make her NASCAR debut this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
The IndyCar star will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet
for JR Motorsports in Saturday's second-tier Nationwide Series race.
The decision announced Monday to race at
Daytona was made after team officials dissected her stock-car racing
debut in the ARCA race at Daytona on Saturday. The team had left the
option to race up to Patrick, who wanted to assess her first race before
deciding whether to enter one of the most prestigious Nationwide races
of the season.
Patrick overcame a mid-race spin to finish
sixth.
"Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my
goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to
make sure it was the right thing to do," Patrick said in a statement.
"The ARCA race was a blast, and I'm not ready for my first Daytona
Speedweeks to end just yet. I want more racing."
Patrick had been hesitant to make her debut at
Daytona because of the top talent that race attracts. Sprint Cup drivers
have won nine of the last 10 Nationwide races here, and the lone
exception was Martin Truex Jr., who won in 2005 in JR Motorsports car.
Patrick will be joined in the field by Dale
Earnhardt Jr., her car owner. He has five wins and 10 top-10 finishes in
17 Nationwide races at Daytona.
Earnhardt will be driving JRM's flagship No.
88, while Patrick will be in the car she will drive in 13 previously
announced races. Her schedule after Daytona includes the Feb. 20 race at
California and the Feb. 27 race at Las Vegas.
"I think Danica proved to everyone that she can
compete in stock cars at a high level, and right now seat time is
extremely important," said Kelley Earnhardt, Earnhardt Jr.'s sister and the
general manager and a part owner of JRM.
"She has worked extremely hard during the past
two months for this opportunity. Her dedication and work ethic is
infectious."
JR Motorsports acquired the points from CJM
Racing to ensure Patrick a spot in the field. CJM Racing finished 15th
in the owner standings last season, but has suspended operations.