Report: Patrick finalizing full-time Nationwide deal

Per NASCAR.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two people familiar with Danica Patrick's 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the deal won't be finished until she has secured a release from Andretti Autosport.

The talks also include her continuing to run the Indianapolis 500, one person told AP.

JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last weekend he wants Patrick to run a full Nationwide schedule with his team. She has driven 19 Nationwide races for his team the past two seasons and has six more scheduled starts this year.

"I would like for her to run full time, and I'm sure she is considering that, and I think she would enjoy it," Earnhardt said at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I feel confident that she's content where she is and happy with what we're doing. I think things are looking positive for us to put something together."

Earlier this year, Stewart said he would love to work with Patrick but only in the Sprint Cup Series. He has wanted to expand his two-car Stewart-Haas Racing organization but had no interest in fielding a Nationwide car.

"Anybody that's got a Cup team that would have the availability would jump at the chance to do something with her," Stewart said in May. "You would be crazy not to entertain an offer like that and an opportunity for her to drive a race car for you."

The potential to continue to race the Indianapolis 500 is a new wrinkle, considering JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt has said that it would be difficult for Patrick to run that race and compete for the Nationwide championship.

Running the Indy 500 requires drivers to spend most of the month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and NASCAR this year ran three Nationwide races during that span.

Patrick finished third in the 2009 Indy 500, the highest finish for a woman in open-wheel's most prestigious race. She has one career victory in IndyCar and currently is ranked 11th in the series standings. In 109 career starts, she has three poles and 20 top-fives.

Although she's winless in 19 career Nationwide races, she flirted with victory last month at Daytona, leading 13 laps before the last-lap chaos dropped her to a 10th-place finish.

"She's way ahead of the curve," Earnhardt said. "We've had the opportunity to put several drivers in that car, and her performance is right on par with all those drivers. We started out struggling and she had a steep, steep climb to go and she's really come a long way. I'm excited about what the potential is with her going forward."

This is going to kill IndyCar...

I like that she's getting a full time ride in Nationwide but i dont think she's ready for cup just yet.

No it won't. It will hurt, but not kill it.

and your 2012 Nationwide Series Champion is Danica Patrick.

I'm willing to bet she thinks she's the **** and opts for Cup points.

Danica will be the only reason to watch the Nationwide Series...for obvious reasons.

Chives5150 wrote:

This is going to kill IndyCar...

HA. They survived and thrived for almost 100 years without her, so why couldn't they survive now?

pennst24 wrote:

Chives5150 wrote:

This is going to kill IndyCar...

HA. They survived and thrived for almost 100 years without her, so why couldn't they survive now?

Their fan-base has dwindled in the last few years, and the attendance has also dropped even when Danica is racing...

Chives5150 wrote:

pennst24 wrote:

Chives5150 wrote:

This is going to kill IndyCar...

HA. They survived and thrived for almost 100 years without her, so why couldn't they survive now?

Their fan-base has dwindled in the last few years, and the attendance has also dropped even when Danica is racing...

Split, re-unification, Champ Car fanboys being utter babies........

pennst24 wrote:

Chives5150 wrote:

pennst24 wrote:

Chives5150 wrote:

This is going to kill IndyCar...

HA. They survived and thrived for almost 100 years without her, so why couldn't they survive now?

Their fan-base has dwindled in the last few years, and the attendance has also dropped even when Danica is racing...

Split, re-unification, Champ Car fanboys being utter babies........

Mhhhh, I getcha.

Nick399 wrote:

Two people familiar with Danica Patrick's 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.

Because this is much much worse than it sounds.

kensethfan wrote:

Nick399 wrote:

Two people familiar with Danica Patrick's 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.

Because this is much much worse than it sounds.

How?

Because Danica should not be in Cup until at least 2013. There are guys like Michael Annett and Justin Lofton and all them, they have more NASCAR and stock car experience than Danica and more skill, yet she gets the limited cup ride? Popularity means way too much these days.

Nick399 wrote:

Because Danica should not be in Cup until at least 2013. There are guys like Michael Annett and Justin Lofton and all them, they have more NASCAR and stock car experience than Danica and more skill, yet she gets the limited cup ride? Popularity means way too much these days.

Danica shouldn't be in the Cup Series period.

Not only that, she practically used IndyCar for her own popularity, like that isn't enough?

I agree she shouldnt be in cup next year but i think she should be in cup at some point. I know she can be good in nascar, she just needs time to gain experience.

kensethfan wrote:

Nick399 wrote:

Because Danica should not be in Cup until at least 2013. There are guys like Michael Annett and Justin Lofton and all them, they have more NASCAR and stock car experience than Danica and more skill, yet she gets the limited cup ride? Popularity means way too much these days.

Danica shouldn't be in the Cup Series period.

Not only that, she practically used IndyCar for her own popularity, like that isn't enough?

that and GoDaddy. I think my stepmom said it best when she said "Danica is making the sport a joke beacause most of her fans are males who drool over her"

Am i the only one in the whole world who wants her to succeed...

Will Legge wrote:

Am i the only one in the whole world who wants her to succeed...

I want to see her succeed too, but she's just to overhyped....

NavyCook75 wrote:

Will Legge wrote:

Am i the only one in the whole world who wants her to succeed...

I want to see her succeed too, but she's just to overhyped....

I guess i kinda agree.

Nick399 wrote:

Because Danica should not be in Cup until at least 2013. There are guys like Michael Annett and Justin Lofton and all them, they have more NASCAR and stock car experience than Danica and more skill, yet she gets the limited cup ride? Popularity means way too much these days.

This. We all know Jr. wouldn't have a Hendrick ride if he wasn't an Earnhardt.

Danica's way better than Lofton and Annett. I'm no Danica apologist, but they both suck.

Annett has been have mid-pack top-20 runs and Lofton hasn't done anything in the Trucks. I predict Danica to have a good season next year in Nationwide, but she's jumped into the deep-in by going into Cup this early.

I was just using examples. There are plenty others like Justin Allgaier who deserve a cup ride more than Smanica.

Blake Camphausen wrote:

Nick399 wrote:

Because Danica should not be in Cup until at least 2013. There are guys like Michael Annett and Justin Lofton and all them, they have more NASCAR and stock car experience than Danica and more skill, yet she gets the limited cup ride? Popularity means way too much these days.

This. We all know Jr. wouldn't have a Hendrick ride if he wasn't an Earnhardt.

Jr. wouldn't have a DEI ride if he wasn't an Earnhardt.