Danica sets NASCAR female mark

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It took many twists and turns, but Danica Patrick made NASCAR history on Saturday.

After starting Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide Series race 16th and then going down two laps later, Patrick bounced back and finished fourth — besting Sara Christian’s 61 year record for best finish by a female in a NASCAR race (fifth at Heidelberg Raceway on Oct. 2, 1949).

“I was hoping for a top 10 today, that was my secret goal — but we got a top five!”

Patrick had consistent laps early in the 200-lap race, but found herself down a lap to then-race leader Kyle Busch, who put all but 13 drivers in the race down a lap by the 46th circuit of the race. She got back on the lead lap on Lap 68 when the race leader pitted and she stayed out during a caution, but she paid the price later as she had to pit earlier than the leader which combined with an untimely caution put her down two laps at the halfway mark of the race.

“Yeah, that sucked,” Patrick explained. “I know we missed the lucky dog a few times, and I got mad on the radio a little bit ... it’s just frustrating because it’s not just one position, it’s a whole lap. That’s a lot. We just pushed hard, knew who we had to beat and made that goal.”

Patrick made use of the wave-around rule again and eventually got the lucky-dog free pass to get back on the lead lap by Lap 141. From there, she started picking positions up one by one and broke into the top 10 with 23 laps remaining.

In the waning laps, several drivers had to pit for fuel, allowing Patrick to move all the way up to fourth when the checkered flag dropped.

“We just had a good car, that's all I can say. That's what makes a difference in these things,” said Patrick. “I know I haven't had the best results, especially in NASCAR, but we're getting them now.

“I don't think about trying to achieve the highest finish position for a female. I think about trying to win the race. If I make history, so be it.”

Patrick’s previous best career NASCAR finish came two weeks ago at Daytona International Speedway when she finished 14th. The IndyCar Series veteran is running in her second season in the Nationwide Series as a part-time driver. Today’s race was her 16th career Nationwide race.

“I never want to use that as an excuse, but I have to use it to keep my own expectations in check because I get mad when I don’t do well. That’s what I’m here to do. And when I get mad, I don’t perform as well, I’m not in as good of a mood, I’m not as friendly to people — which is important. Those statistics are important for me to remind myself, and through the process reminding everybody else that this isn’t my second year ... this is my 16th race. I’m not even halfway through a season yet. It’s good to keep that in mind. I’ll take the good days when they come, and I’ll still be frustrated with the bad ones, but it’ll keep my expectations more appropriate for the position I am in right now.

This is Patrick’s third of four consecutive races to start the NASCAR season before she switches up and goes back to her full-time role in the IndyCar Series. Following the Bristol race in two week’s time, Patrick will race in five NASCAR races during the IndyCar Season (Chicagoland on June 4, Daytona on July 1, Montreal on Aug. 20, Richmond on Sept. 9 and Kansas on October 8). She will conclude the year in NASCAR, running the last three races at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.

She is in a contract year in both IndyCar and NASCAR, and she has said she has not made a decision as far as if she will continue in both types of racing or will choose one over the other.

Mark Martin took the lead on the last lap of the race from Brad Keselowski and won. Nationwide Series regular Justin Allgaier finished second with Keselowski, who cut a tire and hit the wall in Turn 2 on the final lap, rounding out the top three.

Busch, who had the dominant car in the first half of the race, tried to go three-wide on the frontstretch and wrecked as his car went through the grass and spun out of control on Lap 131.