Danica Patrick's transition to full time NASCAR racing will include a double dose of racing at Darlington Raceway. Stewart-Haas Racing announced Patrick's 2012 schedule and her second Sprint Cup race will be at the Southern 500 on May 12th. Patrick will make her Sprint Cup debut at the 2012 Daytona 500.
Patrick will run a full time schedule in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports which has her pulling double duty at Darlington Raceway. The former Indy Car Driver is set to enter 10 Sprint Cup races in the #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Danica Patrick 2012 Sprint Cup Schedule
February 26th: Daytona 500, Daytona FL
May 12th: Southern 500, Darlington, SC
August 25th: Bristol
September 2nd: Atlanta
September 16th: ChicagoLand
September 30th: Dover
November 4th: Texas
November 11th: Phoenix
Two more Cup races will be added later in the year. Owner Tony Stewart set up Patrick's Cup schedule to get her ready for a full time run in the Sprint Cup the following year.
“Our goal with Danica's schedule is to try and maximize her 10 races with us so that she's as prepared as she can possibly be for a full-time Sprint Cup schedule in 2013,” said team co-owner Tony Stewart. “In the GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, she'll handle short tracks, intermediate 1.5-mile ovals, and some unique tracks like Darlington and Phoenix. The point is to expose her to as many challenges as possible so that she'll know what to expect in 2013.
The only female to win an Indy Car race is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead when she tries to tackle the Track Too Tough To Tame.
"Oh boy," she said. "Darlington will be a handful. I actually enjoyed Bristol, but I'm betting once I get out there with you guys, it'll be a whole 'nother level."
Stewart nodded.
"Thanks a lot, Tony," she said.
Racer.com: Danica Patrick's 2012 Schedule
SBNation: Patrick's 2012 schedule
