Danica Patrick has reached a deal to enter NASCAR with JR Motorsports

[SMOKEN14]

Report: Danica will race Nationwide, ARCA
Associated Press
Updated: December 7, 2009, 7:45 PM EST 42 comments
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Danica Patrick has reached a deal to enter NASCAR with JR Motorsports, according to a person familiar with the plan.


Patrick will announce a partial Nationwide Series schedule at a Tuesday news conference in Phoenix, the person familiar with her plans tells The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because she has not officially announced her intentions.

Last week Patrick signed a three-year contract extension with Andretti Autosport to stay in the IndyCar series, but its schedule gives her enough time to also try NASCAR.

It's not clear yet how many races she will drive in NASCAR's second-tier series for team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick.

GoDaddy.com will sponsor Patrick in both IndyCar and NASCAR.

Earlier, FOXSports.com's Lee Spencer reported that JR Motorsports had two ARCA cars ready for Patrick, which are being stored in a secret room at the team's headquarters.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/10490316/Report:-Danica-will-race-Nationwide,-ARCA

[DougS]

Just what JR needs more drama and media attention. I wonder how fast a winless count goes all all JRM drivers?

[CodeBlueEMT]

Just what JR needs more drama and media attention. I wonder how fast a winless count goes all all JRM drivers?

 Drama and media attention is NASCAR's main focus.

 Fire up the Waambulance, business is looking good for 2010.

 Shayne

[SMOKEN14]

                                  UPDATE
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - It's game on for Danica Patrick, JR Motorsports and GoDaddy.com.

Patrick will announce her intention to drive for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 at the Plaza Rotunda at Chase Field on Tuesday.


As FOXSports.com first reported last month, Patrick will make her stock car debut during the Dec. 18-20 ARCA test at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the ARCA season opener on Feb. 7. Tony Eury Jr. is expected to be Patrick's crew chief.

The IndyCar star formally revealed her plans to continue racing the No. 7 car for Michael Andretti in the newly reorganized Andretti Autosport last week. The 27-year-old Roscoe, Ill.-native finished a career-high fifth in the 2009 IndyCar point standings. In five seasons on the IndyCar circuit, Patrick has one win, 16 top-fives and 46 top-10 finishes. Her average finish in 81 starts is 10.1.

[scott b]

Now if JRM could fire Danica before the season begins and move the Go Daddy money over to Kelly Bires in the #88, they might have something.

[SMOKEN14]

Heres a picture of her car
http://jayski.com/schemes/2010/nationwide/7nationwide.htm

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Sometimes, I have moments of clarity.

 Sometimes.

 This is significant?

 If Richard Petty decided to run a limited Nationwide schedule next year, would anybody care? What about DW?

 Give me a break.

 Somebody get Tiger Woods on the phone. I've got a hell of a deal for you buddy. Don't worry about wrecking your ride, we have a shop full of race cars. Bring a few (remaining) sponsors and we'll be racin' in February.

 NASCAR can declare 2010 a complete success (as early as next week) without scuffing a tire.

 Shayne

[skool]

  NASCAR can declare 2010 a complete success (as early as next week) without scuffing a tire.

 Shayne

Oh, I'm sure that they already HAVE!!!! Just wait till Brain Fart's next 'state of the sport' speech.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 My New Year's Resolution: See the first race of 2010.

 My New Year's Solution: The Polar Bear 150 at The Rock.

 Shayne

 

[20forLogano]

This will be the best thing to happen for Dale Junior in a long time.  At least they won't be talking about his results on the race track

[SMOKEN14]

This will be the best thing to happen for Dale Junior in a long time.  At least they won't be talking about his results on the race track

BUT If by some weired chance Danica kicks ass in the Nationwide series I'M sure it will put pressure on JR to perform better or the rumors will start of Danica taking over the 88 ride in cup

[20forLogano]

BUT If by some weired chance Danica kicks ass in the Nationwide series I'M sure it will put pressure on JR to perform better or the rumors will start of Danica taking over the 88 ride in cup

NOT gonna happen my friend.  The one thing I will give Junior credit for though is he can tell talent.  Keso wasn't a household name until Junior brought him on board and now he is a great ride with the 12 team at PRS.

[HUDSON HORNET]

Oh, I'm sure that they already HAVE!!!! Just wait till Brain Fart's next 'state of the sport' speech.

Brian WHO?! I'm perplexed.
Is that a rare typo from the Frontstretch wordsmith, or is it making reference to the
manner in which The Brian delivers his speeches?
Sorta like speaking from both sides of his mouth.     

I've been out of the loop for a season or two now but I always figured I'd return sooner or later, and it seems I was correct. Then again, I'm pretty good at predicting myself. 

I also kinda thought that when I re-emerged The Brian would have gained popularity after realizing he'd taken something great and reduced it to joke status. Am I to understand The Brian hasn't changed ----- at ALL?
I thought for sure his encounter with those killer attack palm stumps in Florida would have brought him to his senses by scaring him senseless. Is his attention so fixated on the bottom line that he can't see the forest for the trees he's uprooted to build another cookie-cutter track?

It's said that power corrupts, so I assume absolute power corrupts absolutely. Still, I envision a return to NASCAR's roots, ........ someday. Am I wasting my dreams on the improbable?
Perhaps I should have stayed away a tad longer. What have I gotten myself into this time?
Oh lordy, hep me pleeze.
It's still the off season and already my blood is beginning to boil. QUICK! Somebody bring me an ice pack.

Say what?
No ice?
But there's plenty of what?
That'll work too --- make it a double double, straight up.
And be ready to pour me another one.
Meanwhile, rounds for the house. Put 'em on my tab.

Cheers y'all. 

[smyler]

Always good to see posts from HH.  By the way, sorry to hear about Paul Newman passing (reference to the movie Cars).

For true old school fans of NASCAR, I don't see a positive side to this Danica mania.  I'm not going to use this time to Danica bash.  I just don't see why the 1,631st most qualified driver in the country should be getting a ride before the 1,630 in front of her.  The focus is going to be on the wrong things.  So many teams literally give up families, health and virtually everything to make it to the bigs and here comes this *@#!% Danica who has virtually no experience but lots of media attention and an obvious lack of understanding of the history of the sport and gets herself a top ride.  I guess it's the American way but the fickle fans will lose interest if she isn't successful fairly quick. 

The only thing to be gained here is a quick buck because (again, I don't think this is a personal attack here) there is almost no way she is going to do anything to put herself in any record book, and yet she's garnered top media attention for only one reason... she is an attractive female.  I have nothing against her personally, but can you imagine any other driver of such limited success and experience being given this opportunity? 

I think this is going to tarnish Jr.'s imagine in a way that he can't understand.  I have to ask, for all of those who hate Jeff Gordon, don't you see a few parallels between she and he?  Jeff is loved by the New York media... the same ones that are foisting Danica upon us.  Yes, Jeff came from open wheel racing but he proved himself in Busch before being grabbed by Hendrick (something that Ford regretted for years).  Now, Jr. is becoming a part of that machine that tells you what you should like.  In a way it reminds me of the media fascination with our president.  No real accomplishments but we are told we have to be in love with this person.  Honestly, isn't this about the $?  I mean, do you REALLY think they expect her to finish in the top 5 EVER?  As long as the big boys are in Nationwide and it isn't a fluke restrictor track where all the big guys are knocked out and only 10 cars are left at the end of the race, I just don't see it.

Mind you, I don't blame Danica for this.  If someone wanted to pay me millions of $ to go the route she is doing, I can't see a down side.  She is using the media and Andretti and Earnhardt for all she can get.  Nothing wrong with that.  My problem is on the focus being so inordinately about her by the media.  I love free enterprise.  I love free press.  I just wish the focus was on the important stuff.  If it had been then Danica would be a name that most of us would barely know and we wouldn't be making this post because she would not have been signed by Jr. because the focus would have been on something else like some driver that clawed his way to the top and went without but is finally reaping the fruits.  You know, the kind of story they usually have in the movies.  Instead, we have the media focusing on the politically correct. 

Danica will have to live with her history of failure.  That's ok, she'll have her money to keep her warm.  What about us real NASCAR fans who are being yelled at that we have to accept this.  Are we shrew's if we don't buy what they are selling?  Are we NASCAR incorrect if we find ourselves more interested in football than racing because of our attitudes of seeing the game change before our eyes?  I'm not there yet, but I worry about the next couple of years.  The tradition of NASCAR has piece by piece been decimated already.  Now you throw this at us... well, it's just tough to handle.  Not because she is a woman.  No, I'd love to see a deserving woman or minority do well in our sport.  That would be a good story.  I just wish it could have happened to a nicer person.

[20forLogano]

Great points Smyler but you hit the nail on the head.  Nascar is more about $$ these days then promoting racing.