In Nationwide overall standings, Danica Patrick ended the year in 10th, a spot she remained in throughout the year. My reminder to all is this, it was her first full time season in Nascar. Sure she’s raced in Indy Car, but Nascar is a whole different entity, different rules, completely different types of cars. Also, there’s the contact factor in Nascar which you don’t see on purpose in Indy Car Racing.
Her year was sporadic in Nationwide, early on, it looked promising, taking the Pole at Daytona with a seasoned veteran crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. They were all smiles with hopes of more poles to come. However, that would be her only pole the whole season and although there was a great chemistry, Eury Jr. would be replaced by years end.
The races that stuck out in my mind are the ones that would either make or break her. I cringed while watching the Michigan race, where she spun out three times and struggled with pitting. I thought what if this happens every weekend? I think for her, it...
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