Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 and 75-lap Bud Shootout may likely be overshadowed by Danica Patrick’s stock car debut in the ARCA 200 on Saturday afternoon.

And it’s not just because the only woman to win an IndyCar race is also a magazine swimsuit issue pin up!

For the first time in her career Patrick feels confident to mix it up with drivers in one of the craziest races of the year known for big wrecks.


ARCA is a stepping stone for aspiring young drivers hoping to make it into NASCAR top divisions. Older drivers are trying to hold on to their careers in used NASCAR Stock Cars.

Simply add the high banked 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway oval into the mix and there is potential for multi-car wrecks!

Patrick, who qualified twelfth, says she won’t be intimidated in this unfamiliar arena.

“I’m planning to play it fair with everybody. If they give me a reason to not like them, if they give me a reason to be mad I’ll do something about it,” she said.

“These cars do have fenders. You’re not going to take yourself out, like in an IndyCar but I’m not planning to be jerk out there. That would imply I did something to someone before they did something to me. I’m out there to make friends.”

“That is unless someone gives me a reason not to like them,” she emphasised.