Danica Patrick has always been someone who is not afraid to jump a few hurdles. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver had to do just that on several occasions Sunday night during the rain-delayed marathon that was the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Patrick started 26th and went a lap down at lap 126. She had rallied into the top-20 by lap 193 and was looking for help to get back on the lead lap. She fought to be the first car a lap down, the coveted “lucky dog” spot that could put her back on the lead lap in the event of a caution. The caution flag did wave at lap 279, shortly after a restart when Kurt Busch got loose entering turn four tapping Jimmie Johnson. The contact sent Busch spinning and jammed up the field behind them. Chris Buescher hit the right rear of Patrick’s Chevy as she dove down onto the apron to avoid the slowed cars in front of her.
Although the first car a lap down, because she had stopped, NASCAR ruled that Patrick was a part of the caution and couldn’t get back on the lead lap. She pitted several times to repair damage, and restarted in the 20th when the field took the green flag. 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.
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