Known more for what she has accomplished off the track than on it, Dancia Patrick made history on Sunday, becoming the only female driver to win the pole (the first starting position for the race) for the 55th running of the NASCAR Dayton 500, to be run this Sunday, Feb. 24., on Fox.
For Patrick, who, in a 10-year career, only has one victory under her belt, (a 2008, IndyCar event, in Japan), but earned a whopping $13.2 million last year, according to ESPN, thanks mostly to endorsements, winning the pole was a tremendous feat.
"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," Patrick, 30, told CBS News. "That was instilled in my from very young, from the beginning."
Patrick started in eighth position in qualifying rounds on Sunday, clocking her fastest lap at 196.434 mph in her No. 10 Chevrolet SS stock car at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Two hours and 37 other competitive drivers later, her time put her on top, letting her start the famed race, set for Feb. 24, in the most-coveted position. according to People.
However, she was quick to credit her team for the pole success, stating, "I've been lucky in my career to be with good teams and have good people around me," Patrick said. "I don't think any of it would have been possible without that," according to CBS News.
A good showing at the Dayton 500 would help Patrick silence the critics who have compared her to former tennis player, Anna Kournikova, who made a name for herself as a sex symbol off the court, but never won on the court to justify the hype.
A victory for Patrick would also aid NASCAR in broadening its appeal, especially in attracting other women.
Women who might have channel-surfed right past a Nascar race might tune in to see how Patrick is doing, said the Wall Street Journal.
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