Sunday, September 16, 2012

Is ESPN Love Affair With Danica Patrick Over?

ESPN has been airing the NASCAR Nationwide series from the start of the NASCAR season and recently is broadcasting the final 1/3 of the season for the Sprint Cup.
At the beginning of the season, in Nationwide races, it was always, Danica this and Danica that.  The announcers would jump over themselves trying to make the next cute Danica comment during the race.
However, in the past several races, it seems that Danica's name was hardly mentioned at all.  In today's Chicagoland Sprint race, her name was barely mentioned, especially after the race.
Yesterday's Nationwide race, Johanna Long, another Nationwide driver got more air time than Patrick did, even though Patrick finished 12th and Long finished 21st.
Why is this happening?  2 reasons I can think of.
First, Tony Stewart told people to back off of Danica and give her some space and like lap dogs they are, the media is obeying Tony Stewart.
And the second reason is that the media is probably figuring out that Patrick just isn't that good.  She has a very good crew chief,  top of the line pit crew members, good equipment  and a great sponsor for her.
Johanna Long has none of what Patrick has and in most races, she does almost as good, if not better than Danica and I think the media, at least those in the ESPN announcer booths, are figuring that out.
If Johanna Long had better equipment, both physical (for those sexy TV commercials that Danica does) and better equipment and staff, she would be better than Danica.
So, for a follower of NASCAR, it is nice to see other drivers, who are worthy, to get the attention Danica used to get.  And it's not Danica 24/7 on the TV race shows and events.

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