On Wednesday night's (February 12th), the CBS television show CSI: NY featured an episode clearly catching the attention of XSL Speed Reporter. In the episode called "The Formula" the CSI team collects evidence to solve an accident occurring during an exhibition run between two drivers played by Antonio Sabato Jr and real-life racer Danica Patrick. This is a second time that professional open wheel racing has become the focus for a CSI plot. In 2003, an episode of CSI: Miami called "Grand Prix" revolved around a fictional Champ Car team. The crime in this episode involves Sabato's character's car explodes on the race circuit setup inside Manhattan. The racing series and race are all fictional with the actual vehicles looking like Formula Ford cars (I'm not quite sure but they were definitely not Indy or Formula 1 cars).
The directors behind the opening of this CSI: New York have clearly never watched an auto race. In classic 1966 racing movie Grand Prix, film director John Frankenheimer made viewers fall in love with the speed by allowing the racing action to occur around the film camera. Of course there was some trick camera work or visual effects in Grand Prix but those were marvels for the 1960s. CSI: New York use of quick camera cuts were blindingly fast. This opening lacked any appreciation to the sport of auto racing.
Another problem I had with the episode was how the car exploded. Perhaps another case of Hollywood special effects taking liberties on reality, fire wouldn't have rushed towards the driver's compartment. Beyond weight distribution, rearward engine placement in open wheel racing was incorporated because it wouldn't engulfs the driver as it did on CSI:NY.
Final, having some knowledge of the technical part of motorsports, it's important to note that CSI: NY's depiction of the energy recovery system (called a VIC) was inaccurate. Known in motorsports as Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), the function and operations of the system was correct but the anatomy of the electrical-type regenerative braking was not correct. The electrical generator, which the plot indicated was a factor in the victim racer's eventual death, was placed behind the driver's seat. Typically open wheel cars place the fuel tank behind the driver's cockpit. Also, electrical versions of KERS would have included a battery to store the electrical energy for when the power boost is initiated. There was no mention of a battery.
I do give respect to the writers and producers in the story and that the characters identified with the sport of auto racing. Personally, I prefer the New York version of CSI since their still somewhat based on the science and investigation while the other CSIs runs far too heavily on sensationalized violence. I continue to the lead actors/actresses likable and particularly enjoyed Detective Taylor (Gary Sinise) sharing his long-time love for auto racing.
As for Danica Patrick's acting debut, I think it will be fair to say her ARCA stock car debut at Daytona last Saturday was more noteworthy. However, I have never known an particularly strong acting performance coming from a race car driver. Patrick's acting has been limited to commercials and that appears apparent through her acting performance as her lines were delivered clearly.
A good, fun episode overall, "The Formula" ended with IndyCar, and this year's NASCAR, media darling dropping the green flag on a race between Detective Taylor and his colleague Stella. Beyond excusing itself from the real-world risks of liability issues relating to the final scene, it still remains to be seen auto racing will one day get the respect that many other sports receive.
Showing posts with label danica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label danica. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Danica Patrick to drive Daytona Nationwide Series race
Just two days after a highly-respectable first effort in the 200-mile ARCA series race, the driver who stole Speedweeks so far Danica Patrick has been tabbed for the NASCAR Nationwide Series' Drive4COPD 300 for Saturday. Last week, JR Motorsports had penciled in the Daytona Nationwide series race when they released her selected 2010 schedule. Originally, California's Auto Club Speedway would be her NASCAR stock car debut but these plans have now been altered. Once concerned about debuting Patrick in the ultra-competitive NASCAR farm series, the decision to solidify the Nationwide series race came when her Godaddy.com #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was brought home in 6th place on late Saturday afternoon's ARCA event.
While the #7 team is new for 2010, the Godaddy.com Chevrolet will be guaranteed a starting spot after acquiring 2009 car owner points which belonged to the inactive #11 CJM Racing car.
While the #7 team is new for 2010, the Godaddy.com Chevrolet will be guaranteed a starting spot after acquiring 2009 car owner points which belonged to the inactive #11 CJM Racing car.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Bobby Gerhart wins Daytona ARCA race; Danica Patrick finishes 6th in debut
An annual event for Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway since 1964, the 200 mile race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by REMAX and Menards has been known to be a race fostering greats in NASCAR talent.
As preparations started for the 2010 ARCA Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 race on Saturday morning, the focus for the event was placed heavily on a single stock car rookie. Of course, that rookie was IndyCar star Danica Patrick making her first ever competitive stock car outing at Daytona International Speedway. At last, the build up and media hype of Patrick's entrance in stock car racing could end, being replaced instead with hard race results.
Starting with NASCAR prospect James Buescher starting on pole with a #51 Toyota, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 was guaranteed not to be a caution-free event. At lap 8, former ARCA champion Bill Baird lost control of his #52 Chevrolet sliding in turn 2 collecting an unsuspecting Steve Blackburn. As two cars tangled, several cars went past the duo at full speed collecting 10 cars overall.
During the first caution, the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart made several pit stops to address the car's performance in drafting. Gerhart's car was topped up on fuel. As the race progressed, this move proved itself as a defining factor in the race's final laps.
With the inexperience of the various drivers likely contributing to the involvement of 8 of those vehicles, this was far from the end of the stock car carnage. On the restart on lap 18, Dakoda Armstrong running near the near, suffered a flat tire and tried to slow down. Unfortunately, his position in front the field's fastest cars did not give the #22 Dodge a chance to pull out the track. Trying to maintain the pace to not collect the drivers behind him, he spun in front of Jon Wes Towney and Danica Patrick. While Towney and Patrick were able to zip by, the #81 Toyota of Craig Goess was not so lucky pounding into the #22 Dodge.
On lap 27, the #29 car driven by Jesse Smith cut a tire sending the vehicle into the turn 4 SAFER wall. Smith's incident would indirectly spark one of the more scariest accidents of the day when the #48 Dodge of Jill George slowed down in avoidance to Smith's damaged vehicle. Slipping low onto the apron, George's #48 car violently flipped onto its side and launched heavily into the outside wall of turn 4. Stripping the front of her #48 stock car, driver Jill George thankfully walked away from the totaled race car.
By mid-point of the Daytona ARCA race, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 bred the normally high number of cautions produced by a fair share of wrecked race cars. In all, 14 ARCA stock cars would not go on to finish the event.
Within the last 25 laps the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart, the same car which early in the race spent extended time on pit road, was leading the #66 of Mark Thompson as well as the reduced pack of contenders.
Danica Patrick got loose in the draft and slid to the back of the lead draft pack position of 11th place. In only a handful of laps to go, Patrick and Nelson Piquet Jr were 2 of the 3 drivers involved in a three-wide battle out of turn 4. Running along the lower line, Piquet's Toyota chopped down on Patrick's #7 Chevy tapping her car. Sent spinning through the frontstretch, Patrick demonstrated some masterful driving recovering from loss of control.
With a record 6 female drivers starting in the ARCA Daytona opener, some of them were parked into the early stages of the event, including Milka Duno and Leilani Munter. Patrick wasn't the only woman demonstrating front-runner prowess. Ali Owens, driving a #15 Chevrolet sponsored by ElectrifyingCareers.com, was running a strong third place as the fight for positions heated up in the late laps.
The final caution was brought out when Barry Fitzgerald #06 veers left off of turn 2. The turbulence on the side of the #06 was enough to send the Ford over onto its roof sliding down the infield along Daytona's Superstretch. The last caution, Fitzgerald's car would not be the last victim of the 200 mile race. After a charging Patrick Seltra shuffled Ali Owens to the back with a fine exercise of restrictor plate racing, Owen's was behind a slower car when his engine blew with 3 laps to go. Owens spun in avoidance put an end to what could have been a solid lead lap finish.
At the end, the #5 Chevrolet of Gerhart holds off the #66 of Thompson to win his 6th 200-mile ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway.
Driving towards the checkered flag in a side-by-side, fender-rubbing match with Ricky Carmichael, Danica Patrick completed her stock car debut with a formidable 6th place finish in the JR Motorsports Godaddy.com car.
As preparations started for the 2010 ARCA Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 race on Saturday morning, the focus for the event was placed heavily on a single stock car rookie. Of course, that rookie was IndyCar star Danica Patrick making her first ever competitive stock car outing at Daytona International Speedway. At last, the build up and media hype of Patrick's entrance in stock car racing could end, being replaced instead with hard race results.
Starting with NASCAR prospect James Buescher starting on pole with a #51 Toyota, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 was guaranteed not to be a caution-free event. At lap 8, former ARCA champion Bill Baird lost control of his #52 Chevrolet sliding in turn 2 collecting an unsuspecting Steve Blackburn. As two cars tangled, several cars went past the duo at full speed collecting 10 cars overall.
During the first caution, the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart made several pit stops to address the car's performance in drafting. Gerhart's car was topped up on fuel. As the race progressed, this move proved itself as a defining factor in the race's final laps.
With the inexperience of the various drivers likely contributing to the involvement of 8 of those vehicles, this was far from the end of the stock car carnage. On the restart on lap 18, Dakoda Armstrong running near the near, suffered a flat tire and tried to slow down. Unfortunately, his position in front the field's fastest cars did not give the #22 Dodge a chance to pull out the track. Trying to maintain the pace to not collect the drivers behind him, he spun in front of Jon Wes Towney and Danica Patrick. While Towney and Patrick were able to zip by, the #81 Toyota of Craig Goess was not so lucky pounding into the #22 Dodge.
On lap 27, the #29 car driven by Jesse Smith cut a tire sending the vehicle into the turn 4 SAFER wall. Smith's incident would indirectly spark one of the more scariest accidents of the day when the #48 Dodge of Jill George slowed down in avoidance to Smith's damaged vehicle. Slipping low onto the apron, George's #48 car violently flipped onto its side and launched heavily into the outside wall of turn 4. Stripping the front of her #48 stock car, driver Jill George thankfully walked away from the totaled race car.
By mid-point of the Daytona ARCA race, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 bred the normally high number of cautions produced by a fair share of wrecked race cars. In all, 14 ARCA stock cars would not go on to finish the event.
Within the last 25 laps the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart, the same car which early in the race spent extended time on pit road, was leading the #66 of Mark Thompson as well as the reduced pack of contenders.
Danica Patrick got loose in the draft and slid to the back of the lead draft pack position of 11th place. In only a handful of laps to go, Patrick and Nelson Piquet Jr were 2 of the 3 drivers involved in a three-wide battle out of turn 4. Running along the lower line, Piquet's Toyota chopped down on Patrick's #7 Chevy tapping her car. Sent spinning through the frontstretch, Patrick demonstrated some masterful driving recovering from loss of control.
With a record 6 female drivers starting in the ARCA Daytona opener, some of them were parked into the early stages of the event, including Milka Duno and Leilani Munter. Patrick wasn't the only woman demonstrating front-runner prowess. Ali Owens, driving a #15 Chevrolet sponsored by ElectrifyingCareers.com, was running a strong third place as the fight for positions heated up in the late laps.
The final caution was brought out when Barry Fitzgerald #06 veers left off of turn 2. The turbulence on the side of the #06 was enough to send the Ford over onto its roof sliding down the infield along Daytona's Superstretch. The last caution, Fitzgerald's car would not be the last victim of the 200 mile race. After a charging Patrick Seltra shuffled Ali Owens to the back with a fine exercise of restrictor plate racing, Owen's was behind a slower car when his engine blew with 3 laps to go. Owens spun in avoidance put an end to what could have been a solid lead lap finish.
At the end, the #5 Chevrolet of Gerhart holds off the #66 of Thompson to win his 6th 200-mile ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway.
Driving towards the checkered flag in a side-by-side, fender-rubbing match with Ricky Carmichael, Danica Patrick completed her stock car debut with a formidable 6th place finish in the JR Motorsports Godaddy.com car.
Friday, February 5, 2010
James Buescher roars to pole for Daytona ARCA opener
Apart from the standard NASCAR activities at the Daytona International Speedway during the period called Speedweeks, the 58st season of the ARCA Racing Series presented by REMAX and Menards opens on the 2.5 mile high-banks.
A staple to Daytona Speedweeks since 1964, this race is renowned for being a dicey affair as a multitude of young, eager drivers are making their first major stock car start. While many of those drivers get initiated with the lessons of high-speed incidents with other competitors as well as the Daytona walls, some first-time at Daytona drivers have broken through including Kyle Petty in 1979 and his late son Adam in 2000.
With speeds of over 190 miles per hour, these ARCA cars compare closely to the speed potentials of NASCAR Nationwide and even Sprint Cup cars.
Qualifying for the 2010 running of ARCA Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway saw last year's race winner James Buescher return in prime position for an encore effort. Committed to the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 with Phoenix Racing #1 car, Buescher will be running a Toyota for the ARCA event before making the transition to Chevrolet. However, these 2010 plans could change as Phoenix Racing's long-time sponsor Miccosukee Resort and Gaming announced a swift bailout from their auto racing support.
Fastest in first Thursday practice in his #51 Toyota, Buescher's pole sitting run nicked 26 year old Mikey Kile driving for Venturini Motorsports. Kile has been closely matching James Buescher throughout Thursday and Friday with his team's #25 Toyota. Rounding out the top 5 includes Joey Coulter, Dakoda Armstrong and Bryan Silas.
In total, a record 6 female drivers will be starting in the Daytona ARCA race. Leading the women's contingent is the popular IndyCar driver Danica Patrick. Finding that her attention has probably grown 3-5 times from already trumping numbers who follows her #7 Andretti Autosport IndyCar team, Patrick has placed her #7 Godaddy.com Chevrolet in 12th place in qualifying for her first stock car race.
Thanks to this event being a restrictor plate race, the outcome to the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 is by no means predictable. Drivers and teams affiliated with leading NASCAR organization (Patrick's #7 Chevrolet, Nelson Piquet #6 Toyota and Grant Enfinger #09 Ford) certain to have the resources for strong runs within the 80 lap event. With that said, there is always a game changing move that allows ARCA regulars like Frank Kimmel or Bobby Gerhart to counter the efforts of NASCAR's rising stars.
While rain showers are blowing through the Daytona, Florida area Friday night, the skies will be perfectly clear for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 scheduled for 4:30PM Saturday.
ARCA Racing Series Presented by REMAX and Menards
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway
Qualifying
1. James Buescher #51 Toyota
2. Mikey Kile #25 Toyota
3. Joey Coulter #16 Chevrolet
4. Dakoda Armstrong #22 Dodge
5. Bryan Silas #11 Ford
6. Mark Thompson #66 Toyota
7. Nelson Piquet #6 Toyota
8. Bobby Gerhart #5 Chevrolet
9. John Wes Townley #35 Toyota
10. Steve Arpin #55 Toyota
Other notables
11. Patrick Sheltra #60 Dodge
12. Danica Patrick #7 Chevrolet
13. Frank Kimmel #44 Ford
14. Ricky Carmichael #4 Toyota
17. Bill Baird #52 Chevrolet
19. Ali Owens #15 Chevrolet
20. Grant Enfinger #09 Ford
25. Leilani Munter #59 Dodge
41. Milka Duno #90 Toyota
A staple to Daytona Speedweeks since 1964, this race is renowned for being a dicey affair as a multitude of young, eager drivers are making their first major stock car start. While many of those drivers get initiated with the lessons of high-speed incidents with other competitors as well as the Daytona walls, some first-time at Daytona drivers have broken through including Kyle Petty in 1979 and his late son Adam in 2000.
With speeds of over 190 miles per hour, these ARCA cars compare closely to the speed potentials of NASCAR Nationwide and even Sprint Cup cars.
Qualifying for the 2010 running of ARCA Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway saw last year's race winner James Buescher return in prime position for an encore effort. Committed to the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 with Phoenix Racing #1 car, Buescher will be running a Toyota for the ARCA event before making the transition to Chevrolet. However, these 2010 plans could change as Phoenix Racing's long-time sponsor Miccosukee Resort and Gaming announced a swift bailout from their auto racing support.
Fastest in first Thursday practice in his #51 Toyota, Buescher's pole sitting run nicked 26 year old Mikey Kile driving for Venturini Motorsports. Kile has been closely matching James Buescher throughout Thursday and Friday with his team's #25 Toyota. Rounding out the top 5 includes Joey Coulter, Dakoda Armstrong and Bryan Silas.
In total, a record 6 female drivers will be starting in the Daytona ARCA race. Leading the women's contingent is the popular IndyCar driver Danica Patrick. Finding that her attention has probably grown 3-5 times from already trumping numbers who follows her #7 Andretti Autosport IndyCar team, Patrick has placed her #7 Godaddy.com Chevrolet in 12th place in qualifying for her first stock car race.
Thanks to this event being a restrictor plate race, the outcome to the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 is by no means predictable. Drivers and teams affiliated with leading NASCAR organization (Patrick's #7 Chevrolet, Nelson Piquet #6 Toyota and Grant Enfinger #09 Ford) certain to have the resources for strong runs within the 80 lap event. With that said, there is always a game changing move that allows ARCA regulars like Frank Kimmel or Bobby Gerhart to counter the efforts of NASCAR's rising stars.
While rain showers are blowing through the Daytona, Florida area Friday night, the skies will be perfectly clear for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 scheduled for 4:30PM Saturday.
ARCA Racing Series Presented by REMAX and Menards
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway
Qualifying
1. James Buescher #51 Toyota
2. Mikey Kile #25 Toyota
3. Joey Coulter #16 Chevrolet
4. Dakoda Armstrong #22 Dodge
5. Bryan Silas #11 Ford
6. Mark Thompson #66 Toyota
7. Nelson Piquet #6 Toyota
8. Bobby Gerhart #5 Chevrolet
9. John Wes Townley #35 Toyota
10. Steve Arpin #55 Toyota
Other notables
11. Patrick Sheltra #60 Dodge
12. Danica Patrick #7 Chevrolet
13. Frank Kimmel #44 Ford
14. Ricky Carmichael #4 Toyota
17. Bill Baird #52 Chevrolet
19. Ali Owens #15 Chevrolet
20. Grant Enfinger #09 Ford
25. Leilani Munter #59 Dodge
41. Milka Duno #90 Toyota
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Just Released: Danica Patrick's 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Schedule
Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images
Danica Patrick's first stock car racing exposure will consist of at least 11 events in 2010 for the Godaddy.com sponsored #7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. All of these races come timed on weekends that will not contend with Patrick's full-time duties driving for her Andretti Autosport #7 car in the IZod IndyCar Series. Between the February 27th race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Patrick will not return to the JR Motorsports team until New Hampshire of end June.
The most shocking race to be on Patrick's NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 is the addition of the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway. This race is included on the grounds that Patrick will receive favourable clearance by NASCAR after her run in the ARCA event on January 6th. Initially, JR Motorsports had stated that the team would not enter her in the high-profile, 300-mile restrictor plate race.
Danica Patrick's 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule
1: Feb 13- Daytona International Speedway (
2: Feb 20- Auto Club Speedway
3: Feb 27- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
4: Jun 26- New Hampshire Motor Speedway
5: Jul 9- Chicagoland Speedway
6: Aug 14- Michigan International Speedway
7: Sep 25 Dover International Speedway
8: Oct 9- Auto Club Speedway
9: Oct 23- Gateway International Raceway
10: Nov 6- Texas Motor Speedway
11: Nov 13- Phoenix International Speedway
12: Nov 20- Homestead-Miami Speedway
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Scent of Danica Patrick: Popular Driver Attached to New Women's Perfume
Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed ReporterGodaddy.com, Boost Mobile, NASCAR, ARCA, JR Motorsports, everyone now wants to be attached to the most significant female in circuit auto racing. Danica Patrick is a branding darling for many companies and organizations. In the recent weeks, concurring evenly with the NASCAR announcement, Patrick has inked another deal for last year. Hitting shelves of major US department stores in 2010, women can harness the scent of IndyCar star Danica Patrick. Entering into an agreement with SA Fragrances, the upcoming Danica Patrick for Her perfume is likely the first-ever fragrance to be designed by a race car driver (in North America at least) Vice president of sales has been quoted as saying in a release "Danica's fragrance will immediately be recognized as the hot new fragrance of 2010".
Scheduled to be priced between $30-60 for sprays ranging from 1 ounce to 3.4 ounces, Danica Patrick for Her perfume is targeted against other products promoted with the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. While promoting their scents, SA Fragrances of Boston are also setting a track record for spotlighting strong, positive female influences. Recently the Boston, Massachusetts fragrance company launched Annika, a perfume on the brand of golfer Annika Sorenstam.
Don't expect the perfume to smell like motor oil or 20 lap-old tires at Indy; For some reason, those aromas have yet to attract favourable attention from perfume creators.
For more information, you can connect to Danica Patrick's official website at www.danicaracing.com
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Danica Patrick to Make NASCAR Debut at Fontana
Left to Right: Kelly Earnhardt, Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelly Bires
Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images
As promised, the press conference at JR Motorsports' Mooresville, North Carolina race shop delivered itself as an early Christmas present to fans of NASCAR. With many of JR Motorsports key people at the conference Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelly Earnhardt, Danica Patrick, and the team's full-time Nationwide Kelly Bires were the key soundbites through the event.
With Danica Patrick dominating press and fan interests, some minor details were finally provided on the most anticipated debut in the NASCAR Nationwide series. Patrick's first race in the #7 Godaddy.com Chevrolet Impala will be at Auto Club Speedway on February 20th. She will then complete the following week at Las Vegas Speedway before rejoining her IZod IndyCar series team in Brazil for the season opening round. With plans to compete in 13 races in 2010, not including the Daytona International Speedway's season opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race on her limited schedule is a definitely apparent
Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images
Patrick's debut at the Auto Club Speedway has been dealt as somewhat of a curve ball considering the fact her planned stock car entrance will occur in the Daytona ARCA race. Indicating the reason for not running the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300 mile race at Daytona, Patrick responded "The race is basically a Cup race, some 30 odd drivers in Cup run in it. So, is that the right time for me to start or not? You only get one grand opening, so I've heard. We want it to be the right opportunity". It's still a odd decision to take Danica Patrick out of the heat of NASCAR Nationwide's most competitive race. It's conceivable this move might have been more to the pleasure of her sponsorship than her competitive initiation to NASCAR. The Daytona Nationwide Series race, a precursor to the Daytona 500, is also noted for its bulky qualifying lineup which can be pushed up to 50 cars for 43 spots. The Auto Club Speedway race usually features a more streamlined car count. Point being that her chances of running the actual would not be as hindered due to qualifying mishaps or weather which better serves her as well as godaddy.com brass who has brokered a lot on the most popular female racer.
Another distant possibly might circle on Danica Patrick's experience in a stock car. While the ARCA series may welcome her based on 5 years of open-wheel experience, NASCAR may not be completely comfortable putting Patrick into aggressive bump drafting with only one stock car race. However, Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Montoya possessed the same limited experience finding restrictor plate racing quickly with little incident.
Team founder Dale Earnhardt Jr was highly visible at the press event. Planning to drive the #5 JR Motorsports in some Nationwide Series races for 2010, Earnhardt Jr's ownership part in the team, while still valued, involves many of his family enjoying a voice on the operations of the race team. Whether putting JR Motorsports in the hands of his trusted family will improve his performance in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet remains to be seen. However, Earnhardt Jr's presence regularly brings out a loyal and devoted following of JR Nation; a group guaranteed to be back for the entire 2010 season.
Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images
Lost behind the fanfare of Danica Patrick is the JR Motorsports technical #1 driver Kelly Bires. 25 years old, Bires takes over full season campaign inside the #88 Chevrolet. Succeeding Brad Keselowski, Kelly Bires performance is, in reality, more critical than Danica Patrick's. Much like the driver that preceded him, Bires has considerable stock car racing experience but his yet to taste splendors of victory in a major NASCAR touring series.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Danica Patrick/JR Motorsports Gifts NASCAR Media with Press Conference
Photo Credit: Godaddy.comAfter a little more than a week since Danica Patrick's official announcement to joining JR Motorsports for a part-time Nationwide schedule, it is fair to say that Christmas definitely came early for the NASCAR media. Traditionally, the entire month of December would have usually been the dullest time in stock car racing allowing journalists to write holiday gift guides or year in review stories (XSL Speed Reporter has some of those stories prepared to post in the coming days). Thanks to an intense infatuation with Danica Patrick much of the motorsport media shares, December of 2009 will be one of the most active off-season breaks in NASCAR history.
On Thursday, 45 minute press conference has been scheduled at the JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelly Earnhardt, Tony Eury Sr and Jr as well as the driver of the #7 Godaddy Chevrolet in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series tour are slated to entertain the press before Patrick sets out on her first open test piloting an ARCA stock car in Daytona. Attendance at the event will include esteemed members of the press plus 20 JR Nation Fan Club members who can ask the panel questions (Danica Patrick's NASCAR Nationwide schedule for 2010 would probably be a leading question). A simple question and answer period without a significant announcement, live access will be unprecedented. Apart from a regular webstream which will be required on www.GoDaddy.com/Danica, cable television channel Speed and XM/Sirius satellite radio channels 128 are broadcasting the outreach event. On satellite radio, the press conference will be followed by up to 3 hours of analysis (yikes!).
With such attention drawn onto Danica Patrick, it is mildly disturbing that the appetite for the driver has preceded her stock car racing efforts at the track. As Danica Patrick attends the 3-day test at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the ARCA stock car series' debut, she may be learning more about the NASCAR media than racing a stock car. Of course Patrick has experienced five seasons under the brightest spotlight in IndyCar racing.
With all due respect to the ARCA Remax Series, the Daytona 200 mile event has historically been grounds for major NASCAR teams to run a one-off effort to showcase their latest drivers. Through testing and the race in early February, JR Motorsports will most certainly make use of Hendrick Motorsports cars and expertise putting Patrick several steps ahead even before hitting the track. When Danica Patrick finally gets a chance to leave the motorsport press behind, the first true display of the famous racing female's driving abilities in a full-bodied stock car should provide an intriguing 2010 Nationwide Series season.
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