By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
Danica Patrick’s final run in NASCAR during the Daytona 500 ended up in smoke as she was involved in an accident going into the third turn.
Patrick, 35, was involved in an accident on Lap 103 that collected six other drivers. The accident began when Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet, got loose and went into the wall, collecting six other cars. Patrick was just an innocent bystander in the accident
“A superspeedway accident. That is the way it goes. I’m proud that the car was a lot better handling today than it was in the Duel. I feel like we were competitive. We weren’t the fastest car out there, but the car was competitive. That was important,” Patrick stated.
“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.”
Throughout Speedweeks, Patrick and the No. 7 team were running without a backup car. With this effort coming together in the last month of the offseason, Patrick was proud of the effort the team put in.
“The guys on the whole team did a really good job. I know we pulled this together not that long ago, a month ago. That is a tall order to get a car ready for a superspeedway that is competitive. But, it was. I said earlier today that I feel like the whole thing was picture perfect with GoDaddy on the car, and it being that green again. It just wasn’t meant to be today.”
Despite her NASCAR career ending, Patrick is grateful for her time in the sport. She was glad that her career finished with a competitive ride in the sport’s biggest race.
“Other than that, we raced it and the car was competitive. That is all you can do. That is the gamble at Daytona. It can go so well; and it can go so awful. I’m grateful for everything. Thank you to all the fans. Still have one more. It is not a stock car, but still have one more.”
Despite her short time in NASCAR, Patrick wants people to remember her career instead of how the day went.
“It’s funny Jeff Gordon and I did an SMT for FOX the other day and he said his last Daytona didn’t go well either and I was like ‘oh wow I don’t remember that’, I remember your career, so I hope that is how it is with me with everybody.”
Patrick ends her career in NASCAR with 191 starts, zero wins, seven top-10s and one pole. The final race of her racing career will be in May during the Indianapolis 500.