Danicamania Hits the NASCAR Nationwide Series

The long awaited NASCAR debut of one of the most talked about drivers in motor sports will finally happen next season in the Nationwide Series.  Indy Car racer Danica Patrickwill join JR Motorsports to drive seven races in the 2010 Nationwide Series.  She will be driving the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.  A time table has not been set for her NASCAR debut, but she will make her stock car debut next season in the ARCA Re/Max Series at the famed Daytona International Speedway, the day before the Super Bowl.  Most of her races will be scheduled around her Indy Car series, as she has also signed to drive full time for Andretti Racing. 

I think my determination and commitment are really going to be what makes this thing go well,” said Patrick, who arrived at the news conference as the “GoDaddy Girl,” wearing her familiar zippered GoDaddy outfit and black gladiator heels.  ”I’m a competitive driver, and I always want to do well, and this will be absolutely no different,” she said. “In fact, there’s no reason to think it’ll be any less [pressure]. There’s going to be a lot of people watching, and there’s been speculation for a long time about it. “I will approach this just like I do every other race that I go to, and I’ll give it my all.”

She also had a message for her nay-sayers: “I really don’t think a lot about that kind of stuff,” she said. “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion — that’s fine with me. My job is to prove to all the people that are around me that I’m committed, that I want to do this, that I’m willing to put in the right amount of effort, and that’s all I have to do.”

It is unclear whether or not this will lead to an eventual Sprint Cup Series debut, but one thing is for sure, the auto racing community will be in for a treat, thanks to this talented young driver.  Last season, she finished a career best fifth in the Indy Car points standings, finished a career best third at the Indy 500,  and became the first woman to win an IRL race winning the Indy Japan 300 in 2008.  Get ready, NASCAR!