ESPN.com reports that Danica Patrick will be racing in the Nationwide Series next weekend

by 4ever3 on Feb 8, 2010 12:40 AM EST Comment 4 comments

2009 Daytona Dec ARCA Test Danica Patrick Tony Eury Jr via nascar-assets.americaneagle.com

David Newton at ESPN.com has reported that he has learned through sources that Danica Patrick will be racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race next weekend at Daytona.

The full story can be found here.

The article is a little unclear when it is talking about Danica racing at Daytona and keeping Kelly Bires out of the car as a result, as well as possibly costing someone a potential Championship run due to an error on her part. I can only assume that David is referring to this as it pertains to the Nationwide Series and not the ARCA Series as I believe that Kelly is not running ARCA this year.

Man you really have got to feel for Kelly if he does have to give up his ride for Danica next week.

Update: It would appear that the ride was never Bires' to give up anyway. It still sucks to be in Bires' situation though and I would imagine that in this economy Bires might not be the only one at some point this season that is on the outside looking in.

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The issue with Kelly Bires...

…is that he was slated to drive the #88 until Hellman’s decided they wanted Junior to drive. At that point, Bires was offered the #7, which would be fine for him for the driver’s championship because he’d still accrue points; but that offer was contingent upon whether Danica decided to drive or not.

So technically, it is Junior who is responsible for Bires sitting on the sidelines for the Nationwide Series opener. But that doesn’t make it any less bitter of a pill for me to swallow.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!

by Tony Johns on Feb 8, 2010 12:45 AM EST reply actions

Bires

Actually “technically” it was Hellman’s that put all of them into this situation.
Hellman’s wants JR. in the car.

Hellman’s signed on to sponsor Kelly at the end of last year.They then decided they wanted Jr. in the car.Sounds to me that they threatened to pull the sponsorship if he didn’t as Jr. is also slated to drive the car again later on.

In tough economic times, it’s hard for an owner to flip a sponsor the bird, sponsor’s now run these teams instead of the owners.

Back in the day had this happened to say Juinor Johnson, he would’ve told Hellman’s to go straight to Hell.Either step up an back the guy you signed onto back or get the out of here.

by bthebreeze on Feb 8, 2010 1:41 AM EST reply actions

Now You See

I hadn’t paid much attention to that whole situation earlier. I imagine that Kelly isn’t going to be the only driver this year that ends up running altered schedules due to sponsorship wishes/demands.

by 4ever3 on Feb 8, 2010 1:52 AM EST reply actions

I thought Bires couldn’t drive Daytona because of lack of track time. News to me.

I was so looking forward to the Nationwide race. Now I have to watch up to the minute “Where’s Danica” alerts. I know that we have a battle for the lead, but Danica is passing Stanton Barrett for 19th! Patrick isn’t even the only woman in the race this weekend. Chrissy Wallace is driving the 41 Rick Ware Motorsports Chevy. The ARCA race was unbearable.

by Troy J. on Feb 9, 2010 3:19 PM EST reply actions