It is the biggest story in auto racing for decades.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has made it clear that he wants Danica Patrick to join his NASCAR team, bringing about one of the greatest auto racing stories in American history and joining two legendary figures in the sport.
The Earnhardt name is the most famous in Nascar while Patrick is the only female to ever crack the top echelon of race drivers in the Indy series. She placed 3rd in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, which Wikipedia reports was both a personal best for her at the track and the highest finish by a woman in the event's history.
Danica Sue Patrick was born on March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin. Her Irish-American parents, TJ and Bev Patrick are great racing fans. Her father, TJ, raced snowmobiles, motocross bikes and midget cars while her mother worked as a mechanic.
With her Irish good looks and sexy style, (Patrick's bikini pictures are top sellers, St. Patrick she ain't) and daredevil drive behind the wheel Patrick would bring incredible star power to the male dominated NASCAR world, and open the sport to millions of new fans.
It was reported last year that she was the second top female search term that year.
In May 2006, she published her autobiography, "Danica: Crossing the Line."
With her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race. Patrick currently drives the #7 Boost Mobile/GoDaddy.com Honda/Dallara for Andretti Green Racing.
She also has an equity stake in her #7 team. It was Danica's sister Brooke who got her hooked to racing at the age of 10. She soon became a racing freak and joined the World Karting Association (WKA).
In 1994, at the age of 12, Danica won the WKA Grand National Championship in the Yamaha Sportsman class. She also won karting titles in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, she won the Grand National Championship in both the Yamaha Lite and HPV classes.
In 1998, at the age of 16, Danica moved to England to focus on racing and join the Formula Vauxhall Winter Series. In 1999, she finished ninth in the racing season. In 2000, she finished second in Formula Ford Festival.
In 2001, Danica returned to the US. After a year of trying many teams, Danica finally signed a contract with Rahal Letterman Racing. As part of preparation for IRL, she was sent to the Toyota Atlantic Series. In her first year, she made it to the top five seven times. She even won a pole position, becoming the first female driver to do so. In 2004, she finished third in the Toyota Atlantic Championship and was ready to take on the IRL.
In 2005, Danica made her debut at Toyota Indy 300 where she could not finish when she was knocked out in the 158th lap. However, she bounced back when she led for 19 laps at the prestigious Indy 500 and finished fourth, the highest-ever finish for a female driver.
In 2006, at the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead Miami Speedway, Danica qualified in the third place. However, due to the death of teammate Paul Dana in a crash on race day, Danica withdrew from the race.
At St. Petersburg, Florida, Danica finished 6th. She finished in the 8th place in Japan. At Indy, Danica finished in the eighth place. At Watkins Glen, she took the 8th place. She finished at the 4th place at Nashville and Milwaukee. She took the 9th place in the season point standings. At Kentucky and Infineon, she took the 8th place.
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mcnultyk | Jun 23, 2010, 09:08 AM EDT
cover sarah fisher
BORNIRISH | Nov 22, 2009, 10:38 AM EST
What do I think? I think under all of that makeup and hair dye she is one scarry morning eye opener. And Tokyo...Tokyo was about fuel consumption more than her driving skills...and don't even get me started on her driving skills.
plasticpaddy | Nov 12, 2009, 12:52 PM EST
ha ha littleman, go drive in circles and see how interesting it is. NASCAR is boring!
cherokee51 | Nov 09, 2009, 09:07 PM EST
I think it is great that she will/can/could join the forces of Nascar! I will be among the 1st to join her "fan-club"! Her "attitude" as some refer to, IS what it will take for her to take NASCAR by STORM !!!!!!!! GO DANICA!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pullin for ya! As a Southern Lady, I think it is about time someone like Danica join the ranks and show the "good-ole-boys" that a woman can be as forceful as they are !
dessieglynn | Nov 09, 2009, 12:54 PM EST
She should do whatever she thinks she is capable of, even if it upsets the begrudgers of nascar. she is ten times a better driver than dale jr.
tomgallagher | Nov 09, 2009, 11:42 AM EST
She is a hard ass which is what it takes in that business. Just like Dale Jr's daddy. If you want a ballerina check out the Bolshoi.
schoolteacher | Nov 09, 2009, 02:20 AM EST
This is still America, regardless of what the "Progressives"think. In that spirit, I say, Let'er do whatever she can. God knows, she's qualified, yes? I'm not threatened by women who excell; More power to them. Afterall, it was a "petite blonde" who 'took-out' that whack-job shooter at Ft. Hood. Me thinks some men may be afraid that NASCAR may be a venue where Ms. Patrick may just 'kick-butt' on the ole boys, HMMMM????
halen47 | Nov 09, 2009, 12:39 AM EST
Gee I love watching cars drive real fast in a circle but it is more exciting than soccer.
littleman | Nov 08, 2009, 10:28 PM EST
nascar has changed so much over the past 25 years. its became bigger than any racing series of all.as far as formula 1 and indy car racing goes its boring to watch. not much racing or at least close racing.i can see why alot of formula 1 and indy drivers come to nascar,they like the racing where the cars are pretty much equal and where the driver makes the difference.so give her a chance.... maybe she will make it and maybe she will be a flop and have to go back to indy .....but anybody who thinks nascar is boring and formula 1 & indy car racing is exciting is an idiot.
dale8dot | Nov 08, 2009, 09:01 PM EST
I think it is pitiful. She has the attitude and acts like Kyle Busch. She is stuck on her self and her parents are the same way. I met them last year while working at Daytona and omg I was shocked. She is not a people person at all. She will not be liked unless she changes her attitude because with out fans your a KNOWBODY!
wikkedangel24 | Nov 08, 2009, 07:08 PM EST
FIRST OF ALL, ALL YOU GUYS PUTTING NASCAR DOWN AND TALKING ABOUT BACKWARD HICKS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL, SO MAYBE IT IS BETTER TO BE A BACKWARD HICK THAN AN ILLERATE JACKASS. I DONT THINK THAT SHE WILL MAKE IT AND THAT IS TO BAD, BUT THE GUYS OF NASCAR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BABY THIS WOMAN.....I REALLY THINK SHE NEEDS TO STAY WHERE SHE IS....NOTHING PERSONAL TO HER. INDY RACING GET THE F--- OUT OF HERE.......
plasticpaddy | Nov 08, 2009, 05:41 PM EST
Ha ha PaddyDeMucker, we cna agree on somthing it seems.
PaddyDeMucker | Nov 08, 2009, 02:51 PM EST
Seldom happens, but I agree with plasticpaddy, NASCAR is a joke, a bunch of backward hicks driving around in circles for hours on end.
plasticpaddy | Nov 08, 2009, 01:55 PM EST
NASCAR is such a joke of an atempt at car racing. Not a touch on Formula 1 or Indycar. It's pathetic.
tpforrester | Nov 08, 2009, 12:36 PM EST
I think that it is great for her to come to NASCAR with dail Jr.I wish her the very best and many driving best with the Earnhardt Jr family.I believe that women have the same right to drive as men,and I believe that the guys will welcome her with open arms.