Patrick, whose contract is set to expire soon, has already expressed to the media that she's on the hunt for new enterprises and other ways to expand her racing career, and when it comes to NASCAR, more sponsorship money and viewership is most definitely involved. Recently speaking to the media about a possible switch to NASCAR from IndyCar, Patrick has said, "One of the things I think of is the exposure level that you get in NASCAR with the ratings and viewership. Their numbers are so much larger than ours, and with that comes a bigger following, comes more popularity, comes more demand for you to endorse other products. So I think it would be an exponential sort of growth." This statement, of course, leaves the racing world wondering if she's just in it for the money, and this is one question that must be considered when sizing up the Danica Patrick dilemma that is sure to come this fall.
Patrick would undoubtedly be an explosive attention-grabber should she make the switch to NASCAR, but even her dashing looks and stellar maneuverability on the racetrack in open-wheel cars may not be enough to save her from the vicious Sprint Cup Series, which has a track record of eating alive several IndyCar-turned-NASCAR drivers. Take fellow female IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher, for example. No, Fisher doesn't have even close to the same stellar racing record as Patrick, but Fisher's recent attempt to delve into NASCAR proved highly unsuccessful; not only did she not compete in a single Sprint Cup race, but she didn't even come close to seeing a Nationwide race, either.
Fisher made a statement (and seemingly a warning to Danica Patrick) concerning her sour experience with NASCAR, saying, "It's a very tough world; it's a 'Good Old Boys' world, a 'Good Old Boys' network. To be in that without any prior experience will be extremely tough. Unless you are bringing in a pot load of money, I don't think they are going to [give you a deal] right away."
The switch to NASCAR wasn't a pleasant one for former Indy 500 victor Dario Franchitti, either. Franchitti ultimately failed to make a successful switch from IndyCar to NASCAR last year and is back in the IRL racing with Target Chip Ganassi Racing this year, already proving his sustained worth in the IRL after a year off from open-wheel racing.
Three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish, Jr. is experiencing resistance from the NASCAR realm, as well, still struggling in his second season with the Sprint Cup Series, and Juan Pablo Montoya isn't much improved, either. Is the same ill-fated future in the cards for Danica Patrick should she switch to the much more competitive NASCAR realm next year?
While this is left uncertain, the only thing for sure is that Danica Patrick would cause quite a stir with the public and with ratings should she make the leap to NASCAR, as the raved-about top female driver is already a media target. Ken Cohn, vice president of Millsport, a sponsorship consulting agency in Charlotte, N.C., recently spoke of the Danica appeal to NASCAR, saying that her celebrity influence could have a huge impact on the racing realm should she make the switch to the Sprint Cup Series next year, saying, "She's not only well known; she's well liked.
Danica entering NASCAR would certainly provide the sport with a deep level of marketing impact, and it would provide NASCAR with one of the biggest stories of the year, generating a significant amount of media coverage, consumer and fan engagement, and corporate attention." For now, though, it's still a man's world in NASCAR. The Sprint Cup Series will go on no matter what, and NASCAR tickets are still available online, Danica or no Danica.
This article is sponsored by StubHub.com. StubHub is a leader in the business of selling NASCAR tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.
Article Source: NASCAR Tickets - Danica Patrick Eyes NASCAR
Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/264660/nascar-tickets-danica-patrick-eyes-nascar
Ryan Newman Phoenix Construction Chevrolet Jeremy Clements Boudreaux s Butt Paste Chevrolet
No comments:
Post a Comment