NASCAR Cup Series

Cameo girl: Danica Patrick to run Daytona Nationwide Series race

Published Feb. 12, 2014 4:00 p.m. ET

Jared Turner

Danica Patrick's Daytona Speedweeks plans just got a little busier.

Patrick, who drove in two Nationwide outings for TSM last year while running her first full season of Sprint Cup Series competition, will pilot a No. 30 Florida Lottery Chevrolet Camaro For TSM in the season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 on Feb. 22.

"I'm really looking forward to competing in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona once again and driving the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro," said Patrick. "Turner Scott Motorsports is a great organization and I worked really well with Mike Greci and the whole team in both of the races I did with them last year. I know that I'm definitely capable of a win this year working with that group; it just comes down to making it until the end. I have to thank the Florida Lottery for coming on board; they're giving me the opportunity to run this race and to support education in the State of Florida."

Patrick, of course, is no stranger to Nationwide Series racing at Daytona International Speedway. It was at the famed 2.5-mile track that she made her NASCAR debut in February 2010 in the Nationwide race. Patrick, who won the pole and finished eighth in the 2013 Daytona 500, has one top-10 finish in six Nationwide Series appearances at The World Center of Racing. The Roscoe, Ill., native won the pole for the February 2012 Nationwide race at Daytona and has led a total of 34 laps in Nationwide competition at DIS.

Patrick ran partial seasons in the Nationwide Series in 2010 and 2011 while splitting time between NASCAR and IndyCar, before making the full switch to NASCAR with JR Motorsports' Nationwide program in 2012. Patrick made only two Nationwide starts lasts season, with both coming for TSM at the first Daytona and Talladega races, respectively.

"We are so happy to announce that Danica will be returning to TSM in Daytona," said team co-owner Harry Scott Jr. "We think a lot of Danica, and she was a very strong competitor in both of the races that she ran for us last year. Restrictor-plate racing is tough, but she's shown a lot of skill at Daytona in the past. I have no doubt that she has everything it takes to bring our car to Victory Lane."