The Danica Patrick Future Debate – Sometimes You Wanna Go Where Everybody Knows Your

Read Loyal Homer’s argument that Danica should go to NASCAR, and Sports Geek’s that she should go to Formula 1.

• Shelley Long
• David Caruso
• Jesse Ventura
• Deion Sanders
• Danica Patrick???

Notice a trend? As far as the first four names are concerned, each realized success in a particular field, then foolishly attempted a change to a different platform – with abysmal results. I say ‘foolishly’ because they allowed a moderate level of success to fool them each into thinking that they were, for lack of a better term, bigger than they REALLY were.

For example, Shelley Long and David Caruso, after a season each on the hit TV shows Cheers and NYPD Blue, respectively, decided they would walk away from what were surely to be long and successful runs in order to pursue movie careers. Or Jesse Ventura and his transition into politics after making a name for himself in professional wrestling and TRYING to make a name for himself in acting (Predator WAS a cool movie, though). Then there’s “Neon Deion Prime-Time” Sanders, who thought that a guest spot on a Hammer video, combined with talent on the football and baseball fields, qualified him as a musician.

Now speculation exists that Danica Patrick may be considering a similar mistake.

There are two reasons why a switch from Indy to NASCAR would be worthwhile for Danica. The first is if she believed she could successfully compete against the field at Bristol, Daytona, Martinsville, or the Brickyard. Considering the fact that she is only now beginning to actually compete in standings within the IRL, though, it would seem foolish to me that she throw all that away to start anew in NASCAR.

If we’re being completely honest, Danica Patrick is not a racing powerhouse. Despite being in the IRL since 2005, her first (and ONLY) career win did not come until 2008 at the Japan 300. As for her final season standings, she has never finished better than sixth in IRL Championship standings, and is currently only in fifth place for the 2009 season.

In her defense, she has shown signs of promise. She finished third at the Indy 500 this year, and has progressively climbed higher and higher in the season standings with each year. That said, she is in no way considered to be among the elite drivers in the sport.

I think it’s safe to say that her notoriety has come more from her presence in front of a camera (click the link… you’ll thank me for it!) than it has to do with her prowess on the raceway. So, if the proverbial “IT” ain’t broke, then why try to fix it?

Reason number two to jump is if the change in some way advanced her celebrity status, which also seems an unlikely outcome. Despite a lack of consistent success on the track, Danica is still the undisputed point’s leader when it comes to celebrity standings within the league.

Think about the other names in Indy Car racing (if you can). Guys like Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, and Dan Wheldon aren’t exactly showing up on a Wheaties box any time soon. In fact, short of the racing legends that are the Andretti’s (one of which happen to be Danica’s teammates), there’s not another name in the Indy series right now more recognizable than Danica Patrick. She is, regardless of where she finishes on the track, the face of Indy racing.

If she were to make the move to NASCAR she would no longer be the standout face in the crowd. She would instead be in the same league as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. These aren’t just guys who drive cars. Each of these men (and many others like them in NASCAR) have made millions because of franchising a number! Think of all the number 24’s you see on the highway, or the jackets and ball caps you see with the number 14. The celebrities of NASCAR have built an industry for themselves that Danica Patrick could not even dream of realizing.

It is a fraternity (pardon the expression, Ms. Patrick) that is exclusive only to those who can legitimately drive on racing’s biggest stage – NASCAR. If Danica tries to make that switch, her only accomplishment will be getting lost in the pack.

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