Racing News Digest

I am not so sure there is any knew news really about Danica Patrick and NASCAR. I did learn some new things tonight as my RSS reader was full of Danica headlines.

Like I didn’t know that Michael Waltrip had talked to her as well and it seems that he is very interested in having her come aboard. This may not be knew news, maybe I just missed it before.

“We’ve certainly talked to her and are interested in what she’s going to do,” Waltrip said. “We have sort of done that without a whole lot of people knowing. She knows we’re interested when she knows what she’s going to do.”

“I don’t know where we stand,” Waltrip said. “I’ve enjoyed talking with her and peeking inside her world a little bit. We welcome the opportunity. I’m not into who the front-runner is. I just know we could offer her a real good program.”

I don’t know why, but I don’t see Danica ending up at Michael Waltrip Racing. Maybe for the “getting her feet wet” portion of coming to NASCAR but that doesn’t really make sense either.

JR Motorsports INC owned by Dale Earnhardt JR and Rick Hendricks is another contender. Some are speculating that with the GoDaddy.com connection JR Motorsports has that would make a lot more sense.

“JR Motorsports is exploring the opportunity with Danica Patrick in NASCAR,” Kelley Earnhardt said in a statement. “There is a natural fit at JRM with Dale Jr. and Danica both serving as spokespersons for GoDaddy.com.

“As a female managing one of the top Nationwide Series teams in the sport, I would be excited to have Danica within the JR Motorsports fold if she decides to enter the world of NASCAR.”

Mark Martin will be sponsored by GoDaddy.com next year in 20 races.

But here is an interesting thought. I believe Mark Martin just renewed his contract for 2 years. Danica, while it has not been made official yet, has reportedly signed her IRL contract that is good for the next 3 years.

So here is how I see this whole thing unfolding.

Danica will race for JR Motorsports in a limited Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series schedule in 2010 and 2011 when she is not racing in the IRL. This will also include ARCA races when possible.

When 2012 comes around Mark Martin will agree to run a limited Sprint Cup schedule to finish his career. He will race in the races that Danica can not race in due to her IRL obligation.

When 2013 rolls around Danica Patrick will leave the IRL and come full time to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing in the #5 GoDaddy.com Hendrick machine.

Now I am wondering if Hendrick asked Mark Martin to stick around for another 2-3 years so that Danica could get her feet wet before she came aboard full-time.