Danica’s full-time racing days end with DNF
Driver plans to race Daytona, Indy 500s
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Danica Patrick’s final race of 2017 ended like about a third of her races in what turned out to be her final season as a full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver: early.
Patrick’s car rolled to a stop in flames after she blew a tire and then was run into by Kasey Kahne near the midway point of the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday. She hopped out of her car uninjured, the 11th time this season she failed to complete a race during the 36-race schedule.
“It’s kind of just the story of the year,” Patrick said in a televised interview after she was released from the infield care center.
Patrick was two laps down when the incident happened and finished 37th.
“We had a tire rub,” Patrick said. “There was smoke in the car. They (her crew) thought it would be all right, but it wasn’t. ... It was fun for a little while there at the end.”
Patrick announced Friday that she would no longer compete in racing on a full-time basis, although she also made it public that she would run the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 next year.
“It was a little bit emotional, but I’ve been working through levels of that,” Patrick said. “I have been kind of looking forward to the end.
“There’s still racing in my future. There’s still a thousand miles to go.”
Sunday’s race was the 10th in which Patrick has been forced out because of a collision. She also had to retire early be- cause of an engine issue.
Patrick’s 11 DNFs (did not finishes) were the second most this season in the Cup series behind the 14 of Jeffrey Earnhardt.