "forbidden" in NASCAR with the exception of godaddy.com Motorola, Boost Mobile, Honda.."Ennnnk!". Sorry, wrong series. I would have more RESPECT for Danica, if she did what Juan Pablo Montoya did. Start from the roots in Late Model and work his way up. Look at him now, on the verge of winning races and a championship.
Racing is a business (especially at the top levels) and the rides go to the drivers who can get them. Not the best man or woman, not the most likable, not the most fan friendly, not the one who'd you like to sleep with, not the most talented, but the one who can get the ride. There's proof of that at every level of racing. And when you focus on Cup, there are guys riding around who haven't won at ANY national touring race level.
With Danica (and I'm not a fan) a sponsor gets exposure and the race team gets a talent. Not a great driver (or at least she hasn't proven it yet), but a talent. And who knows, maybe her style, her skill, will be better suited to racing stock cars.
And she's as deserving as any to get her shot to find out.
Let's see - a so-so driver that gets a ride every week based on popularity and marketing ability. I see the point of the article. Aren't there enough of those to go around in NASCAR already? In fairness, maybe the article should point out those names.
I gotcha back Greg. Check this out Frex. 1) PAUL MENARD, mediocre at best. Riding high on daddy, John's money. Has the ability, with loot, to go to any 2 - 3 car team that wants him or start own team. But that will be too costly. 2) CASEY MEARS. He's been with Ganassi, Hendrick and now Childress and what has he done? Nada. Another Family namehead of the Indy and Off-Road Mears family. At least he got ONE win at Charlotte via pit callin' by Darien Grubb. But his days are numbered in Cup like a colorin' book! 3) MICHAEL WALTRIP, the Forest Gump of NA$CAR, DW pitched his deal to Dale Earnhardt which gave him the opportunity of a lifetime. Won 2 Daytona 500's and basically stole all of DEI employees after Teresa bumped her haid and let Jr. go to Hendrick. Waltrip is okay, just goofy and we a little goofiness in this Disney World of NA$CAR. Before some of you JR Haters, bash him. Keep in mind, he's won races and TWO N'WIDE championships. What has Danica won?
Let's see what she can do before making a judgement. Unfortunately women in motor sports have never been given a fair shake, so all Danica is doing using the assets she has to get a shot. She finished 5th in points, so she has to a better driver than 15 or 20 other Indy Car drivers.
I think you are way off base here Greg. Having an intellegient/atractive woman use all of the resources the good lord has given her is awesome. NASCAR needs to appeal to a different breed of race fan. My wife has no interest in racing but she will sit and watch the entire Indy 500 just to see how Danica does. Does she seel sex? Sure she does, but what is Tony Stewart selling in those Old Spice commercials?
Just the thought of Danica coming to NASCAR has brought about an incredible amount of publicity. Lets face it, if it was just about the driving there are a number of other drivers that would be in the seats on the weekend. These people get all kind of media training/coaching. Before a driver is hired they run them past review panels to see what the market appeal is.
I hope Danica comes to Nascar, she would be a breath of fresh air.
Greg, I do not believe I could have said it any better; or even as well. It is hard enough trying to watch the race with my kids with the racy beer ads, the Go Daddy! commercials, and the promos for Desperate Housewives or Dirty Sexy Money. It's not even enough to mute the sound anymore. I have to completely change the channel because of the unnecessary sensual content displayed on the screen.
If Danica comes to NASCAR, it might get to the point where I can't watch the races anymore.
Thanks for speaking so eloquently the very things I've thought for a long time now. Let racers race on driving talent. Not how they look in front of a camera.
LANCE SAYS.... "And for all you wo(men) that don't know squat about racing, stay in the kitchen!"
I see you passed Misogyny 101 with a 4.0 grade average. Congrats.
Greg- NASCAR Examiner said.... "Carl established himself as a successful racer before taking off his shirt for the world"
Well, if you're comparing Carl's and Danica's ESPN articles I say you're way off base. Why? Simple, Danica has improved from 12 in points her first year to 5th this year. And she has done so with a team [AGR] that at best if third in series competitiveness.
Fact is she do so by finishing third in this years Indy 500 AND finished ahead of her three teammates, two of which have multiple IRL wins and one has an Indy 500 win.
Finally did she appear in the FHM mag in 2003, why yes she did. And didn't show anything more than you see millions of women wear on every American beach.
Oh, the "horrors."
Lance continues "I would have more RESPECT for Danica, if she did what Juan Pablo Montoya did. Start from the roots in Late Model and work his way up. Look at him now, on the verge of winning races and a championship."
Really? Montoya started in Late Models? Got a valid source for that? I doubt it, because it never happened.
Here's a slice of reality for you, Montoya made his stock car debut in an ARCA event at the Talladega Superspeedway on October 6, 2006. He qualified second, led the first nine laps, and finished third when the race was called after 79 of 92 laps.
Got anymore misinformation I'd be glad to correct it for you.
This article is really an insult to all athletic women, like Danica. Lets see you drive at 210 mph. I thought such sexism was dead, or at least hidden better.
It's been about money since the 80's in NASCAR. There are a lot of great drivers out there who aren't pretty enough, can't remember all of their sponsors, and who don't fit the "All American Boy" image that NASCAR, and the sponsors demand. If Danica can help out a cash strapped team, it's all right with me.
I gotcha back Greg. Check this out Frex. 1) PAUL MENARD, mediocre at best. Riding high on daddy, John's money. Has the ability, with loot, to go to any 2 - 3 car team that wants him or start own team. But that will be too costly. 2) CASEY MEARS. He's been with Ganassi, Hendrick and now Childress and what has he done? Nada. Another Family namehead of the Indy and Off-Road Mears family. At least he got ONE win at Charlotte via pit callin' by Darien Grubb. But his days are numbered in Cup like a colorin' book! 3) MICHAEL WALTRIP, the Forest Gump of NA$CAR, DW pitched his deal to Dale Earnhardt which gave him the opportunity of a lifetime. Won 2 Daytona 500's and basically stole all of DEI employees after Teresa bumped her haid and let Jr. go to Hendrick. Waltrip is okay, just goofy and we a little goofiness in this Disney World of NA$CAR. Before some of you JR Haters, bash him. Keep in mind, he's won races and TWO N'WIDE championships. What has Danica won?
*Touche, Marc. Touche*...You're correct. JPM first stock car start was in ARCA at Talladega. Before his foray into stock car racing there was talk of him learning the ropes with seat time in Late Models and ASA to get his feet wet in a stock car. But as a lively debate as this is about Danica into NASCAR, the more seat time in ARCA, Trucks or N'wide, the better she'll be in Cup. And only then, we'll she gain MY respect. The last thing we need is a female version of Paul Menard, while quality drivers like Travis Kvapil has to wait around. Sexism has it's reverse discrimination practices too.
It's amazing how these columnists show their antiquated chauvinism and idiocy. There are a LOT of NASCAR drivers--including one Brad Keselowski--who is his own best PR person--who don't belong in the sport. To say that Danica does not is totally ludicrous and an obvious statement of the writer's totally idiocy. She belongs there just as much as any other racer who has had success in other series but not NASCAR...hmmmm.....where shall we start? Scott Speed? Max Papis? etc., etc.
And, oh by the way, former F1 winner and Indy 500 winner Juan Montoya is not only doing well in NASCAR but in the "chase"....soooo....How's Dale Jr doing these days??????
Lance says..... "But as a lively debate as this is about Danica into NASCAR, the more seat time in ARCA, Trucks or N'wide, the better she'll be in Cup. And only then, we'll she gain MY respect."
Um, that's just what the plans are according to all reports and what Tony Stewart advised also.
And somehow I doubt you, or Greg Engle based on this tripe called a post, will ever gain yours or his respect.
P.S. Do you often go off half cocked and write something so blatantly false?
Hey greg, nice hatchet job. Danica has won an IRL race, led the Indy 500(3rd place this year and $200k in prize money) and finished 5th in points. She was the highest AGR driver in points this year. She is talented and can drive a race car. Can you? Yeah she finished 19th sunday because of a pit road wreck with Dan Wheldon. Didn't bother to "report" that fact did you? Yes Dario had a bad run in Nationwide but other open wheelers(Tony, Jeff Gordon, Newman) seem to be doing ok. A pathetic attempt by you. Oh and your send Geg a note link doen't work
Really hard to believe this article was written by a man. Imagine, a REAL guy whining and bitching about a little T & A in NASCAR. Like it isn't already there. NASCAR was a sparsely attended, redneck Saturday night pastime when I was a kid and I ought to know because I grew up in Kannapolis, NC, where my family knew Ralph Earnhardt and his family. It wasn't until there was some controversy between racing personalities that the sport really got fired up. NASCAR drivers developed style and personal traits that made them stars and THAT'S what fueled the rise of NASCAR to it's current position as the world's fastest growing sport. A little more controversy in the form of Danica Patrick's very pleasant female figure splashed around here and there can only make things more interesting and that's VERY good for the sport. If you think Danica or any other female racer will last more than a year in this sport if she doesn't win races just remember the name Anna Kournikova.
orionsbow - "If you think Danica or any other female racer will last more than a year in this sport if she doesn't win races just remember the name Anna Kournikova."
Really? No female could last longer than a single year?
Not much on NASCAR history are you?
Louise Smith, first race was 1949 at the Daytona Beach Road Course and raced in 11 events over 3 years.
Janet Guthrie, 33 races run over 4 years.
Shawna Robinson, three wins and twenty-one top-tens in the old NASCAR DASH series in 2 years, 61 starts in Nationwide/Busch series over 14 years, 8 starts in Cup over 2 years.
I would like to see Danica come to NASCAR. Sure, she looks good in a bikini, but she can also drive. As for Greg Engle writing "Most fans don’t care what their driver looks like in a bathing suit, only that they can win races." in the article, ummmm what guy wants to see Tony Stewart, Joey Lagano and Kyle busch in a swimsuit? Not me, thats for sure. LOL
Go Danica, do your thing, its a free country, for the most part...
Unfortunately, I am playing catch up here, Mr Engle I think you are a idiot!!!! I think you think Danica is a flash in the pan and yes I am talking about the old way pictures were taken also. Well she might be really good looking in or out of her racing suit. And well I seem to recall here leading for a good portion of the Indy 500 and I don't remember the guys letting her do it. So I think she has proven that she is a good driver, maybe not a great driver, but she has earned my respect, and unless you have actually gotten behind the wheel of a indy car or stock car and driven a round in circles for a few hours in the middle of summer or gone out on a road course. Well maybe you should just stick to something easier like writing O-bits. or doing movie reviews, something that keeps you in a deep dark corner.
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