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06-28-2013, 04:59 PM
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NASCAR driver Danica Patrick has brought a lot of attention to the sport over the years.
However, there are some who are skeptical that Patrick will ever become a dominant driver. Count the son of NASCAR legend Richard Petty as one of them.
On Thursday, former driver and current analyst Kyle Petty appeared on SPEED's NASCAR RaceHub program and called Patrick a "marketing machine" but not a race car driver.
"Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs," said Petty. "She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver."
Interviewer Matt Clark then proceeded to ask Petty why he believes Patrick won't ever be a race car driver in his opinion. Petty argued that it was "too late to learn."
Whoa. Those are some harsh words indeed.
,
Patrick, who is in her first full year as Sprint Cup driver, has seven top-10 finishes in 60 career Nationwide Series races. However, she has yet to finish in the winner's circle.
For what it's worth, Petty did admit that he wasn't the best driver himself. It should be noted that it took Petty six years as a full-time Cup driver before he won his first race. Petty finished his NASCAR career with eight wins and 173 top-10 finishes in 829 races.
NASCAR driver Danica Patrick has brought a lot of attention to the sport over the years.
However, there are some who are skeptical that Patrick will ever become a dominant driver. Count the son of NASCAR legend Richard Petty as one of them.
On Thursday, former driver and current analyst Kyle Petty appeared on SPEED's NASCAR RaceHub program and called Patrick a "marketing machine" but not a race car driver.
"Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs," said Petty. "She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver."
Interviewer Matt Clark then proceeded to ask Petty why he believes Patrick won't ever be a race car driver in his opinion. Petty argued that it was "too late to learn."
Whoa. Those are some harsh words indeed.
,
Patrick, who is in her first full year as Sprint Cup driver, has seven top-10 finishes in 60 career Nationwide Series races. However, she has yet to finish in the winner's circle.
For what it's worth, Petty did admit that he wasn't the best driver himself. It should be noted that it took Petty six years as a full-time Cup driver before he won his first race. Petty finished his NASCAR career with eight wins and 173 top-10 finishes in 829 races.