Gerhart first, Patrick is sixth in ARCA race

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 07, 2010

Bobby Gerhart's record-setting sixth victory at Daytona International Speedway was overshadowed by the successful stock-car debut of Danica Patrick, who finished sixth yesterday in the crash-filled ARCA race.

Patrick spent much of the race among the top 10 in her widely anticipated stock-car racing debut, but she bumped fenders with Nelson Piquet Jr. and spun out through the infield grass on lap 54, costing her any hopes of a victory.

But she passed several cars in the closing laps of ARCA's season opener, and got as high as fifth with three laps left. But she couldn't catch Gerhart, who has won the ARCA season opener six of the past 12 years. He last won here in 2007.

"As a little kid, I dreamed of having an opportunity to come here and race," Gerhart said. "When that happens, naturally comes the passion to come out and win, but I couldn't imagine doing it this many times. I've got to tell you, though, I hate the number six. We've got to swing for seven."

Mark Thompson was second, followed by John Wes Townley, James Buescher and Patrick Sheltra.

It was still an impressive start for Patrick, who will race a partial schedule in NASCAR's second-tier racing series for JR Motorsports. She has not yet decided if she will make her NASCAR debut next week in the Nationwide opener at Daytona, and her experience yesterday was going to be a big factor.

She hadn't made a decision after the race, but her car owners seemed pleased. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sprinted from the NAS-CAR drivers meeting to congratulate her, while Rick Hendrick was quick to praise her over the in-car radio.

"You drove the wheels off that thing, girl," Hendrick told her. "We are proud of you."

Patrick replied, "Thank you very much."

The Daytona ARCA race is notorious for its frequent and spectacular crashes -- "You need to wear a helmet if you watch it from the stands," driver Scott Speed said earlier in the week -- and this year's race was no exception.

The car carnage started early, when Bill Baird's car got wildly loose on lap 7 and collided with Steve Blackburn, resulting in an eight-car pileup.

The accident happened behind Patrick, who slipped one spot after the start and was running 13th at the time.