After winning the pole for the Daytona 500 last Sunday, the focus has been on Danica Patrick and how she will do this Budweiser Speedweeks. She entered the Nationwide race in a car field by Turner Scott Motorsports, however was out of the race on lap 34, she would go to the garage with engine problems.
“Well, I guess before I just shut down and lost power, I was slowing down,” she said. “It felt like the revs were right but when I was lost the pack, couldn’t catch back up. I couldn’t keep up with Tony back there; I knew something was wrong. It’s fun doing these Nationwide races. It’s a bummer for Turner Scott Motorsports.”
Patrick started the race in 12th, and made her way to the front of the field, leading on lap eight. She will now focus on leading the field to the green flag in the Daytona 500.
“It’s going to be fun,” she said. “I’m going to be nervous leading that incredible field to the green flag. We’ll try and be smooth and make it to the end.”
50 laps into the race, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch lead the field, ahead of Justin Allgaier and Michael Annett. There have been two cautions. The first came on lap nine for Scott Lagasse Jr. spinning out of the pack as he tried to slide down in front of Bayne. The second came on lap 34 for Elliott Sadler barely getting into Regan Smith, sending him for a spin. Juan Carlos Blum spins behind, hitting inside wall.
