Danica To Make Nationwide Debut At Daytona

February 9, 2010 2:05 a.m. EST

Daytona Beach, FL, United States (AHN) - Danica Manica will remain in Daytona for another week.

On Monday Danica Patrick and JR Motorsports officially announced Patrick would make her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the No. 7 Chevrolet this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

"To be the one driving that Go Daddy car at Daytona means a lot to me," Patrick said. "Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do. The ARCA race was a blast, and I'm not ready for my first Daytona Speedweeks to end just yet. I want more racing."

Patrick, Earnhardt, and team officials convened Sunday following Patrick's Daytona ARCA race. where Patrick raced her way to an impressive sixth-place finish. Patrick's decision to make her NASCAR debut at Daytona is supported by sponsor GoDaddy.com and JRM co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Eury Jr., and Rick Hendrick.

Patrick will be a Nationwide teammate at Daytona with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet in the series' season-opener. Patrick will continue her Nationwide Series schedule on Feb. 20 at Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, CA) and Feb. 27 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Patrick is guaranteed starting positions in all three races.

"I think Danica proved to everyone that she can compete in stock cars at a high level, and right now seat time is extremely important," JR Motorsports General Manager Kelley Earnhardt said. "She has worked extremely hard during the past two months for this opportunity. Her dedication and work ethic is infectious."

Patrick ran in the front of the 80-lap race Saturday for much of the race before being bumped and sent in a slide. The IndyCar driver saved the car, pitted and raced her way back up for a respectable sixth-place finish in her first stock car start.

"This is great news to hear," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Danica put on a fantastic show for race fans last weekend. From her incredible save in the tri-oval to working her way back through the field to finish sixth, there's not a better place for her to make her first NASCAR start than Daytona International Speedway."