Danica Patrick in Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Car

June 6, 2009 by RacingWin
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr 

Dale Jr Autographed Items

 

Should Danica Patrick Drive Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Car?

Dale Earnhardt Jr has said he is ready to take his JR Motorsports team Cup racing. With Danica Patrick threatening todanica bolt from the IRL when her contract expires at the end of this year to go NASCAR racing the rumor is she could land in a Sprint Cup car fielded by Dale Jr.

GoDaddy.com currently sponsors Patrick in the Indy Racing League. They also sponsor Dale Jr’s No. 88 Nationwide car driven by Brad Keselowski – and they have sponsored Keselowski in some Sprint Cup runs for Hendrick Motorsports. A Dale Jr / Danica Patrick sponsorship deal by GoDaddy would be a perfect fit.

But I’m sure that GoDaddy would not be the only one interested in that deal. The marketing potential of a Patrick – Earnhardt partnership would be pretty big.

Danica Patrick would be good for NASCAR. She would bring more fans, sponsors and media coverage to the sport.

She’s already proven that she can win in an open wheel car. Stock cars are different, though. Indy car stars – with the exception of Tony Stewart – haven’t seen a lot of success in NASCAR recently.

Danica may do better starting in the Nationwide series while learning how to drive stock cars. That’s okay; Dale Jr has a Nationwide car available too.

So will Danica Patrick really make the jump to NASCAR? The last time she was in contract negotiations she also expressed an interest in moving to NASCAR, but wound up staying with the IRL. Is all the NASCAR talk just a way to get the best deal on her IRL contract, or is Danica really interested in making the switch?

 

 


 

 

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Comments

69 Comments on Danica Patrick in Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Car

  1. Donna on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:08 pm

    2. that would be really cool :)

  2. kevin on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:09 pm

    3. What a team that would be! The mosr popular male and female drivers in one stable.AWSOME!

  3. Randy King on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:09 pm

    4. that would be so awesome…

  4. Amish Al on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:12 pm

    5. Wow most popular male and female drivers, just think of the off spring,,, a whole bunch of little racing rug rats,,,, :)

  5. James Walters on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:14 pm

    6. What i said all along. The 88 is going to JR Motor Sports.Dale has other interests in the future,driving for himself.And i think his cuss is going to be his chief again.
    Brad is going to drive Dales other car also.
    Big surprises coming to JR. Motor Sports

  6. BadBob on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:19 pm

    7. I sure hope that this is not a ploy because Dale Jr. can not seem to drive anymore. Could this lead to wedding bells, not. This would shake up both leagues. IRL in Nascar, hell, I don’t see why they all don’t come to Nascar, that would certainly rev up the sponsors and the fans and thereby the income.

  7. Jerome Jasinkowski on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:24 pm

    8. that would be a great deal, she is top in the field she drives in now, just think of her and Dale driveing on the same track together, Dale Jr ius moveing up in this world, Another great driver would do wonders for Jr Motor Sports.

  8. steve on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:33 pm

    9. What about Brad Kelozski?

  9. JOHN G NAUMAN on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:33 pm

    10. THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR NAS CAR

  10. Shamrock on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:36 pm

    11. YiiiiKe!!!!!!!

  11. da on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 2:38 pm

    12. Brad K. needs to take a hike. His type is not good for NASCAR.
    Danica driving for JR, go for it that would be a great combo all around.

  12. Joe on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 3:20 pm

    13. That would be good for Danica to come to NASCAR but Dale Jr. has to make a decision,
    DRIVE OR BE A CAR OWNER he can’t be both he has proven that all ready.

  13. Rick L on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 3:36 pm

    14. That would be an awsome deal. Having Jr and Danica on the same team. And look at the money Nascar would bring in. Plus that would bring in more fans. I think she should make the jump.

  14. Pat on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 3:49 pm

    15. That would be a terrific duo – BUT, Jr. needs to do better himself. He’s still the most popular, but the fans would be a lot happier to see him win some races – not to mention Hendrick Motorsports!!!

  15. Shelly on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:05 pm

    16. I think she should start out in Nationwide to get used to the stock cars, even though they aren’t COT cars, but still a different type than she is used to. Then maybe try to qualify for sprint before she moves up. She has the guts, just needs the experience. Anyone who drives a car where just their head is seen, must have guts, especially going 200+ miles a hour!!!!!!

  16. Mare on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:39 pm

    17. This must be a slow news day for the sport writer.

  17. EMAN3 on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:47 pm

    18. YA’ALL ARE FORGETTIN’ ASHLEY “FORCE” WOOD!!! THE GREATEST RACE CAR DRIVER EVER!!!!!

  18. Jackie from Daytona Beach on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:50 pm

    19. Danica is happy Married. Her Husband is all for the move.

  19. Harriet on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:52 pm

    20. Danica needs to “ZIP UP” if she thinks she’ll get the women to be her fans…..I, for one, am interested in “RACING”,not what she’s selling….the woman needs to get her head in its right place and stop selling “sex”.Stay in her “FIRESUIT” and “RACE” And to those who have so much time on their hands and “CAN’T” seem to leave “DALE” alone, get a “JOB”

  20. Stormy on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 5:19 pm

    21. All well and good if Jr wants to give her a chance but he should not give up on Brad. I think Brad is doing very well

  21. Mama Donia on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 5:41 pm

    22. GO FOR IT JR!!!!! MAYBE FIELD TWO CARS, DANICA AND BRAD!!!!! LOVE YA, JR.

  22. June on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 5:54 pm

    23. Well now wouldn’t that be interesting? Don’t know how things would play out, but would be very interesting to say the least, to see where Danica ends up. Beyond that I want to see Jr do well with his new crew cheif, win some races and become the Nascar champion. He is already a champions in my book. Go get um Jr.

  23. Mavis Rideout on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:02 pm

    24. Probably Danica going to Nascar would be good for the sport – bring in fans etc, It’s seems to me there might be a personality conflict when it come to her and Jr and their views on racing. He was able to mold Brad to be a good guy when it comes to racing. I’m not sure he could do the same with Danica.

  24. charlotte on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:05 pm

    25. dale jr has a girlfriend! she needs to come out of hiding!!!before it’s to late….

  25. Bill E on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:10 pm

    26. WOW, talk about a dynamic duo, go for it.

  26. charlotte on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:21 pm

    27. yes harriet, they seem to pick on jr. every week! poor guy..he needs a change. i do wish they would leave jr alone!!!!! he will win again.let’s support him fans…. a big jr fan alway’s

  27. EMAN3 on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:24 pm

    28. “Brad K. needs to take a hike” THAT IS THE MOST “STUPID” STATEMENT I HAVE EVER READ ON THE INTERNET

  28. Colleen on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:56 pm

    29. This won’t happen anytime soon, if ever. IF Jr starts a cup team, do u really think he is going to bring in a person, big name or not, that has NO stockcar experience?? Absolutely not. It’s the craziest thing I’ve heard. She needs to get her feet wet in ARCA or NW before she goes to cup. Just because she is good in one series, doesn’t mean she’ll be good in others. I’m sure this is all rumor. This would not be a good move for him , but that is jmo!!

  29. Colleen on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 6:57 pm

    30. he has many, which is why u never see one specific one.

  30. danger on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 7:11 pm

    31. Brad should take a hike…up to the cup side in a J.R./Hendricks prepared ride with Tony Sr !!! LOOKOUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  31. AZomah on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 7:17 pm

    32. I would rather see a member of the NASCAR family. Isn’t there a Wallace girl coming up the ranks? I left Indy racing because I don’t like cat fights. She uses her feminism knowing the guys are not going to slug her back. They have track manners.

  32. Kathleen on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 7:19 pm

    33. I would not want Danica in NASCAR!! She uses her sexuality to offset her only fair driving skills with those cheezy commercials and would cheapen the sport of stock car racing. I do NOT think she is ready for NASCAR Cup series. She should work her way up through the series levels and prove herself first. There are many more qualified drivers that deserve a Cup ride before her. Please keep her away from NASCAR!!!!

  33. Junior on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 8:01 pm

    34. I think that would be good for the both of them

  34. Dancey on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 8:47 pm

    35. I think she should go to Gibbs then there would 2 girls on their team.

  35. Fuzzy on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 10:49 pm

    36. Bobcat I don’t think her husband would approve of wedding bells.

  36. Fuzzy on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 10:51 pm

    37. Sorry I ment Badbob not Bobcat

  37. Sarah on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 11:20 pm

    38. I’m with you Dancey!

  38. harry kimmey on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:07 am

    39. LETS TALK ABOUT BUSH BUSTING A GUITAR, WANTED THE HOLE CREW TO HAVE A PIECE OF IT. GLAD THEY DIDN’T GIVE HIM A HUMMER, OR A LIVE HORSE. WOW

  39. SCOTT GIBB on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:25 am

    40. SO TONY CAN BE AN OWNER DRIVER AND JR. CAN’T ARE YOU CRAZY?

  40. mamadew88 on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:52 am

    41. In reply to James Walker……Junior has a number 88 car that he and Rick Hendrick own and Brad drives that car in the Nationwide Race now. If Danica decides to drive for Jr. then Brad would drive the Cup race in the #25 car that he drives only on a limited basis right now, leaving Danica to take over the 88 and drive in the Nationwide just to get her feet wet if she wants to join NASCAR.
    I would love to see a woman driver show up allot of the Cup drivers they are letting drive now. Face it guys….it is no longer “a man’s world” GO DANICA !!!!!!

  41. Vicky on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:53 am

    42. That would just be way to cool….. I’d love to see them make it as a racing team as I would like to see Theresa Earnhardt hurt that much more. Theresa blew that whole deal with Jr. and now she can’t get sponsors. Sr. didn’t want it that way.

  42. LADYBLUE on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 7:31 am

    43. I’d love to see it but I’d also like to see what she can do with the car. I have to say I’m surprised because I always thought if he started his own Sprint team it would be Keselouski in his car. The kid does a great job!

  43. dean tripp on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 9:39 am

    44. it ain’t going to happen and to the guy who said marriage she is allready

  44. Stormy on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:11 pm

    45. Speaking of whiney boy Busch, I think what he did with that guitar was very disrespectful.But then that is what he is anyway.

  45. Jane McGowan on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 12:55 pm

    46. As long as Junior would keep the # 88 car…it would be neat to see how well Danica could handle NASCAR. As far as Kyle breaking up the Guitar. I don’t know of any driver other than Kyle would do such a STUPID thing. The other 42 drivers would think it would be a honor to keep it and show it off proudly!! Let dumb Kyle pay the team more money, since he has won so much money!! Not destroy a Trophy!! I can’t imagine how the guy that built it felt! I would like to have seen his face!!

  46. Jane McGowan on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 4:38 pm

    47. As Kyle Petty said on the prerace. Kyle should have bought guitars for the crew. Not destroyed the Sam Bass Guitar. Of Course Kyle doesn’t think he did anything wrong!

  47. Bernice on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 7:15 pm

    48. Jane

    Kyle got the approval from Gibson to do the stunt and they were ok with it. Everyone knew ahead of time. So if there was something wrong with it NASCAR would have stopped it. I love the fact that he does things and says things that everyone else is afraid to do or say.

  48. candice on Sun, 7th Jun 2009 11:06 pm

    49. SO WHAT IF SHE DOES ! IT ONLY MEANS DALE IS READY TO MOVE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS!! PERSONALLY I THINK TONY STEWART AND DALE JR. WOULD WORK WELL TOGETHER!!!

  49. Sherri Tolley on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 12:21 am

    50. I think Dale, Jr., has it in the bag – he’ll be back in the winners circle and then KB can eat his words. At least Dale, Jr., doesn’t run for his trailer when stuff goes wrong – and refuse to talk to anyone. Dale, Jr. always talks about what happened. That’s why he has all the fans and KB doesn’t have any. He’s a pathetic specimen!! Go Dale, Jr. – my truck is a replica of your car and always will be. God Bless You! Go out and win!!!!

  50. Maureen on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 9:50 am

    51. First of all everyone……..Danica Patrick is very MARRIED. Jr. has a girl whether he’s married or not I do not know but she is with him all the time. Separately, they are both very popular but NASCAR is different than the “open’wheeler” Danica Patrick drives and I honestly believe she may fear driving for NASCAR. Remember, NASCAR drivers drive very close and need to be very strong to hold on to those cars. Not as easy as it looks folks!

  51. Maureen on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 9:55 am

    52. Amen! Dale Jr and Tony Stewart along with Ryan Newman would definitely be our NASCAR Dream Team. The icon! The racer! And the brain!

  52. harry kimmey on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 9:57 am

    53. watched some of nationwide race, borring race, truck race was a borring race without kyle in it. then came the sprint race, left the house and didn’t tape the rest of it.got it on radio going to a party. glad i didn’t waste my time with the races. the crowds are getting smaller each week,i think. once again lets race the last 10 to 20 laps. races are to long and the drivers are just out there riding arround a circle hoping there car holds together at the end. i say get some action back in to raceing. its hard on the mike jockeys to come up with enough crap to keep the fans awake. i did doze off during the sprint race. as of yet i still don’t know where jr. finished. i look for the money to go down hill, the trucks don’t make much at all and nationwide pay seems like it’s less. wake up nascar and make a lot of changes or the drivers will be back on dirt and having a ball doing it. take away the big bucks and you will have a bunch of those dumb looking so called race cars in someones back yard as a flower pot.

  53. Paul Barton on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 12:36 pm

    54. Well my opinion is that, there have been drivers that have jumped from the irl/cart and did crap, done so-so, and have done excellant aka tony stewart. Hasn’t been a woman to conquer NASCAR, YET!!! Couldn’t Danica be the one. Shes a good driver and getting better. Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. If it doesnt workout, theres always F1 or back to IRL. But, Question is if she does jump to NASCAR and it doesnt work will she a good ride like Andetti Green Racing or have to settle for 2nd best with another team and finish in the back to the middle of the pack. That folks is the question ONLY she can answer.

  54. BABS on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 2:08 pm

    55. Thought Sundays’s race would find Jr. a little better than last week’s with new crew chief…still can’t help wonder why Jr.s car does not seem to run as well as the others in the Hendrick stable…are the same guys working on Jr.’s car before joining Hendrick, if so, that could be a problem….and if not, why hasn’t his car been finetuned like the 24 or 48…even the car Kyle drove before he left was better then Jr.s….what is or isn’t going on behind the scenes in the garage????

  55. Diane on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 5:03 pm

    56. What will they say to start the race?…”Gentlemen and Lady start your engines”!

  56. EMAN3 on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:20 pm

    57. ”Drivers” “start your engines”!

  57. jules on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:23 pm

    58. danica can stay in irl…she used to seem real cool but she hasn’t done anything and i wouldnt want the headache of her ego flittin around.
    on the business end it would be brilliant, from a marketing standpoint, but kelley is a strong smart lady and is not a pushover so all i really see is a bunch of heads buttin and a bunch of jr’s money out the window from her wreckin..
    although danica beatin kyle up would be a gould laugh!

  58. jules on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:25 pm

    59. if people wouldn’t torture every girl he goes out with he might keep a girlfriend and bring her around…

  59. jules on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:27 pm

    60. why trade them linda it’s just one ego and attitude for another.

  60. vadalejrfan on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:27 pm

    61. Dale Jr.and Brad Kez in the cup cars and Danica in the 88 Nationwide car for a year and then move up to cup. All under the JR Motorsports banner. NOW THATS RACIN

  61. jules on Mon, 8th Jun 2009 7:32 pm

    62. heard i didn’t miss nothin at stupid ole pocono…figures that track needs to go..and the reds lost in 14 innings so the day stunk all around

  62. Goldie on Tue, 9th Jun 2009 11:04 pm

    63. Well, I just don’t know about this Danica situation. She seems to be a really good racer in her own league, but COT cars? She should be allowed to try if she can get a ride. Now about Dale, Jr. Everyone is trying to figure out what in the world is wrong with him. Let him be. He has a lot on his shoulders. He has got to be his own man and not be a shadow of his wonderful Father. Give him time & stick with him. I surely will….

  63. harry kimmey on Wed, 10th Jun 2009 4:00 pm

    64. ky speedway will draw the fans, a lot of these speed ways are two big and fast.watch the drivers go arround a circle. i’m sick of borring races and i know a lot of used to be fans. nascar is like goverment, they want to run the hole show, what a screw up this is. if the fans stay home ,then and only then will they change things. money talks as you know, i would like to just one race draw about 10 percent of the normal crowd. i’m not paying to see the races, just the cost of cable, not worth speed chanel or espn. if gordon ,jr. and kyle bush quit, i will donate my nascar junk to charity. most of the rest of them are the left turn boys. start up and get the bucks,put a coke in there hand and all is well.

  64. Jennifer on Thu, 11th Jun 2009 12:21 am

    65. Agree with Kathleen and Colleen. She needs to stay out of NASCAR. If grown men have difficulty handling those cars, what is a whimpy little girl going to be able to do. Danica, do all of us, and yourself, a favor…stay put and stay away.

  65. Jr's Angel on Sat, 13th Jun 2009 3:48 am

    66. That would be TOTALLY AWESOME!!! I have been waiting for Danica to come over to NASCAR for the past 3 years. And what an awesome team they would make!!!

  66. Dave on Mon, 29th Jun 2009 12:02 am

    67. I feel that if dale wants to have a female drive one of his cars that is a very good idea.That just shows that women have what it takes to win!!!!!! Dale Sr would be proud of his son

  67. Larry on Mon, 13th Jul 2009 8:55 pm

    68. NASCAR can use a good driver like Danica. To bad she would be with such a bad driver as JR.

  68. regan on Mon, 14th Sep 2009 10:35 am

    69. Her sex shouldn’t be important, just her ability but of course the fact that she’s female increases her exposure which can only be good for any team she’s with.

  69. Danica Patrick Will Be Good for NASCAR | RacingWin on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 7:04 pm

    70. [...] “It’s been a long time coming, but the stars finally aligned for me with Go Daddy and JRM,” Patrick said about her 12 race deal for 2010. “I have always said I love to drive, and if I could make it work to race in both Indy Car and NASCAR then I’d love to drive in NASCAR!” [...]

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