Danica Patrick can finally brush aside the detractors, at least temporarily, after posting the highest-ever finish by a woman in a NASCAR race by finishing fourth in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Danica-mania is riding high after Patrick’s highest-ever finish and the first top-five finish by a woman in NASCAR’s three national series since 1949 when Sara Christianson claimed a fifth-place finish in Pennsylvania. Just 16 races into her NASCAR career and after failing to finish in the top-20 in her first season, Patrick now sits fourth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings after posting three-consecutive top-20 finishes.
“I don’t think about trying to achieve the highest-finishing position for a female,” Patrick said after her fourth-place showing. “I think about trying to win the race, and if I make history, then so be it.”
Still yet to visit Victory Lane in the Nationwide Series, not surprising considering she is a relative newcomer to NASCAR, Patrick has been maligned by both fans and pundits, likely because her marketing presence seemingly dwarfs her career success. In 98-career IndyCar races, Patrick has just one victory and 19 top-five finishes. But many Patrick critics were silenced by her strong finish in Vegas.
“There was some discussion of, ‘Does she have the right stuff to compete in the Nationwide Series?’” Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, said in a Wednesday conference call. “I think she dispelled a lot of that. There are always circumstances at the start of a new career that sometimes are out of your control – people crash in front of you, or a hundred other things.
“I think she elevated herself quite nicely and that’s nice to see,” France continued. “She’s a very competitive person and she’s always said she’s here to compete – not just happy to be here – and that fits my criteria.”
While France appears steadfast in his support of Patrick, her fourth-place finish did come with caveats for the detractors. The critics will claim Patrick’s strong finish was the result of fuel-mileage strategy, as was the case with her lone IndyCar win, and they will argue her fourth was a result of strategy and luck, not skill.
The critics are wrong. After falling a lap down due to pit stop cycles, Patrick battled to return to the lead lap, utilizing cautions and passing the competition to regain position. Patrick raced her way towards the front of the field before a group of leading cars were forced to pit for fuel during a 59-lap green flag run to end the race. Her finish was the result of patience, strategy and skill, all carefully balanced while driving 180 mph.
While Patrick’s fourth-place finish is by no means a declaration the driver is ready to contend for a NASCAR Nationwide Series title – casual fans must remember she isn’t even running a full schedule as she remains committed to the IndyCar Series – it is fair to say Patrick appears to be competitive in the Nationwide Series and fans should welcome the Danica-mania marketing machine should she choose to move to NASCAR full-time in the future.
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