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Last month, Jerry Gappens, the executive vice president and general manager of the speedway, flew to JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. with over 20 pounds of fresh lobster for Patrick and her crew.  This was an enticement to have New Hampshire on her limited racing schedule with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s team.

Today, Danica gave the speedway a gift by adding the New England 200 to her 2010 NASCAR schedule.

"This is great news for our fans here in New England," said Gappens. "She is a talented racecar driver and a major sports personality that will bring the national spotlight to the largest sports and entertainment facility in New England.

"Since she didn't eat the lobster, I will have to find an appropriate thank you gift for Danica, perhaps a pair of high heeled Christian Louboutin's!"

From her start in karting in 1992 to her win at the 2008 Indy Car Series race at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan, Patrick has always been a top competitor.

She will be the sixth woman to attempt to qualify for a NASCAR Nationwide Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Tina Gordon (2004), Tammy Jo Kirk (2003), Patty Moise (1990, 1996, 1998), and Shawna Robinson (1992, 1993) have qualified and raced at the speedway.  Kim Crosby (2005) did not qualify in her attempt to make the field at "The Magic Mile."

Danica will compete in 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series races, including the Sept. 25 race in Dover, with the possibility of 13 in her debut season with JR Motorsports, co-owner and general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today.

The only event uncertain on Patrick’s schedule is the Feb. 13 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet is entered in the event, but its driver will not be determined until after Patrick’s race in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event on Feb. 6. Patrick will compete in the Daytona ARCA race in a JR Motorsports-prepared No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.

Beyond Daytona, Patrick’s 2010 campaign is confirmed starting with the Feb. 20 race at Auto Club Speedway and the Feb. 27 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following Vegas, Patrick will take a four-month hiatus to focus on her IndyCar Series responsibilities before returning to drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevy in the Nationwide Series June 26 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

The remainder of her schedule includes Nationwide races at Chicagoland Speedway (July 9), Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 14), Dover International Speedway (Sept. 25), Auto Club Speedway (Oct. 9), Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 15), Gateway International Raceway (Oct. 23), Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 6), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13), and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 20).
 
“I’m thrilled to announce our 2010 Nationwide Series schedule,” said Patrick. “Like I’ve said before, we just want to be smart and calculative about this process.  The tracks we’ve selected not only compliment the IndyCar schedule, but will give me quality seat time at a variety of facilities.”
 
While Patrick’s participation in the Daytona race is to be determined, JR Motorsports will still field two cars for the Nationwide Series season opener. Due to sponsorship reallocation for the upcoming season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet in place of Kelly Bires in what is the first of two scheduled races for the JRM co-owner. Bires will return to the seat of the No. 88 Chevy the following week at Auto Club Speedway and could be called upon to drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet at Daytona should Patrick not compete in that event.
 
“We want to give Danica the best opportunity to compete at Daytona, and that includes making sure she is 100 percent comfortable in that driver’s seat,” Kelley Earnhardt said.  “The Nationwide race there is perhaps the most competitive race of the year. Once the ARCA race is complete, we will get with Danica and make a decision based on the best interests of her, the team, and our sponsor Go Daddy.  I’m extremely pleased with the working relationship between Danica and (crew chief) Tony Eury Jr. They are communicating well and working extremely hard in preparing for this season.”
 
GoDaddy.com will serve as primary sponsor for 10 of Patrick’s 12 races in the No. 7 Chevrolet in 2010.
 
Danica Patrick’s 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule
Date Venue
2/13 Daytona International Speedway (TBD)
2/20 Auto Club Speedway
2/27 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
6/26 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
7/9 Chicagoland Speedway
8/14 Michigan International Speedway
9/25 Dover International Speedway
10/9 Auto Club Speedway 
10/15 Charlotte Motor Speedway
10/23 Gateway International Raceway
11/6 Texas Motor Speedway
11/13 Phoenix International Speedway
11/20 Homestead-Miami Speedway