Danica Patrick took the high
road today in her response to criticism from former driver-turned TV analyst
Kyle Petty today, saying, “There
are plenty of people who say really bad things about me.”
Petty ignited a firestorm of controversy Thursday, saying on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub that Patrick “has
been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs.
She can go fast, but she can't race.”
While the Stewart Haas Racing
rookie clearly disagreed with Petty’s assessment, she declined to be lured into
a war of words.
"I think it's funny how
he said I can qualify (but) I can't race,” she said. “Those of you who actually
watch what I do know I can't qualify for crap, and in the race things go much
better. It's a little bit funny.”
Patrick said she long ago
accepted the fact that some people don’t like her, and never will.
"I really don't care,” she said. “There are plenty of people who say
really bad things about me. People want me to die. You get over that stuff.”
She also said she prefers to simply tune-out the negativity and focus on those
who are in her corner.
"Do you really think I
will silence (my) naysayers?” she asked. “Every driver has them. You surround
yourself with people that believe in you.''
Does anybody care what Kyle Petty says or thinks?
ReplyDeleteGo Danica. I for one think you can do it.
ReplyDeleteKyle Kyle Kyle. You had better look in the mirror before making comments like this. If Richard Petty had made these comments, I would be more likely to take them to heart.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Danica.
Go Danika. All you can do is your best and I see you are. Congrads on your running so far.....keep up the hard work! Good Luck
ReplyDeleteI think Danica is awfully nice....is certainly marketable and cannot race worth a darn! Having said that I would love for her to succed and prove me wrong. I just do not think she has what it takes.
ReplyDeleteSon of a legend and was literally born into stock car racing yet won 8 times in 30 years of premier series racing. Granted it's currently 8 more than Danica's won but hardly a HOF body of work.
ReplyDeleteAnd unlike his dad, Kyle never had a top tier ride - yet came pretty close to winning the Cup once or twice.
DeleteI personally don't care for Danica, she gets more publicity that some drivers do, simple because of being female. I think she is a cry baby, a lot like Rusty Wallace was. Can she race, sure she can, will she ever be a NASCAR champion, highly doubt it. But she sure won't the only one. Kyle says what's on his mind and I respect him for that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kyle. Danica is nothing more than an advertising gimmick. She does an average job by herself, qualifying and running by herself in the back of the pack, but it just seems like she doesn't know how or what to do in side by side racing. She wasn't that great in Indy cars either! One win in a rain shortened race? By the way, Kyle Petty is the first to admit that he wasn't a very good driver!
ReplyDeleteRichard made his comment years ago."Women don't belong in the pits more less driving"
ReplyDeleteShe's finally learned to just "shut up and drive"!
ReplyDeleteThe only issue I have with Danica is how each network that covers a race seems to find a way to talk about her at some point during the race no matter what place she is in. The same cannot be said for any other driver who is running one position ahead or one position behind her. Does she move the needle and is she marketable? Sure. That’s fine but why talk about someone who is 27 in the points or running 20+ in a race. Currently she is a non-factor in the Nascar world. That may change over time but right now she just isn’t everything she’s been blown up to be. The proof is in her results on the track. (MB)
ReplyDeleteYou take all the Nation wide drivers stats over the last 3 years and have no name next to the stats -----and tell me who is going to pick Danica to be there driver on her merit.....Ricky Stenhouse had to win 2 nation wide championships to move up Truex the same--Danica has done nothing to earn the ride she has....She will only be in the sport as long as Go daddy is giving her money
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest. "The King" got 3/4 of his wins showing up at tracks where there was 1 or 2 cars as anywhere close to his. In most cup races 5-7 were legit. Nothing like today. Danica is sexy and handles herself well with fans/ media. Can't blame go daddy cause they're getting alot of advertising and SHM is getting alot of $$$. After all this is a business.
ReplyDeleteHow do the Danica fans explain her lack of winning on every professional level she has competed on?
ReplyDeleteAt least Kyle can say he won the first time he raced a stock car, at Daytona no less.
None of the "I don't care for Danica" naysayers understand one important aspect of Danica's being mentioned; it's good for the sport, she has piqued the interest of the sports departments of the papers in covering NASCAR again, and she gets WOMEN to watch, something this sport badly needs or it's going to become like frag racing, unmentioned and never broadcast in prime time.
ReplyDeleteThose of you that dislike her don't understand she opened a door and you can't close it.
People have brought that up, but the fact is she's fools gold. Just look at the lasting impact she had in Indy cars, the same will hold true in NASCAR.
DeleteIt's people like you who overestimate her importance and lasting effect on the sport. She needs to be a winner to truly open doors and up to this point she hasn't been close to that.
Right now she is just an over-hyped backmarker.