Yes, Danica Patrick is a girl, but she’s no sissy
Jeff Owens
Jeff Owens has been covering NASCAR since 1991 and began covering the circuit full time in 1993. He has been with Street & Smith's Sports Group since 1998.
Danica Patrick reminds me of one of those Tomboys – although a pretty attractive Tomboy – who is not only good enough to play against the boys but who is hell-bent on standing her ground and not allowing them to intimidate her.
She’s quickly proving that she can not only race with the boys in NASCAR, but that she will go toe-to-toe with them when it comes to rubbing fenders and trading barbs (barbs, not Barbies).
Though Patrick’s first three NASCAR races didn’t exactly net impressive results, she showed one thing at Las Vegas last week that should excite fans.
Some spunk.
When Patrick got wrecked by Michael McDowell during the Nationwide Series race, Danica didn’t hesitate to take him to task in her post-crash television interview.
“I guess I should have seen all the tape on the left-rear bumper and said I shouldn’t have been on his left-rear bumper,” Patrick barked.
“Sure enough, he turned down and took us both out. … Unfortunately, I got caught in a bad situation with a driver who wasn’t looking.”
Patrick’s snide, sarcastic remarks had some bite to them, showing that she’s not about to get run over on the track without lashing out and fighting back.
She reminded me of fiery stars like Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya, all drivers who have a knack for ripping other drivers – in the case of Montoya, even his own teammate – when they feel they have been wronged on the tack.
Patrick has shown in IndyCar racing that she has a temper and an edge, and she’s not afraid to show it, regardless of whom she attacks or who it riles.
It’s good to see her bringing that spunk to NASCAR.
She’s might be all girl – as her looks attest – but she’s no sissy.
