Bet on it: John Wes Townley will outperform Danica Patrick
So Danica Patrick – actually, we might as well just call her “Danica,” because she’s such a superstar that she only needs one name – finally announced she’s coming to NASCAR.
Apparently the mystery of whether she would or wouldn’t could only last so long; the overload of hype for a driver who has never competitively raced in NASCAR was getting a bit annoying for fans.
Danica was on the cover of NASCAR Scene in May with the headline “Her Time is Now.”
Seven months later, it actually is.
But time for what, exactly? With little stock-car experience, Danica stands virtually no chance of being competitive in the Nationwide Series next year – regardless of how good her equipment at JR Motorsports may be.
Far more talented open-wheel drivers than she have tried NASCAR – and struggled or outright failed (see: IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti).
So the expectations for a driver who has won just one IndyCar race in 82 starts – a fuel-mileage race, at that – and doesn’t have any feel for stock cars have to be incredibly low.
In my opinion, Danica will struggle so much that she’ll be out-run by John Wes Townley.
There, I said it. The driver I previously called the worst in NASCAR and who has been nicknamed John “Wrecks” Townley by some will perform better than Danica in more than half of the head-to-head races they run.
I’m so confident that I’m putting $100 on it. The money goes to Victory Junction Gang Camp if I’m wrong.
I extended a similar offer on Twitter: Let’s turn this debate into a charity benefit. If you want to join in, leave your pledge in the comments section below with three things: Your pick, the amount you want to pledge and your charity.
If you’re wrong, you pay up at the end of the 2010 season (of course, it would be nice if you paid up anyway, but this is the honor system).
Will Townley, now driving for Richard Childress Racing, finish ahead of Danica more often than not? Or will Danica prove me wrong and bring a cash infusion to some worthy charities?
Here’s a list of those who have joined in so far, with their Twitter name, pledge and charity:
Betting on Townley (40 people pledge $3,050.25 for 16 charities if they’re wrong):
Deannalford – $200 to Medellin Seminary for student scholarships
Dhamsbiggestfan – $111.11 to Denny Hamlin Foundation
Jonathan_howe – $110 to One Day’s Wages
Jeff_Gluck – $100 to Victory Junction
Tjensen100 – $100 to Autism Society
Nascarwriter – $100 to Victory Junction
Lenac03 – $100 to Denny Hamlin Foundation
Jen_416 – $100 to Kasey Kahne Foundation
Dianeinla – $100 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Sunsfanok – $100 to Victory Junction
NoClueNPepsi – $100 to Jeff Gordon Foundation
DSVert – $100 to Victory Junction
AllisonSoloway – $100 to Victory Junction
TiffanieCarlson – $100 to Victory Junction
Tigergoesroar – $100 to Victory Junction
24space48 – $100 to Greg Biffle Foundation
terisummerfield – $100 to undecided
mrh37 – $100 to So Others Might Eat
Scrapgirl933 – $100 to undecided
Aa15h39 – $100 to Victory Junction
Thunderlounge – $100 to Victory Junction
Lory40 – $100 to American Cancer Society
Phillyfan17 – $100 to Victory Junction
Smokegurl14 – $100 to Victory Junction
amie_88 – $50 to Greg Biffle Foundation, $50 to Ryan Newman Foundation
Tony14fan – $50 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Shellastew – $50 to NASCAR Foundation
DazedDaily – $50 to undecided
Becki_1218 – $50 to Victory Junction
VeganGymmie – $45 to Victory Junction
Jr88freak – $25 to Dale Jr Foundation
AmandaLouWho – $25 to Victory Junction
Jpreston43 – $25 to Victory Junction
Wackostu – $25 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Mtwins – $20 to Victory Junction
Uwila – $20 to Victory Junction
AngelaMarie26 – $20 to Ryan Newman Foundation
GoDale13 – $10 to Victory Junction
RobinDuffie – $5 to Victory Junction, $5 to Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation
RedChevy14 – $4.14 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Betting on Danica (17 people pledge $1,185 for six charities if they’re wrong):
TheSpeedZone – $100 to Greg Biffle Foundation
Spunk72 – $100 to Victory Junction
Roadie6 – $100 to Victory Junction
Dcumbow – $100 to Victory Junction
Stevemichalik – $100 to Kyle Busch Foundation
Becbeat555 – $100 to Victory Junction
Robsanx – $100 to Greg Biffle Foundation
MsHarleyLuxury – $100 to Victory Junction
Ancienthacker – $100 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Hogfan1980 – $50 to Victory Junction
Kicknthetires – $50 to Victory Junction
Girlwithneedles – $50 to Tony Stewart Foundation
Mmar0260185 – $25 to Greg Biffle Foundation, 25 to Hendrick Marrow Program
Canadian_Speed – $25 to Second String Santa of Charlotte
Ericasberry – $50 to American Diabetes Association
Peggyracer3 – $25 to Victory Junction
RvNGrammy – $10 to Victory Junction
