14 DAY TRIAL // Dale Earnhardt Jr. has stepped out to defend his competitor Danica Patrick against allegations of her being just a “marketing machine.”
Former driver Kyle Petty has issued the claim that, although Danica is a good driver who can be fast at times, she is no race car driver.
“Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can’t race. I think she’s come a long way, but she’s still not a racecar driver. And I don’t think she’s ever going to be a racecar driver,” he said.
Earnhardt responds, while speaking to Sporting News, that Danica is a force to be reckoned with.
“I have to disagree with Kyle,” he stated during the Kentucky Speedway.
He notes that Danica is a better driver than most male racers she is up against, and he praises her dedication and hard work.
“I think she’s a tough competitor. She works really hard at what she does, and she has run some really good races. On every occasion, she’s outrunning several guys on the circuit,” he says.
He argues that Kyle does not take into account her stellar track record. He stresses that she often gets better times than other competitors.
“If she was not able to compete or not able to run, finishing 10th in the Nationwide Series minimum speed or finishing in last place every week, I think you might be able to say Kyle has an argument. […] But she’s out there running competitively and running strong on several accounts,” he adds.
Kevin Harvick, who will be competing at Stewart-Haas Racing, stresses that she hasn’t been in the game for long, bringing into discussion her limited experience as a stock-car driver.
Last year, Patrick, who is sponsored by Go Daddy, finished 10th in the Nationwide Series, a record for a female driver.