After five seasons in the highest NASCAR league, the career of Danica Patrick comes to an end. But: Season 2018 planned as a farewell with Daytona 500 and Indy 500!
Withdrawal wave in the NASCAR paddock. This weekend in Homestead not only Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth compete for the last time in a race of the highest NASCAR league on the occasion of the season finale 2017. Danica Patrick also gives her farewell performance as a full-time rider.
While the farewell decision on Earnhardt Jr. has been finalized since the end of April, and Kenseth went public with the news two weeks ago, Patrick announced her decision to retire a few minutes ago at a press conference in Homestead.
"This is going to be my full time rider last season," Patrick says in tears, adding, "With regards to the team bosses and supporters of their entire NASCAR career, I thank everyone for the opportunity: Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Tony (Stewart) 'Genes (Haas) ... it's just too many.'
"I've never had sponsorship issues, but that's the way it is now, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life," said Patrick, also to her boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse, who will continue to ride for Jack Roush's team in 2018 to thank.
Season 2018 planned with Daytona 500 and Indy 500
After getting caught up in her emotional press conference, Patrick had another piece of news in store: "I'm not quite finished yet, I can say that next year I will be driving the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500. The things are not quite dry, but that's the plan, but after Indy I'll really stop. "
Patrick does not reveal yet which teams will or could do with their final farewell appearances at NASCAR in February 2018 and IndyCar Series in May 2018. Asked if it could be one and the same team, she just answers, "That's an option.
Her debut in the highest NASCAR league was Danica Patrick in the Daytona 500 of the year 2012. After a part-time season with initially ten races followed in 2013 their first full season. In this she started at the Daytona 500 from the pole position. On Sunday in Homestead, Patrick will contest her 190th race on this stage.
As with all other races before, she also competes for Stewart-Haas Racing. In her 189 races so far, Patrick has raced seven times in the Top 10, with sixth place in Atlanta 2014 being the best. The Daytona 500 in 2018 would then - for whatever team - Patricks 191st and last race in the NASCAR top league.
Prior to rising to the highest NASCAR league, Patrick spent seven years working full-time in the IndyCar series for the teams of Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti. In Motegi 2008 she won her only race there. In the 2009 season, she finished as personal best in fifth place overall.
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