NASCAR: Danica Patrick joining NBC Sports in 2018?

With Danica Patrick retiring from full-time racing at the end of 2017, could she be joining the NASCAR on NBC crew after her two races in 2018?

Entering the final NASCAR Cup Series weekend of the season, no one was sure of Danica Patrick’s plans for the 2018 season. Now, fans and owners have come to realize that 2017 was the final full year of the best performing woman in American motorsports in stock car racing. Danica will still be racing in 2018, competing in just the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. But what else will she be up to?

As first reported by USA Today’s A.J. Perez, the next step for Danica Patrick could be into broadcasting. Sources with knowledge of discussions suggest that the former driver of the #10 Ford could be joining NBC Sports in 2018, taking on a potential role in their NASCAR coverage. This would not be the first time Patrick has been part of a network’s coverage of racing. She served as an analyst for a handful of Xfinity Series races the past two years with FOX Sports.

Of course, Danica becoming further involved in television would surprise no one in racing circles. She is one of the most recognizable racers in North American motorsports, transcending both NASCAR and IndyCar. And perhaps that connection to both series could work to the benefit of NBC Sports, who currently holds rights to both series. Patrick could ultimately serve in covering both stock car racing and open-wheel racing with NBC and NBCSN.