News for February 7th 2010
Danica 6th in Daytona ARCA race
Danica Patrick finished sixth Saturday in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA race, the stock car racing debut for the IndyCar racer as well known for her supermodel looks as her racing.
Danica Patrick
Bobby Gerhart won the race, which was marred by the usual assortment of mistakes and untimely wrecks that tend to pepper ARCA events at Daytona and Talladega. It was his sixth Daytona victory
Mark Thompson was second, John Wes Townley third and defending race winner James Buescher.
Patrick, driving the GoDaddy.com chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, made a fantastic save of her car on lap 54 when she was pinched low coming off turn four by Nelson Piquet. Her car spun and crossed the start-finish line going backward, but she saved the car without it making contact with the wall or another vehicle.
Left in 29th after the spin, she charged through the field and into the lead pack in less than 20 laps.
“I thought, ‘Shoot, we’re not out of this. Why would we be out of it?’” Patrick said. “I was pretty excited to go from last to the top five.
“It was fun.”
Mobile’s Grant Enfinger was among those involved in a multi-car wreck and finished 30th.
Edited: February 7th, 2010
Robert Richardson, Jr. Ready to Race Daytona in Double Duty Endeavor
Robert Richardson, Jr. has raced in his share of events at Daytona International Speedway before. But, for the dawning of this new decade, the McKinney, Texas native will partake in his first full Speedweeks at Daytona by competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
And, the largest task at hand is the running of his first Daytona 500. He will qualify 15th, of 54 drivers, during Saturday’s session to determine his starting spot in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel 150s.
In a guaranteed starting spot driving the No. 38 Mahindra Tractors USA Ford for Front Row Motorsports with Doug Yates, Richardson is coming in to the event wide-eyed with anticipation and excitement. With the new rules set forth by NASCAR allowing for bump-drafting and a larger restrictor plate, one might think Richardson has some reserves about the Great American Race.
He got his first taste of Sprint Cup competition in last November’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. Driving the No. 36 for Tommy Baldwin Racing, Richardson finished a commendable 18th place in his Sprint Cup debut.
Thoughts on bumpdrafting: “Heck yeah, bring it on,” said the 27-year old quarterback turned driver. “The bump drafting doesn’t faze me a bit. I know I’m racing against the best-of-the-best out there in the Duel 150s and 500. But, I also know we’re smart enough to police ourselves so we won’t do it in the corners or 10 laps into the race, either. We all know we have to be there at the end to have a good finish. Nobody wants to be in the garage just 15 laps into this race.”
On making your first Daytona 500 start: “It seems surreal sometimes that I’m actually going to be in the race. The history and prestige that comes with being part of it is something all by itself. I was watching a commercial for the race during the NFL playoffs and it just kind of hit me that, for the first time, instead of watching the race – I’m running the Daytona 500. It’s an honor, that’s for sure.
“But, I also know me and 42 other drivers are going for the same thing out there. The honor and prestige is nice, but the competitor in me takes over and wants to do the best job possible.”
What about finding drafting partners: “That’s something I’m going to have to do in the practices and Duel 150. Because so many of these guys have drafted together before, they know what to expect from each other. I’m going to have to earn their respect and show I can run and work with them. That’s one challenge I’m up for and looking forward to – proving my worth with the veterans.”
Will running both the 500 and Nationwide races be overextending yourself?: “No, I don’t see that as anything but a positive. The more laps you can make on a track, even it’s in two different kinds of equipment, can only benefit me. Between getting more comfortable with the track and working with the other drivers, it can be nothing but beneficial to me.”
Did you know: Richardson has scored six top-20 finishes at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega between Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events. And, he graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Studio Art with a minor in photography.
Chassis Info: Richardson will utilize a chassis purchased from Yates Racing before being bought by FRM. The car has never been raced, but was tested at Talladega Superspeedway.
He has the power: With their new alliance, FRM with Doug Yates will be utilizing the legendary power plants of Roush Yates Engines.
Edited: February 7th, 2010
Chrissy Wallace To Drive For Rick Ware Racing At Daytona
Chrissy Wallace will be making her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th in the Camping World 300 in the #41 Fuel Doctor Chevy with Rick Ware Racing (RWR).
Wallace debuted with RWR in the NASCAR Camping World Series at Talladega last October. She finished 13th and looks forward to the new challenge. “This is a lifelong dream to race in the Nationwide Series and will soon be a reality, and I want to thank Rick Ware Racing for making it come true,” stated Wallace.
Once again marking the first time in history that a Father-Daughter will compete against each other in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Chrissy will join her father on the track to top last season’s performance at Talladega in the Camping World Truck race in 2009.
More history could be made as Wallace will become the first female to make her Nationwide Series debut at the famous Daytona International Speedway.
With so many storylines during the opening week of the NASCAR season, nothing could be more intriguing than four family members competing against each other in the same event. Father Mike Wallace will be in the #01, Uncle Kenny Wallace in the #28, cousin Stephen Wallace in the #66 and Chrissy in the #41.
As all eyes focus on the newest female in NASCAR Danica Patrick, the Nationwide Series could benefit the most; Patrick and Wallace could face off in their series debut. It is the classic battle that most fans have been waiting to see; the open wheel star versus the old school stock car racer.
Regardless, Wallace’s debut is more than publicity. “We have a great car and an extremely stout motor. Our first goal is to make the show because we have to qualify on time. This team did qualify 8th at Daytona in 2009. If all goes well in qualifying, we expect a Top 15-20 for this car, and if I can be the highest finishing Wallace, it will make all the rest of the family gatherings a lot more fun…well at least for me.”
- Rick Ware Racing Press Release
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Article Tags: Danica Patrick, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NCWTS, NNS, No. 41 Fuel Doctor Chevrolet Impala SS, Rick Ware, Stephen Wallace, Talladega Speedway
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WNY24 19 hours ago
From twitter via BackType RT @Waltripfan6: RT @catchfence Chrissy Wallace To Drive For Rick Ware Racing At Daytona http://bit.ly/bSbTkG #nascar #nationwide
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Edited: February 7th, 2010