Danica Patrick had a solid day throughout the entire race at Las Vagas Motor Speedway, constantly improving as the race marched on with her number 7 team. This, has always been the case, she had always seemed to get somewhat better throughout a race ever since she had started running in NASCAR's number two series, but this weekend she actually got a great finish out of it. With around 25 laps to go, Patrick was running around 10th place, which would have been enough to many fans and media that had criticized her in the past, but she would move further up as a result of smooth driving and strategy, to a top five. Yes, a top five. Fourth to be exact.
Patrick became the highest finishing woman in any NASCAR touring race after that great run.
"To be honest, I think we're making some real progress," said Patrick, who has not had a finish outside of the top 20 this season, but had a large portion of her races last season outside of the top 30. "We make progress every weekend, but it's just a matter of, are you on the lead lap and in position to take advantage by the end of the race?"
She didn't do it all by herself, however. This is, after all, a team sport. Patrick had great encouragement from TJ Majors, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Sprint Cup spotter, who kept a calm voice on the radio and helped her through her laps. Johnny Benson, former Truck Series champion, has been mentoring her the past few weeks, and has really made an impact in her learning process and driving style for the better. Don't forget Tony Eury Jr., who gave Danica a reasonable setup and pit strategy to get her up in the front.
"I think it’s huge," Tony Eury Jr. said about the positive finish. "I think it’s going to help her out tremendously"
Today Danica proved not only to her critics that she is a great race car driver, but she may have proved to herself that she can compete in NASCAR, and do it competitively. This confidence will only breed more confidence in the future for her, allowing more great finishes, and maybe, just maybe, a decision to have full time career in NASCAR.
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