Danica Patrick is looking to change her recent fortune at Sunday’s STP Gas Booster 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. This weekend Danica Patrick will add her name to history as she will become the first female driver to ever qualify for and race at Martinsville.
But Danica Patrick is focused on doing more than just showing up. Patrick prepared for Martinsville by testing last month at “Little Rock,” a purpose-built test track in Rockingham, N.C., designed to feature the characteristics of Martinsville.
But as the great Clark Griswold once said: “It’s all part of the experience.”
Yes, he is great. Quite possibly the greatest Chicago Blackhawks fan of all time.
DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
What are your overall thoughts on Martinsville?
“I am actually really excited about Martinsville. I like the little short tracks. They’re fun. We’re going to be close racing a lot of the time. We went testing out at Little Rock (Rockingham, N.C.) and got a feel for a track like Martinsville. I thought we actually made some really big gains that day. It was fun. Is there time to look down at your water and oil temperatures? No, there’s not. I think it will be fun and I had no idea that a woman had not competed at Martinsville (in Sprint Cup), but I guess these are things I’ll find out along the way.”
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of visitors. He’s an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)