Danica Patrick Set to Make Nationwide Debut at Auto Club Speedway

Hollywood, California is known to throw some of the biggest bashes when it comes to announcing the next up-and-coming star, whether it be music, television, or sports.

The glamour and glitz of this popular hotspot is known to spread out as far as 30 miles to the east into the neighboring cities.

Auto Club Speedway, with its backdrop of the San Bernardino mountains, by all means is no stranger to hosting NASCAR’s biggest stars. Even though they may not walk the red carpet of the Academy Awards, nonetheless they are some of motorsports' biggest stars.

Twice a year the stars of NASCAR make their way out to a city that was made famous by drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle, who are all past winners.

On Feb. 20, 2010, Auto Club Speedway will once again play host to the media frenzy that will follow NASCAR’s newest driver into the Nationwide series.

Danica Patrick announced that she will make her Nationwide debut in the No. 7 Go Daddy-sponsored Chevrolet for JR Motorsports and team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick in the Stater Bros. 300.

This will be Patrick’s second visit to the two-mile D-shaped oval; her first was back in 2005, where as a rookie in the IRL she finished 18th.

Patrick, who is expected to run 10 to 12 races this season, will use an ARCA Series test at Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 18-20 to get approval by NASCAR for her Nationwide debut in February.