FORT WORTH, Texas – While the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winds down to the last three races of the 2018 season, NASCAR’s current female driver Danica Patrick just might be competing in her last-ever race at Texas Motor Speedway next Sunday at the AAA Texas 500.
Patrick, who drives the No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion for Stewart Haas Racing, announced a few months ago that she will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing next season, possibly ending her racing career after five years as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver.
When the green flag waves Sunday at 1 p.m. to start the AAA Texas 500 it just may be the final time race fans get to see Patrick race at the 1.5-mile speedway.
The 35-year old Patrick said that despite not having a contract for 2018, she is looking forward to returning to Texas to compete on the newly paved and reconfigured speedway.
“Since it was repaved and before we got there last time, it changed a lot.” Patrick said. “I would say it was probably one of the hardest races I’ve ever done in a stock car. Hopefully it is not quite as narrow of a lane as last time.”
The AAA Texas 500 will mark Patrick’s 188th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start and 11th Cup race at TMS. She has raced 12 other times at Texas (eight Verizon IndyCar Series and four NASCAR XFINITY Series races).
This year Patrick has struggled and is ranked 28th in the standings, which is the worst of her NASCAR Cup career.
“I work really hard and I have really good people around me who believe in me,” Patrick said. “You got to love and want to do whatever it is what you are doing and have your whole heart in it or else you probably won’t make it happen or you are not going to give yourself the opportunity to show what you can do.”
Patrick said that she really is not sure what her plans are going to be for 2018. She is leaving her options open and will make a decision following the conclusion of the racing season.
“It’s a matter of evaluating options and really being honest about what makes the most sense or what’s going to feel good or what I want to do or really be the kind of architect of my life,” Patrick said. “Everything that I’ve got my hand in now whether it be my wine or clothing or workouts, foods, recipes or things like that are all things that I am interested in.”
Patrick said she has not ruled out running part time in either NASCAR or the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2018. However, she said that she would prefer a full-time commitment with a race team, preferably in NASCAR.
“Would I consider running a partial schedule? Not really, but never say never,” Patrick said. “I feel like I am an all-in person. I am 35-years old, but I never say never. You never know how life is going to evolve and change and what opportunities are going to come and feel right. You got to evaluate it as it comes.
“Really what you are looking at and not necessarily the free-agent market being tight and nowhere to go or nothing to do really falls back on money,” Patrick said. “That’s what it really comes down to. There’s a spot for everyone if there’s enough money.”
Despite her recent racing struggles, Patrick said she has fond memories racing at TMS in both INDYCAR and NASCAR. She said her most memorable race was in 2010 at the Firestone 550k race when she finished second to race-winner Ryan Briscoe.
“It was the end of the race and it was Briscoe and I came out from a pit stop in the lead,” Patrick said. “It was the last run and I wasn’t fast enough and I was wide open on the bottom and he drove around me. I almost had that one and I finished second. That was probably my most special Texas memory.”
Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said Patrick’s presence and legacy in racing has left an impressive mark in both INDYCAR and NASCAR.
“Danica has been tremendously important to INDYCAR and NASCAR,” Gossage said. “When you look at pits and stands you see a lot of women and particularly a lot of young girls that are wearing a lot of Danica Patrick merchandise, hats, t-shirts, jackets and things. It’s given them something to pull for and I think it has given these young girls to find someone that they can say, ‘I can do that.’ Who knows, Danica could be inspiring someone who could be the next Danica Patrick.”
Gossage added, “Danica is so important to our sport and it would be a big loss for us. I hope she winds up back in a car in NASCAR next year.”
Danica Patrick’s NASCAR accomplishments:
*Became the first woman to win a NASCAR Cup Series pole when she set the fastest time in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500.
*Led laps 90 to 91 of the 2013 Daytona 500, becoming the first female to lead NASCAR’s most prestigious race. She also led laps 127 to 129.
*Became the first woman to lead a NASCAR race under green (Daytona 2013). Janet Guthrie led five laps under yellow in 1977 at Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway.
*Finished 2013 Daytona 500 in eighth place, the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the “Great American Race.”
*Finished 10th in 2012 Xfinity Series points, the highest points finish by a woman in the history of NASCAR’s top three series (Cup, Xfinity, Truck).
*Competed in every NASCAR Cup Series race in 2013, becoming the first female driver to complete an entire season in the series.
*Became the first female to compete in the non-points NASCAR All-Star race (2013) and Sprint Unlimited (2014).
*Has the most starts of any female in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
*With seven top-10 finishes, holds the record for the most top-10 finishes of any female in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
IndyCar accomplishments:
*Patrick became the first woman to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series in April 2008 by winning the IndyCar Series Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan.
*In seven Indianapolis 500 starts, Patrick finished in the top-10 six times, including a third-place result in 2009, the best finish ever for a woman in the historic race.
