There's no reason to think Whitt won't just keep getting better and be the top driver in the JR Motorsports stable this season. He’s also hungry and low-key, two things that may not apply to Patrick as she heads into a second career after seven years in IndyCar where she scored one win in 118 starts.
During her time in IndyCar, Patrick also graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition and spent plenty of time using her sex appeal to attract sponsors.
Over the years, Patrick has been seen in racy TV spots and glossy magazine ads in various states of undress and there’s no reason to believe that will end any time soon.
Adding to her numerous distractions will be the challenge of an eight-race schedule in the Sprint Cup Series after she signed a deal that will see her race part-time this year with Tony Stewart's team. Her Cup debut happens in the 54th Daytona 500 on Feb. 26.
Even if she were concentrating all of her attention on Nationwide, many feel Patrick would have her hands full trying to match Whitt's speed. And should the rising star leave Patrick to sniff his exhaust fumes early and often, it will be interesting to see NASCAR’s reaction.
Although the stock car series is easily the leader when it comes to just about everything in motorsport in North America, it is also banking on Patrick's sex appeal to help boost slumping ratings and ticket sales. Anyone who watched a Nationwide race with Patrick in the field may have noticed the commentators gushing over her as she battled for a top-20 finish.
There's also little doubt that NASCAR hopes that Patrick's entry into the series will bring 18- to 34-year-old males to their televisions, since she should appeal to this age group which has eluded the stock car series so far. With most of its fans at or nearing retirement age, NASCAR needs to get younger viewers watching before its core audience loses interest in their old age. Right now, just more than one-quarter of NASCAR fans are in the sponsors’ most coveted 18-34 demographic.
Obviously fans will never know, but if Whitt outclasses Patrick at every turn, NASCAR may quietly exert pressure on the JR Motorsport outfit to make sure it doesn't go on for too long.
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