NASCAR: All Eyes Should Be On Danica Patrick During The Daytona 500
Does Danica Patrick Belong In The Monster Energy Cup Series?That has been the question that has caused heated debate ever since Danica Patrick first stepped foot in a stock car in the Xfinity Series and that debate is now raging on once again after her fourth place showing at The Clash on Sunday afternoon. With that being said and the controversy that will no doubt follow her for the rest of her career, it’s impossible to say that she doesn’t serve a purpose.
While it doesn’t take too much effort to notice that Danica Patrick’s fourth place finish in The Clash was little more than a fluke and that the finish won’t be indicative of her performance for the rest of 2017 season, it still has caused much speculation to the contrary from fans and the media. In fact, the finish thrust her in the spotlight once again at this crucial time in the sports season.
Danica Patrick followed that up with a seventh place showing in Thursday’s duel at Daytona , which puts The SHR driver 12th in the starting order for Sunday’s race. While this could also be just a fluke, especially given the number of drivers in the field during Thursday night’s duel race, it is worth noting that Patrick remained in the top-ten for most of the evening and didn’t have any issues
If nothing else, that is a completely different Danica Patrick and a Danica Patrick that could be a threat to the entire field on restrictor plate tracks. Not only that, this could also give her some much-needed confidence for the rest of the season, which she desperately needs after having so many lackluster performances over the past few years.
Fluke or not, Danica Patrick’s finish in last Sunday’s Clash and in Thursday’s Duel race also increases the visibility of the sport, especially towards the female viewer and it also helps to push the narrative of Patrick having a comeback season after multiple lackluster performances in The Cup Series. With that being said and the unlikeliness that this storyline will last past the second week of the season, it’s still good for NASCAR.
If nothing else, it gives people a reason to watch the race on Sunday. Not only due to the fact that Daytona is statistically Danica Patrick’s best track on the entire Cup Series circuit, it is also a chance for Patrick to prove the naysayers wrong and either win or have a decent finish in Sunday’s Great American race at Daytona International Speedway.
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All this creates uncertainty. An uncertainty that will force old fans and new fans alike to tune in to Fox Sports on Sunday Afternoon for The Daytona 500. Whether they actually witness the history making moment of a women finally winning The Daytona 500 or just another example of the failed expectations that have followed Patrick since her debut, it’s a gamble that fans are willing to take!