Notebook: Patrick feeling the effects of inactivity

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 9, 2010)

JOLIET, Ill.—Two weeks ago at New Hampshire, Danica Patrick dismissed the notion that infrequent participation in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series might have a significant adverse effect on her performance.

“I really don’t notice much of a difference between the first time I get in and the second time, or one weekend after another or four months,” Patrick said at the time. “It’s bike riding—a bicycle. You get back in it, the feelings are familiar, and that’s where you really have to trust your instincts in what you really need in a car and don’t make up what’s not there.”

By the time Patrick arrived at Chicagoland Speedway for her fifth Nationwide event, the tune had changed. Patrick pointed out that other drivers in the series had competed in a full complement of 17 races to her four so far.

“Here I am coming back after a couple of weeks,” Patrick said. “It’s harder to be right up to speed with them when they’re in it every week. And just the fact that I still have a lot to learn. I don’t want to make excuses. It’s hard.”

Despite wrecking early at New Hampshire, after contact from Morgan Shepherd’s Chevrolet sent Patrick’s JR Motorsports Chevy spinning into the outside wall, the IndyCar Series’ most popular driver posted her best Nationwide finish to date—30th.

She qualified 29th for Friday night’s Dollar General 300.

Burton appreciates Earnhardt’s win

The significance of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory last week at Daytona—in the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet, no less—wasn’t lost on Jeff Burton.

“I thought it was cool,” said Burton, who drives for Richard Childress, the car owner who won six  Cup titles with Dale Earnhardt Sr. “Any time you see a 3 with an Earnhardt in it at Daytona, I think that has a special meaning. To a lot of fans it meant a great deal to see the 3 car win at Daytona with an Earnhardt driving it. 

“That to me was it. It’s no question that he’s the most popular driver, and there is no question that people are looking for him to have success. The buzz that goes around him is incredible. It’s unbelievable. I don’t envy his position at all. I think he handles it pretty well. Any time the most popular driver wins a race, I think it’s a positive thing for those people that are fans of his.”

Edwards: No issue with Kurt Busch

After a last-lap collision with Kurt Busch’s No. 2 Dodge in last week’s Sprint Cup race at Daytona, Carl Edwards and Busch exchanged angry words near Busch’s transporter.

Busch was still blaming Edwards for the crash on Friday at Chicagoland. “I pinched Carl at the line to try and preserve sixth place; he turned right at the finish line to wreck us,” Busch said.

Edwards, however, doesn’t expect the incident to have lasting impact.

“What ended up happening is that I thought Kurt was trying to wreck me, and when I went down to talk to him, it was obvious that he thought I was trying to wreck him,” Edwards said. “I think that’s just restrictor-plate racing.

“We were both just racing hard and ended up running into each other. I don’t foresee there being any lingering issue. I was just trying to figure out what was going on.”