Danica Patrick has spent the last several years observing the open wheel invasion and the drivers attempt a career in NASCAR. While Juan Pablo Montoya is enjoying a breakthrough season in his third year, the transition to stock cars has been in an arduous task. Outside of Montoya, open wheelers have failed in NASCAR’s top series. Sam Hornish Jr is improving, but he is far from a perennial race-winning contender.
Dario Franchitti, Patrick Carpentier, and Jacques Villeneuve have fallen off the NASCAR radar.
Carpentier is now a road ringer for Michael Waltrip Racing, and a start and parker for Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Franchitti is back on the IRL scene, and Villeneuve’s only NASCAR start this year was a Nationwide Series race at the road course in
Montreal.
Meanwhile, Patrick has remained in the IRL despite the rich temptations of the NASCAR lifestyle.
The 2009 season was a contract year for Patrick, so naturally the rumor mill began spinning.
She has been linked to Stewart-Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Junior Motorsports, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing.
In fact, she visited several NASCAR shops over the past few months.
While she reportedly signed a new three-year deal with Andretti-Green to remain in the IRL, it appears as if she still has the desire to, one day, pilot a stock car.
However, she seems to comprehend the fact that it would be a dreadful mistake to completely jump into the Sprint Cup Series while relinquishing her opportunity in the IRL, a series in which she is competitive.
It is no secret that Junior Motorsports is interested in Danica Patrick’s services.
“There is a natural fit at JRM (Junior Motorsports) with Dale Jr. and Danica both serving as spokespersons for GoDaddy.com…I would be excited to have Danica with Junior Motorsports fold if she decides to enter the world of NASCAR,” said Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, president of Junior Motorsports and sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Although it is only speculation, it seems that whenever Patrick arrives at the NASCAR level, it will be in Hendrick Motorsports equipment, whether it is JRM, Hendrick Motorsports, or Stewart-Haas Racing.
She would likely compete in a limited Nationwide Series schedule, and possibly compete in some ARCA races over the course of the next two or three years. Of course, the races she plans to compete in would have to coincide with her IRL schedule.
Many skeptics openly doubt that Patrick can emerge as a successful stock car racer, but if she eases her way into the sport as opposed to jumping right in, she just might enjoy a fruitful career in NASCAR.
Michael Waltrip Racing recently announced that they are interested in Patrick.
Nevertheless, it seems that she is more likely to join the JRM/HMS contingent.
Now, the next few sentences of the paragraph are simply speculation on my part, but it makes sense.
After losing Keselowksi, HMS is in need of a couple of young prospects, especially since Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon have hinted towards retirement.
Could we see Kelly Bires and Danica Patrick in the No. 5 and No. 24 in 2012?
Comments
"Outside of Montoya, open wheelers have failed in NASCAR’s top series"
Are you too young to remember where Tony Stewart came from?
Yes, I have to agree, Tony Stewart is the most successfull IRL driver to go to Nascar. Seems that it's just not remembered.
"Now, the next few sentences of the paragraph are simply speculation on my part, but it makes sense."
Well, the facts don't seem to matter here. A "few" is three or more. There are only two. That is a "couple". And yea, Tony won the IRL Championship in the 90's.
NASCAR Expert and others, I wasn't talking about a decade ago, I was referring to the recent open wheel invasion that began in 2006 or 2007. Danica was a teenager when Tony came into Cup.
Yes, I am fairly young, but I am very familiar with where Tony came from.
The other comment from me below meant no disrespect at all, age, grammer, or otherwise. As a Tony fan it gets tiring of people ignoring he won the 1997 IRL Championship, then turned around and won two Cup titles, one Winston, one Nextel/Sprint. But, no disrespect was meant. My biggest question about Danica is this.
She might be ready for Nascar, but, is Nascar ready for Her?? They are so darn conservative in restricing their drivers. She'd knock there socks off with her photo shoots and commercials. Nope, France and Helton are not ready for that..
Now to your article. I think a lot of the currnet open wheelers that have come to Nascar have been with very week teams to begin with. Some of them have even collapsed. I'd give Danica the benefit of the doubt if she gets with a good team like Hendricks or Stewart-Hass. If Hendrick, JRM, or S/H can sign her, or a combination of a couple of them she will have a fair shot at it. She'd be a breath of fresh air.
where do people get the idea that this money hungry little girl can be competitive in nascar?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!