CLOSE A group of NASCAR drivers discuss the accomplishments of Danica Patrick. USA TODAY Sports
Chase Elliott (9), Kasey Kahne (95) and Danica Patrick (7) crash during Stage 2 of the 2018 Daytona 500. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Danica Patrick's NASCAR career has officially ended.
The racing star, who had announced that the Daytona 500 would be her last career NASCAR race, was caught up in a multi-car crash Sunday at Daytona International Speedway that began near the front of the field far from where Patrick was racing.
Chase Elliott tried to make a move on race leader Ryan Blaney during Lap 101 of 200 and triggered a collision that also collected pre-race favorite Brad Keselowski, former Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and David Ragan. Blaney was able to escape the carnage, but Patrick, who was racing her No. 7 car in the middle of the drafting pack, could not avoid a spinning Elliott.
And just like that, Danica Patrick's NASCAR career is over. pic.twitter.com/wCrR172RIV — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2018
"The car was a lot better than it was in the (Can-Am) Duel, a lot better than in practice," Patrick said after being checked and released from the infield care center. "(Crew chief) Tony Eury Jr. really did an awesome job. We only pulled this car together not long ago.
"I said earlier today that I feel like the whole thing was picture perfect with Go Daddy on that car and it being that green again, but it just wasn't meant to be. But I am proud, we raced the whole race, and it was competitive. That's the gamble about Daytona. It can go so well and it can go so awful.
"I'm grateful for everything. Thank you to all the fans. I still got one more. It's not stock cars, but I got one more."
Patrick will end her racing career at the Indianapolis 500 in May, where she will drive for Ed Carpenter Racing.
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PHOTOS: DANICA PATRICK'S NASCAR CAREER
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Danica Patrick’s career in NASCAR ended Sunday on a sour note with her No. 7 Chevrolet getting caught up in a Daytona 500 wreck she had nothing to do with. Her car was destroyed, and she didn’t finish her final race after eight years in the sport.
With 19 laps remaining in the second stage of the 200-lap race, Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet was running second when he made contact with Brad Keselowski – who was favored to win – and set off a large wreck that collected seven cars, including Patrick’s. She completed 101 laps.
And just like that, Danica Patrick's NASCAR career is over. pic.twitter.com/wCrR172RIV — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2018
After Patrick was evaluated and released from the in-field care center following the wreck, she summed it up simply: That’s what happens at this track.
“We weren’t the fastest car out there, but the car was competitive,” she said.
“That was important. Not the fastest car, it was definitely lethargic getting up to speed on the starts and when we checked up, but other than that it ran really well. I’m just sad that it ended that way.”
While it was her last NASCAR race, Patrick still has one more time behind the wheel before calling it a career. She will return to her racing roots and compete in IndyCar’s Indy 500 in May – a combination now called the Danica Double.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- Danica Patrick is getting ready to suit up for the final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start of her career at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. The 35-year-old will line up 28th in the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet for Sunday's Great American Race.
While Patrick has drawn support from her fans across the country, NASCAR's first woman to lead at Daytona will have a little extra motivation this time around. Joining Patrick atop her pit box for the race will be Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Before the race, Patrick posted a picture with her Super Bowl Champion boyfriend and family. Take a look below.
A post shared by Danica Patrick (@danicapatrick) on Feb 17, 2018 at 4:37pm PST
Rodgers joins Peyton Manning as NFL royalty at NASCAR's Super Bowl. Manning is set to lead in the field to green in the Toyota pace car before the race. As for Patrick, her racing career won't end completely after the checkered flag flies on Sunday; she is preparing to suit up for the Indianapolis 500 later this year.
How to watch the Daytona 500
Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Length: 200 laps/500 miles
Stage 1: Ends on lap 60
Stage 2: Ends on lap 120
Final stage: Scheduled for lap 200
TV: Fox
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Danica Patrick's final career NASCAR race will see her behind the wheel of the GoDaddy Premium Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500.
Patrick, who competed full time in NASCAR's Cup series for just over five seasons, announced her retirement from the sport at the end of last season. She said she wanted to run the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 this season as a farewell, in what has been dubbed the "Danica Double."
With funding from GoDaddy, her longtime sponsor in IndyCar and NASCAR, Patrick has the funds. She has a ride for the "Great American Race" thanks to Premium Motorsports, which has the charter from Premium's No. 15 car last year. She started 28th.
The No. 7 car number for Patrick is the same number she drove when she entered NASCAR in 2010. Her crew chief for the Daytona 500 is also a familiar face, former crew chief Tony Eury Jr.
Why is Danica Patrick retiring from NASCAR?
Patrick's NASCAR team, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), had issues with sponsorships for Patrick last season and agreed to terms with Smithfield, a meat-processing company for sponsorship in 2018. Patrick was not in Smithfield's plans, thus SHR had to part ways with the 35-year-old Patrick, who did not have a full-time sponsor lined up for this season.
Despite being in top physical shape, Patrick has acknowldeged the dangers of racing stock cars. Ahead of last season's Daytona 500 Patrick estimated she's had a dozen concussions in her career. She was candid about the state of concussions in NASCAR and praised Dale Earnhardt Jr. for leading by example.
How many wins does Danica Patrick have?
Patrick never won in NASCAR, leading 64 laps with seven top-10 finishes in just over five full seasons. Despite the mediocre finishes, Patrick has been a trailblazer in the male-dominated sport. She owns the most starts, laps led, and top 10s among women in NASCAR history.
Patrick’s Daytona 500 career is filled with history-making superlatives, as she is the first female to win a pole, lead laps and score a top-10 finish in The Great American Race. All of those came in the 2013 race.
Patrick did win the 2008 Indy Japan 300 for her only IndyCar win before making the jump to NASCAR in 2012. She is one of just 14 drivers in history to lead laps in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.
Who replaced Danica Patrick in NASCAR?
Aric Almirola and sponsor Smithfield joined SHR this season to take over the No. 10 Ford. He has one win in 244 career starts in NASCAR's top series.
