The 2010 racing season is officially upon us! The Rolex 24 at Daytona kicked it off Saturday, and haulers carrying stock cars will roll into DIS this week. Daytona 500 qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout headline a busy upcoming weekend. Along with the NASCAR events, the ARCA Series will open it’s season with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday afternoon. And with the names that are on the entry list for the ARCA race, SPEED may be in for record breaking ratings.
The most notable of those names on the entry list for the ARCA opener is of course, Danica Patrick. She will be making her much anticipated stock car debut under the watchful eye of Tony Eury Jr. and her new JR Motorsports team. A lot will be riding on her performance in the race, as a successful outing could lead to her being approved for the Nationwide Series race at Daytona in two weeks. NASCAR won’t be the only one watching her on Saturday though, as I’d imagine many race fans will tune in to see if the hype is really justified.
Besides Patrick, this may be one of the more interesting entry lists we’ve ever seen for a Daytona ARCA race. There are no less then six women drivers attempting the race including Patrick, Milka Duno, Alli Owens, Leilani Munter, Amber Cope, and Jennifer Jo Cobb. There is also a former Formula One driver attempting his first stock car race in the person of Nelson Piquet Jr.
The race will also feature the usual bevy of young, up and coming development drivers like Dakoda Armstrong and James Buescher, along with a mix of series veterans including Frank Kimmel and Bill Baird.
In the past, the ARCA race at Daytona has proven to be wildly unpredictable because of the inexperience of many of those competing. There are very few opportunities to run at tracks like Daytona, and many drivers log their first ever restrictor plate track time during this event.
Besides the problems with inexperience, drivers in this race sometimes have a tendency to drive over their heads in the hopes they can run well and impress the NASCAR team brass that will be in attendance. A solid performance here could lead to an opportunity to move up, or attract new sponsorship.
This combination of inexperience and over-driving has often led to dramatic wrecks, crazy finishes, and angry drivers. Something tells me this edition will be no different.
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona gets underway on Saturday afternoon at 4:30PM EST on SPEED. My only question for you is, will you be watching?
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on Jan 31st, 2010 at 11:05 pm
“Over their heads,” aye aye.
That’s a fact jack, ARCA at Daytona has always been the scene of the biggest big ones many times.
In fact I see the future…., Danica will be caught up in one, totally innocent and the haters will be out in full force talking smack.
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Yes!
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Some commercials oversensationalize wrecks to promote a race. This doesn’t happen with the Daytona ARCA race. Because commercials are only 30 seconds long, and many individual ARCA wrecks are longer.
This race is always entertaining, and this many marquee names should push it over the top if SPEED gets on board. So far, not many commercials. They’re the last to figure out what they got.
on Jan 31st, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Really looking forward to this one! I think the more women that get into the sport the better. Anything that helps grow the fan base (especially in ARCA) is just going to help with the sponsor troubles of the last few years.
Alli Owens ought to kick some rear in a Venturini car.
Dana Patrick has top notch equipment and crew. So there should be no excuses. Not saying she has to win or anything of that sort I expect a good top 15.
Braun Racing has a solid Nationwide program, so Milka Duno should be in the mix as well.
Leilani Munter in Mark Gibson equipment no idea on this one.
Jennifer Jo Cobb, ran what 20 laps last year before “engine (cough Start and part cough) trouble”
Amber Cope no comment.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 6:39 am
TC: I hope they all make the field, and that Danica is a big hit, NA$CAR needs her so I wish her the best of luck. TC
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 8:09 am
T.C. I have been a race fan for 60 years. The device has not been invented to measure my indifference to this ARCA race. It is all form and no substance. Mark it down…NOTHING longlasting will come from it.
JD
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 8:19 am
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT..I AM HOPING AT LEAST A FEW OF THE WOMEN MAKE IT IN THE SHOW…A REAL “CATFIGHT”!!!
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 8:19 am
I’m curious about what Milka is driving. She practiced with Braun Racing yet I saw her entry lists another team. I guess the journalists are concerned only about Danica.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 8:42 am
Will I be watching or caring?
Uh………..NO.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 9:25 am
Sure hope Milka is in a competitive car. She is a darkhorse for sure compared to Donica but just as good a driver. Here’s hoping she shows up Donica.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 10:58 am
Yes! Absolutely! Lorraine and I will be watching the race. Daytona is a great track and the spectacle of the young drivers negotiating such a dynamic track will be interesting. We are not Danica Patrick fans because we have no use for her products. We see her as a spokesmodel first and a well-funded driver who has at best, marginal skills at the wheel.
Lorraine and I will be watching races on television ONLY this year (not attending any events) because we both lost our jobs this past year. Yep, tough year.
I worked 24 years at my business and Lorraine was 10 years at her place. It’s going to be very sad to miss the weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway later this month.
So yes, the TV is our only way to avoid the shakes.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 11:33 am
I’ve been watching and attending Nascar since my father took me to the 1976 Daytona 500. (for obvious reasons I became a huge R Petty fan during that race even though he lost )I always knew Daytona had an ARCA event. This will be the only one I have ever made a point of watching. Should prove to be interesting hope all drivers stay safe.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Re # 10,
Aaaah, But I beg to disagree. Milka is not near the driver that Danica is. She merely has a big cash sponsor (her money) to get her a ride. If they both stay out of wrecks, Danica will kick Milka’s rear!!!
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Big ratings? Not if cable companies keep moving Speed off the basic tiers.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 8:59 pm
I have to agree with Zieke on one point. Trust me folks, Milka is not a good driver and will flounder in stocks. Head to head, Danica has her by a long eyelash. I am not DP fan by any means, but would like to see another pit wall cat fight (ie IRL Mid-Ohio).
While the talent pool amongst these two may not be much to write home about, the potential for ranting interviews may be worth the price of admission. Therefore, YES I will watch ARCA from Daytona….but come to think of it, I do each year anyway!