Daytona 500 Qualifying: Danica Patrick Will Drive Like She Has Nothing to Lose

Danica Patrick has nothing to lose and everything to gain at the Daytona 500, and that gives her a huge advantage.

Patrick is simply one of the biggest stories surrounding the sport, and her move to NASCAR is very highly anticipated. She's already probably a bigger deal than many of the racers on the circuit that have been there for a long time, and that goes a long ways in showing how popular she is.

NASCAR wants her to do well, and I dare say NASCAR needs her to do well. She's great for marketing and she's great for the sport.

Ratings are sure to go up, her fan base is sure to bring a whole lot of excitement to the table, and according to a quote recorded by Jenna Fryer of the Chicago Sun-Times from International Speedway Corp. CEO Lesa France Kennedy, she just brings a different feel:

"

“There’s so much interest with Danica coming over to NASCAR, I think it’s going to really broaden our fan base,” Lesa France Kennedy, the CEO of NASCAR sister company International Speedway Corp., said last month.

“When she shows up, it just has a different feel. She’s a real dynamic individual to start with, and I think it’ll be interesting to see her compete on the track. There’s certainly a spotlight, without a doubt, but she seems to do well with that. She seems to do well under pressure.”

"

Patrick is a legend in her own right and she's a very good racer, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see her have a ton of success with stock cars.

First things first though—the Daytona 500 qualifier.

She believes she can win the whole thing, and I for one am not going to count her out. Patrick has nothing to lose, and like I stated earlier, I think that gives her a huge advantage.

All she has to do is go out there, do her best and have fun. We all know she's a talented driver, and now she has the chance to prove that on the sports' biggest stage.

If she doesn't do well, she gets a ton of credit for even making this jump, and she's got a whole year ahead of her to prove herself.

If she goes out and wins? I can only imagine the shock, hype and racing immortality that would be awaiting her at the finish line.

She's going to drive like she has nothing to lose.

Anybody who knows anything about sports knows that makes her a very dangerous competitor.