The Nationwide Series runs at Richmond International Raceway with the 529 College Savings 250. For the NNS race it is common for Cup drivers to get lots of attention from the press.
Saturday in Richmond, during qualifying, it was evident that the IndyCar crossover, Danica Patrick, is still a novelty for NASCAR news.
Photogs and press surrounded the GoDaddy #7 Chevy when Danica approached the car. Denny Hamlin went by and hardly a lens turned. There went Keselowski… and Kyle Busch… Still, the cameras and mics were on Danica.
Yes, “Missed Gear” was no different. We stayed near the green of the GoDaddy #7…
Patrick is making strides in “closed wheel” racing. She is doing exactly what she should be doing which is learning. And she is picking it up quickly. She has been getting faster. She has been holding her own against many other seasoned drivers. She has good people around her and advising her.
It is still early in the season so perhaps that explains all the attention on Danica. She is in the driver’s seat and settling in for the long run of it. As a woman driving in NASCAR she remains a novelty to many. As time and experience begin to fill the seat with her, the “novelty” will wear away to what we expect will be good results down the road.
For now, however, we’re content to fill our lens with the images of Danica Patrick. While we did that at Richmond for qualifying for the “529 College Savings 250”, some upstart from the Cup series won the pole.
Kevin Harvick.
Danica Patrick is 11th in points for the Nationwide Series coming into Richmond. She must be doing something right to be running that well. The press is watching because she is a crossover from IndyCar, driving well enough to be just off the top 10, is a woman in a still male dominant sport and is quite attractive beyond it all.
Her images sell. Just ask GoDaddy.
So GoDanica! Drive… And when that move comes that put you in Victory Lane we’ll be glad to shoot the images but we won’t be surprised. Not one bit.
