Last weekend’s NASCAR ARCA Daytona event was pretty much the ‘make it’ or ‘break it’ race for Danica Patrick. And she definitely made it. She had one heck of a strong car underneath her and she used it like any seasoned race car driver would. But then again, she is a seasoned race car driver. And with seasons of IndyCar racing under her belt, I’d be thinking that NASCAR competition is much more fun for her, seeing as how in this series of auto racing, you can rub fenders without destroying the car!
But the television coverage of the ARCA event was definitely something to behold.
I tuned in about halfway into the race and what I did take notice of was that the last third of the race was Danica Patrick Centric with the leaders of the race being mentioned on and off. The leaders were more often mentioned as Patrick got closer to them.
Now to be honest, I was VERY interested in how Patrick was doing and enjoyed seeing it. But to be fair, there were fans of all the other drivers in the race and I think the coverage could have been more equalized. A picture in a picture of Danica’s progress might have sufficed to keep us abreast of how she was doing.
At one point she was back to 23rd and we didn’t as much about her then, but the JR Motorsports machine she was driving was a powerful car and made up spots when I think most cars couldn’t. It closed gaps between packs of cars that helped her catch up to the lead pack again.
Danica made some deft and daring moves that was akin to a seasoned NASCAR driver and that was fun to see and inspiring to know that she isn’t playing it totally safe. Cheers to you Danica.
Media Hoopla Pooopla
The other item that drove me a bit nuts, was the commentary about when Danica Patrick got spun down the front stretch. (Can anyone confirm this for me?) The reporter was breathlessly reporting on when Danica got turned sideways, how the spotter and crew chief were barking orders on the radio on when and how to counter-steer, let up on the gas, give it gas, etc. GIVE ME A BREAK! The seasoned driver in that car was already doing what she needed to keep off the walls and I seriously doubt that anyone was giving her driving lessons during the event, never mind that she even heard them.
Trust me, you’re in your own world! (Humorous interlude: One time on the freeway I found myself sliding sideways down the dirt emergency parking lane at about 65 mph. When all was said and done and I had recovered back into traffic as if nothing had happened, my wife asked me why I didn’t blow my horn at the b*st*d that caused the problem. Um… I was a bit busy woman!!) So yea… maybe Danica was busy if she was indeed getting driving instructions from her seasoned support staff at the track. Phhfft.
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I have to say that how JR Motorsports has handled her coming into the sport has shown nothing but flawless marketing timing. They’ve doled out info a bit at a time. They waited until after the Super Bowl to announce her driving in the Nationwide event and so forth. Well played.
And yes, after what seemed like some tentative indecisiveness, Danica Patrick announced that she will indeed be running in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Daytona race because she’s not done racing this weekend. That is going to be a very exciting endeavor to watch as she matches up to other Cup Drivers in this event. She’ll also have her car-owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car. He’s one of the best at teaming up in a restrictor plate race and I look forward to her inaugural NASCAR Nationwide race!
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I thought it wasn’t to bad of a race, could have done without all the cautions.
I think Danica did pretty good for her first race, staying out of trouble and not wrecking completely when she got spun out. I thought she showed great car control when she got spun on the front stretch.