Dancia Patrick made history at Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks 2013. After becoming the first female to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup series pole, Patrick led several laps under green flag conditions during the Daytona 500, becoming the first woman to do so.
“You know, honestly when I say that I wanted to lead at some point, it was just because I was disappointed I didn’t do it off the bat like I thought I should have,” Patrick said. “So it didn’t really have to do with being a girl and leading…I think a stat that I found more interesting is only 13 people, including me now, have led Indy and Daytona. I thought that was a much cooler stat for me.”
Sunday, Patrick also accomplished another feat; Patrick showed she has the talent to be called a NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver. In her former races, Patrick had usually struggled. In 11 Sprint Cup series starts in 2012, Patrick’s best finish was 17 and she crashed out of two of those races. She never led a lap under green and was never a real threat for a win. MORE>>>
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
