![]() ![]() ![]() JJ: I think it was probably harder for him in some respects. SI: It must have been strange having ups and downs with someone you had admired so much. And before I knew it, I found myself in a heated rivalry with him racing for wins and championships. I mean, I thought the guy could walk on water, and then I come to find out that he knows of me and is willing to put money down to start a race team for me to drive. He opened up doors for Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson. He was an inspiration for me-a California dirt racer who was making it work on the asphalt. I watched him on Thursday Night Thunder and watched him through midget sprint cars, the Busch series, all of that. JJ: I’ve bought one piece of licensed merchandise in my life, and it was a Jeff Gordon 24 car that sat on the headboard at my house growing up. SI: What was it like to go from being a Gordon fan to being his friend, colleague and competitor? My heroes were all two-wheel guys when I was eight. All of my heroes were racing on dirt, from either the motocross scene or the off-road industry. SI: So when you were eight or 10, who did you want to be when you grew up? I was a Jeff Gordon fan and so we had our rivalry inside the house. The blue 43-I saw him go by and I was like, Wow, I saw the King go by.Īnd then with Dale, that media was a bit better, but my brother was a Dale Earnhardt fan and there was no chance that we could ever get along about anything. I was able to see Petty in person at a race at Riverside, Calif. Then it would move to gymnastics and I’d walk out the house, come back and try to catch NASCAR again. But the way we consumed media and the way I checked in with motorsport was really by going to races or occasionally catching a glimpse of it on Wide World of Sports, when they would show four or five different sporting events and you’d tune in quickly for a little bit of NASCAR. SI: Growing up in California at a time when NASCAR was still a pretty Southern thing, what did those names mean to you? But I’m so proud to be with the King and the Intimidator. It never stops when that competitive piece kicks in. I mean, as a competitor, of course I want to be the only one. It looks like Danica is here to race stock cars and just maybe the decision will be made to run the NATIONWIDE race at Daytona.Ĭongratulations Danica.job well done.SI: Is there a part of you that thinks it’s almost cooler that you’re tied with them-that you’ll always be mentioned with them as part of your own little clique? Danica had survived and shown those who doubted that she was ready to race stock cars.Īfter the race she was happy and said she had "fun." Tony Eury Jr. Wearing the blazing orange #7 on the side of her car she crossed the finish line with a sixth place finish. She appeared unafraid to run high and get in the mix proving she was there to race. It looked as though she would be relegated to running alone behind the pack, but fiery Danica came back strong and racy. She handled the car masterfully under the guidance of her spotters and Eury Jr. She wanted to know how long it would last and obviously wanted to get back to the racing part of the deal.īumping became Danica's reality when three quarters through the race Nelson Piquet shut her off and she took a wild ride with a spin and trip through the grass. The media darling appeared somewhat bored as she sat out the red flag. When she asked about turning off her radio, Eury Jr. While parked on the back stretch under red flag conditions she had time to ask questions to her crew chief as to what to turn off. The banging and crashing begins, but she remains steady and pleased with the handling of her car.Ĭaution laps and single file racing gave Danica the opportunity to settle down in her car and give meaningful feedback to Tony Eury Jr. ![]() Lap 7 of the race wreaks havoc and takes out nearly a fifth of the field, but fortunately for Danica the accident was behind her. If it would magnetically hold her steady for the entire race she would be comfortable, but that is not to be. The yellow line is her road map for this race and in practice she sticks very closely to it. It is important she establishes her credibility and finishes well. It is crucial she doesn't make foolish moves or create any havoc. She needs to just stay out of trouble and hang in the race for as long as possible. Danica is in this race to get seat time and prepare for racing in the NATIONWIDE series. There is no doubt there will be the grinding of sheet metal, after all it is Daytona. She has not felt the bumping and turbulence of close racing and the fender banging. Danica really does not know what to expect since she has not driven a car with fenders in competitive racing. ![]()
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