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SPORTS Wednesday 14 February 2018

Danica 2.0? NASCAR searching for more female drivers

By MARK LONG me, the biggest challenge
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) has always been finding
— Danica Patrick and Nat- sponsorship."
alie Decker shared a hug That's the case for every
and a little chitchat as they driver, regardless of gen-
crossed paths at Daytona der, age or ethnicity.
International Speedway A lack of sponsorship ulti-
last week. mately cost Patrick, once
They wished each other among the most market-
luck in their respective able drivers in motorsports,
races during the brief ex- her ride at Stewart-Haas
change. Racing last season. Patrick,
Decker probably could 35, is making her final NAS-
have tossed in a hearty CAR start at the Daytona
"thank you." 500 and will end her rac-
Although Patrick's NASCAR ing career altogether after
success never matched returning to IndyCar and
the attention she received competing in the Indianap-
for standing out in a male- olis 500 in May.
dominated sport, her six- "I think Danica being out
year stint in the Cup Series there definitely has plant-
seemingly set the ground- ed the seed in a lot of little
work for other women to girls across the country that
follow. are now thinking about be-
"There's so many younger coming the next female
girls that are fast — they're NASCAR driver," Munter Leilani Munter, left, and pole sitter Natalie Decker, right, share a laugh before the start of the ARCA
like 10 years old, 12 years said. "There's going to be auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
old — and they're racing a lot more women coming Associated Press
everything and anything," into the sport."
said the 19-year-old Deck- It might take some time. to be made that they're is winless in 34 starts. And and gives them what they
er, who started on the pole There are no women in the not getting those seats at Julia Landauer is winless in need, puts them in the right
and finished fifth in the second-tier Xfinity Series this the expense of people like 30 starts. scenario.
ARCA Series season opener season, and 44-year-old Danica getting those seats. Fellow notables Mackena “Perhaps it’s a little bit
at Daytona. "Dirt cars, go- Jennifer Jo Cobb is the only And that's not necessar- Bell and Dominique Van harder for me just based on
karts, full-size cars already. woman racing full time in ily healthy. ... It seems like Wieringen also are looking history, but I’ve had great
They're coming up and the Truck Series. there's not a lot of people for that breakthrough vic- opportunities as a driver.
they're going to be here Patrick's legacy might be that can see both sides. I tory. Some times have been
faster than you know it." better measured years know that, but I think it's im- Patrick took a different better than others, but that
Probably not fast enough from now, long after peo- portant to see both sides." path, making the jump to could probably be said
to avoid having an all-male ple stop debating whether The question is: Who will be NASCAR after seven years for every single driver out
Cup lineup in 2019. she even belonged in the Danica 2.0? and one victory in the there.”
But several female drivers Cup Series. The 2017-18 NASCAR Next open-wheel IndyCar Series. While it’s unclear when the
believe Patrick will end up "There's no doubt that she class includes a female Patrick said the “trickle- next female driver will make
playing as prominent a role brought more eyes on NAS- driver for the fourth consec- down effect” from her ca- it to NASCAR’s biggest
in NASCAR history as trail- CAR and continues to bring utive year. Hailie Deegan, reer “is what it is,” declining stage, there are encour-
blazers Janet Guthrie and more eyes on NASCAR from 16, is the youngest in the to delve too deep into her aging numbers of women
Shawna Robinson. maybe the typical stereo- group, which is identified long-term impact on rac- working in other areas.
"Let's face it: Racing has type, which is good," said by a panel of industry insid- ing. Munter had two women on
been a man's sport for 2012 Cup Series champion ers as the next wave of driv- “You have to get a team her pit crew for the ARCA
many, many years, and Brad Keselowski, who cred- ers with a chance at be- behind you, to believe in race, and two Monster
there's been very few wom- ited Patrick for "clawing her coming NASCAR stars, and you,” she said. “Maybe Energy Cup teams have
en that have ever made way" to the top. "But then will challenge for rookie of it’s a little harder because women in key positions.
it to the top level," said on the flip side, when you the year honors in the West women have not proved Andrea Mueller is a lead
43-year-old Leilani Munter, look at it from just a pure division of the NASCAR K&N themselves as much as engineer at Penske Racing,
a part-time driver in the 'Who's the best racer in the Pro Series. men, but every driver has and Alba Colon is director
ARCA Series since 2010. "Of world that doesn't have Deegan will try to do what to prove themselves to of competition systems at
those, very few girls have a Cup ride that wants to none of her predecessors their team, so there’s still Hendrick Motorsports. The
actually had an opportu- have a Cup ride,' those are has done: win in the de- that responsibility, and that more prominent role — the
nity to run full time. To get the people that you hope velopmental series. Kenzie challenge is still at hand for one Patrick has filled for six
a win, you need to be out kind of get the empty seats. Ruston Hemric is winless in every single driver to find a years — is missing. At least
there on a regular basis. For "I think there's an argument 44 K&N starts. Nicole Behar group that believes in them for now. q