We're a little over a week from the Daytona 500 and the start of the 2018 NASCAR season. Instead of "start your engines," this is a time to say "start your speculation."
Now that Danica Patrick has secured a ride with Premium Motorsports for Daytona, some are wondering what will happen if Patrick by chance actually wins the thing.
@JamieLittleTV @ShannonSpake If @DanicaPatrick were to win the 500 @DISupdates, she would be in the chase. Would someone give her a full ride knowing they would be in the playoffs? Or is it not that simple? Or would she even want to? ?
— TheLighterSideOfRacing (@NascarBloopers) February 6, 2018
The Lighter Side of Racing tweeted the question that if Patrick wins, might she reconsider retiring from NASCAR since she'll have an early leg up towards the playoffs, something she hasn't achieved before. NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass pretty much dismissed the idea.
I think Danica?s plan wouldn?t change ? Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 will be her final two races. https://t.co/xtOzxQE1Ln
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 6, 2018
Pockrass is convinced that Patrick will follow through with her plan to race just two more times in 2018, then retire. Her unceremonious heave from NASCAR might leave her with a feeling of unfinished business, but as Patrick told CNBC last month, she's excited to get started on her second life.
"Retirement was something that at first seemed really scary, but the more I thought about it, the more I was like, 'No, not really,'" said Patrick.
Driver Patrick was able to build a brand that gave her exposure but not a ton of monetary return. Author/clothes designer/winery owner Patrick has the opportunity to take her brand to a whole new, more lucrative level. Hard to see her putting that on pause to chase Cup glory one more time.