Well it’s Christmas time and everything is supposed to be quiet around the racing world, but that’s certainly not the case. I have never seen more attention focused on the annual ARCA test at Daytona since I’ve been in the business. That’s right, I said annual ARCA test, as in they are in Daytona every December to get ready for the season opener. Some of you were probably not ever aware of that. This year the test was highlighted by Danica Patrick’s debut in a stock car. Early reports are pretty positive about her performance as she posted a speed in the top-20. You can be certain that a lot of attention will be placed on her in February.
I remember in 1999, Shawna Robinson finished second in the ARCA race at Daytona and we did a special promotion with her for the ARCA race at Talladega. If Shawna won the race here at TSS, we were going to award $100,000 to a fan. We did a lot of media around Shawna for that race, which created a lot of attention on her performance. While it wasn’t the magnitude that Danica is getting today, Shawna was a big focus of our fall weekend that year. While I can’t remember where she finished, I do recall her not finishing the race because of a wreck. Shawna recently posted on her Facebook status that she was about 10 years too early in her racing career. Maybe so, but she, along with the other female racers, must be credited with helping open the doors for the nine female drivers who were testing ARCA cars last weekend in Daytona.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Happy New Year to you! I just stumbled onto this blog and will save it as a favorite. Don't imagine the "off season" means much to you in your line of work. Here in Arizona, it's a chance to catch up on yard work and playing with the grandkids - more of the latter than the former I think!
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