Danica Patrick 2013 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
In 2013 Danica Patrick will race full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. In 2012 Tony Stewart picked the toughest tracks for her to run on so let’s hope that prepared her for what she’ll encounter. In her limited schedule in the top series she really struggled but shown improvement at the end. Her Phoenix and Texas performances were her best of the season. In ten races in the Sprint Cup Series she had a 28.3 average finish and only one top twenty result.
What I find troubling about Patrick is her Nationwide performances. In the lower series she had four top tens and an average finish of 18.8. Also she only led 41 laps and finished on the lead lap about half the time (17 of 33). If you translate those performances into the Sprint Cup Series and add in the increased level of difficulty it’s pretty clear 2013 will be a long year for her.
Strengths- It’s hard to call it a strength but I think Patrick will be at her best at high-speed intermediate tracks. I think she’ll collect some top twenty finishes at those venues. One positive fantasy aspect about Patrick is that she tends to take pretty good care of her equipment.
Weaknesses- Inexperience. She’s simply not adapted to stock car racing yet. One problem that could surface if she’s low in points with rumored changes in qualifying is that she could potentially miss races. The closest she started to the front last season was 23rd and her average starting spot was 36.1.
Intermediate Track Grade- C, Like I said earlier I think some of her best performances will come at high-speed intermediate tracks. They were her best tracks in the Nationwide Series and I think she’ll be competing for top twenty finishes. In the Sprint Cup Series last year on this track type she had a best finish of 24th and an average finish of 28.4. In 2013 I think we’ll see improvement from her on this track type.
Flat Track Grade- C, Patrick’s best race of her Sprint Cup career was at Phoenix. In that race she finished 17th but almost climbed into the top ten until she was spun in the closing laps. In the lower Nationwide Series she really didn’t have much success. In those four races she had finishes of 10th, 14th, 21st and 35th.
Short Track Grade- C-, Patrick wasn’t that bad in her one Sprint Cup race at a short track. At Bristol in August she was having a top twenty run but was wrecked late. In the Nationwide Series her average finish on short tracks was 19.5. I think her lack of experience will really surface on this track type.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- C, Danica had some moments when she looked good in the lower series on this track type but I would argue she had a superior car and as a result other people liked pushing her. I think she lacked confidence when it came to pushing other drivers. Her Nationwide average finish was 27.3 on this track type. In the Sprint Cup series last year she raced in the Daytona 500 but was taken out in the lap #2 crash.
Road Course Track Grade- C, Some of Patrick’s best performances in the Nationwide Series came at road courses. You can’t hold it against her that she runs over shoes and gets spun late. Patrick’s coming from an open wheel background but by no means is she some type of road course ringer. I expect her to run mid pack or back at these venues.
How to use Danica Patrick from a Fantasy NASCAR Perspective in 2013?
I would avoid Danica Patrick altogether in 2013. It will be a rough year for her and there will likely always be better options. If I had to use Patrick I would roll the dice on her at high-speed intermediate tracks.
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