Michael Waltrip Racing out of the Danica Patrick sweepstakes?
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FORT WORTH, Texas – Michael Waltrip Racing likely is out of the hunt for Danica Patrick, team vice president and general manager Ty Norris confirmed Friday.
MWR was considered one of the candidates for the IndyCar Series driver, but in the last couple of weeks JR Motorsports has emerged as the leading candidate to sign her to a NASCAR contract.
JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Wednesday that his team is still talking with Patrick. Norris’ phone, though, has been silent.
“Things have gone so silent in recent weeks for us that I guess I would have to say we don’t have a good feel that we’re part of the discussions any longer,” Norris said at Texas Motor Speedway. “We haven’t been officially told one way or the other, but we’re smart enough to understand that crickets mean something. … In recent weeks, we have had absolutely zero substantive conversations.”
Patrick, the IndyCar Series star, is expected to run a partial Nationwide Series schedule next year.
“All we ever want is an at-bat,” Norris said. “That’s all Michael Waltrip Racing ever asks for – when someone of her stature will at least consider us and look at us and then we make it as a finalist so to speak.”
