By Gretchen Mashburn
“He has that old school
mentality, that women should be at home flipping pancakes and ironing clothes.”
This
was my friend’s reaction when I read her the headline earlier this week. To say
Richard Petty said a mouthful would be a huge understatement. The King pissed
off more than a few women when the quote hit the internet. I’ll give it to the
interviewer; that was a great attention getting headline. He actually said that
the only way Danica Patrick would win in Sprint Cup was “if everybody else
stayed home.” The King went on to say, "If she'd have been male, nobody would ever know if she'd showed up at a race track". This was during his trip to Toronto this past weekend. He was speaking to wheels.ca, a Canadian automotive website.
I personally think a lot of women's knee-jerk reaction to the headlline was much like my friend's reaction. Outrage. Shock. Rage. But, was it true, what Richard said?
DP only won one race in Indy Car; a fuel mileage race in Tokyo. She has won zero races in any NASCAR series event. She finished 27th in points, only two spots ahead of her boss, who missed the last three plus months of the season after breaking his leg. The fact is that Danica, on paper, is not giving anyone the ammunition to dispute Richard's comments.
Personally, I think he is wrong about her. I think she will win. I think she can run with the boys. I think Tony Stewart will not let her fail. I think her two new teammates will provide her with a wealth of knowledge. I think the fact that she drives for SHR is her biggest asset. She is in a prime position to win in Sprint Cup. I think she will prove Richard wrong. We shall see.
I personally think a lot of women's knee-jerk reaction to the headlline was much like my friend's reaction. Outrage. Shock. Rage. But, was it true, what Richard said?
DP only won one race in Indy Car; a fuel mileage race in Tokyo. She has won zero races in any NASCAR series event. She finished 27th in points, only two spots ahead of her boss, who missed the last three plus months of the season after breaking his leg. The fact is that Danica, on paper, is not giving anyone the ammunition to dispute Richard's comments.
Personally, I think he is wrong about her. I think she will win. I think she can run with the boys. I think Tony Stewart will not let her fail. I think her two new teammates will provide her with a wealth of knowledge. I think the fact that she drives for SHR is her biggest asset. She is in a prime position to win in Sprint Cup. I think she will prove Richard wrong. We shall see.
I'm sorry to say G but Richard may be right. She is in great equipment, has a great crew chief, and yes great teammates. But I really question whether she can win. True it is her second season, there better be some serious improvement here or her seat may be lost.
ReplyDeleteHey even Mikey and Kyle won a race or two.
ReplyDeletethe ONLY way she will win is if she steals Jimmie Johnson's horeshoe that's stuck up his a## or lucks into a rain delay OR she runs 43rd at Talledega when Stewart starts the BIG ONE and it collects 42 cars....I'm just sayin'
ReplyDeleteI agree that she CAN win a race. But for all that Mark & Fan #5 said, I don't think it will happen. I also think the one big thing that is, and will to continue to stand in her way is, that she is afraid to take chances and afraid of getting hurt.I won't say she has no guts, yet, but it's close, imo.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she can win. She can run with the guys but she can't out race them. She just doesn't have the skills to do it.
ReplyDeleteI think she can win, will she is another thing. Like Dave said she has to learn to take chances. She as much talented as anybody out there.
ReplyDelete