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Originally published Monday, February 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM

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Danica Patrick is set to make NASCAR debut Saturday | Auto racing

Danica Patrick will make her NASCAR debut Saturday at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. The IndyCar star will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in Saturday's second-tier Nationwide Series race.

By The Associated Press

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Danica Patrick will make her NASCAR debut this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

The high-profile IndyCar Series personality will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in Saturday's second-tier Nationwide Series race.

The decision announced Monday to race at Daytona was made after team officials dissected her stock-car racing debut in an ARCA race Saturday at Daytona. The team had left the option to race up to Patrick, who wanted to assess her first race before deciding whether to enter one of the most prestigious Nationwide races of the season.

Patrick overcame a midrace spin to finish sixth in the ARCA event.

"Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do," the 27-year-old Patrick said in a statement. "The ARCA race was a blast, and I'm not ready for my first Daytona Speedweeks to end just yet. I want more racing."

Patrick had wondered whether to make her debut at Daytona because of the talent the race attracts. Drivers from the top-level NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have won nine of the last 10 Nationwide races at the track; the exception was Martin Truex Jr., who won in 2005 in a JR Motorsports car.

Patrick will be joined in the field by Dale Earnhardt Jr., her car owner. He has five wins and 10 top-10 finishes in 17 Nationwide starts at Daytona.

Earnhardt will be driving JRM's flagship No. 88, while Patrick will be in the car she is expected to drive in 13 previously announced races.

"I think Danica proved to everyone that she can compete in stock cars at a high level, and right now seat time is extremely important," said Kelley Earnhardt, Earnhardt's sister, who is the general manager and a JRM owner. "She has worked extremely hard during the past two months for this opportunity. Her dedication and work ethic is infectious."

JR Motorsports acquired the points from CJM Racing to ensure Patrick a spot in the field Saturday. CJM Racing was 15th in the owner standings last season and suspended operations.

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