JR Motorsports plans to race No. 7 Nationwide car all season to ensure Danica Patrick has guaranteed spot when she returns

By Bob Pockrass

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Danica Patrick has already generated many headlines in NASCAR, but some fans resent the hype surrounding the Nationwide Series rookie.

Danica Patrick hopes to have a guaranteed starting spot when she returns to JR Motorsports and the Nationwide Series in June.

Stephen Dunn
Getty Images for NASCAR

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports will try to run the No. 7 car for the entire 2010 Nationwide Series season in hopes of keeping a guaranteed starting spot for Danica Patrick when she returns to the series in June.

The car – currently 35th in owner points – must enter every race and be in the top 30 in owner points for Patrick to have guaranteed a spot and be locked into the field. The IndyCar Series star competed in the first three Nationwide events and will run in 10 more this season.

Scott Wimmer, who drove in six races for JRM last season, will drive the car in the upcoming races at Bristol and Nashville. Wimmer won the race in Nashville two years ago.

Wimmer will be a teammate of Kelly Bires, who was replaced by Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car for the season-opener at Daytona but is expected to run the remainder of the year. The team has announced only partial-season sponsorships for both cars this year.

“This is something we’ve been considering for a while now, and the bottom line is the No. 7 car is too good not to be at the race track,” said JRM co-owner and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. “Our goal at JR Motorsports has always been to have two full-time Nationwide Series teams competing every week.

“Our sponsorship situation with the No. 88 has shown significant progress, and hopefully we’ll have announcements soon. We’ll work just as hard to get the No. 7 fully funded.”

Wimmer, who had two top-10s for JRM last year, has not competed in a race this season.

“It’s great to be back with a familiar team,” Wimmer said. “I raced with JR Motorsports in a select number of races last year, but this will be my first time working with Tony Jr.

“He’s had a lot of success, so I’m really looking forward to working with him. The JRM equipment is some of the best you can find. As a driver it’s great to know you have that kind of infrastructure and support. I’m looking forward to the next two races with these guys.”