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The Fastest Girl in Town- Danica Patrick Makes History (Again), Finishes Eighth in Daytona 500

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Kate Kelly
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Alex Puzzolo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at C Mich chapter.

 

In a race that made history, Danica Patrick became the first woman to take eighth in the Daytona 500, as well as the first woman to lead twice (for five laps) in the race.

 

For those who aren’t familiar with NASCAR, the Daytona 500 is a 500 mile-long race held every year in Daytona, Florida, at the Daytona International Speedway. The Sprint Cup Series’ first race of the year, the Daytona 500 is most important race in NASCAR.

 

Patrick is inarguably the best female driver in the history of NASCAR. She took third in the Indy 500 in 2009 (the highest ever for a woman), and the first to ever win an Indy race, at the Indy Japan 300, back in 2008.

 

In a gripping finish to the dramatic race, Patrick started the final lap in third place, but moved to ninth. Avoiding the first crash (when driver Kyle Larsen lost control of his car, sending it flying into the catch-fence and injuring 28 fans), Patrick moved up near the front just in time, missing a nine-car crash behind her, the second of the race.

 

Despite her success in the male-dominated sport, Patrick announced prior to the race that she isn’t in it to prove anything, or trying to make headlines as the fastest woman in NASCAR.

 

“Being a girl in a guy’s world-that’s not what I’m trying to say,” said Patrick in a press conference, prior to the race. “But if you have a talent for something- to not be afraid to follow through with it.”

Photo credit: USA Today

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Kate Kelly is a senior at CMU studying Political Science, with minors in Spanish and Public Affairs.
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Alex Puzzolo is a junior at Central Michigan University. She is majoring in Integrative Public Relations and minoring in Leadership. She is an active member in her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma, by holding Executive Board positions. Alex is a Co-founder of the Central Michigan University chapter of Her Campus. She is from Mundelein, IL and loves to travel. She has been to multiple countries and just recently completed an internship in Ireland. An interesting fact about Alex is that she has worked in a jewelery store for the past two years and is certified member of the Gemology Institute of America.