Just about everyone -- including Danica Patrick -- was expecting her to struggle at Martinsville Speedway. Instead, with a spirited 12th-place finish it offered her reassurance that she belongs in NASCAR’s premier series.
NASCAR Texas 2013: Martinsville has Danica Patrick feeling confident, but realistic
A 12th-place finish at Martinsville has Danica Patrick confident, but she’s also realistic about the challenges ahead.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
“I think it’s a nice reminder sometimes that I can drive a race car,” Patrick said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. “Sometimes you get a little down on yourself and it’s those days that help bring it back.”
Martinsville was Patrick’s best finish since being scored eighth in the season-opening Daytona 500 and followed a rough four-race stretch where her best result was 26th and she failed to finish on the same lap as the leaders.
While rejoicing in her accomplishment, Patrick was doing her best to keep an even keel. In a season that stretches from February to November she recognizes that inevitably there will be ups and downs.
“Driving a race car, I’m supposed to go fast and I’m supposed to have good results,” Patrick said. “We just know that we are going to have those days and we know that we are going to have days like (Las) Vegas where it’s just a very trying day.”
Patrick did say that Sunday was a confidence booster and underlined the importance of approaching each weekend with a positive attitude. This is especially true when competing on a track like Martinsville, which historically has been a challenge for rookies to figure out.
As is typical whenever the Cup circuit travels to Martinsville, the racing can often be physical and that was again the case last weekend. And Patrick herself was involved in a couple of altercations, most notably with Brian Vickers.
Late in the race Vickers pushed Patrick into the side of Dale Earnhardt Jr., which sent the No. 88 car into a spin. And the two had another exchange as the two raced to the checkered flag, one that also involved Kevin Harvick.
When the race was over, Harvick expressed his displeasure with how Vickers raced Patrick and himself by intentionally spinning him. It was a gesture Patrick appreciated.
“I said thanks because it looked like he was giving me a hand there with someone that was a little upset,” Patrick said. “He (Harvick) was a little upset with him (Vickers) too. I think there were a lot of people upset with Vickers after Martinsville.”
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