Interview

NASCAR Cup

Danica Patrick on her future: "My only goal is to win in Cup"

Danica Patrick has to ask herself, ‘How bad does she want it?”

Lee Spencer

Edited: Sep 23, 2017, 12:05 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

After five-full seasons in the Cup Series, Patrick, 35, was not retained by Stewart-Haas Racing for 2018.

While she has options for next season, Patrick hasn’t committed herself to a program — yet. But she’s zeroed in on her parameters.

“If I don’t do Cup, I don’t think I’ll do anything because my only goal is to win in Cup,” Patrick said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Friday. “My goal is to be one of the only drivers to win in Cup and NASCAR. So, that’s attained through winning in the Cup Series. That’s my goal.

“If I don’t think there’s a solid potential for that to happen, I’m just spinning my wheels.”

Patrick holds the record in NASCAR’s top tour for the most starts for a female — 181 and the only woman to win a pole. She also leads the categories for top 10s (seven) and most laps led (64).

Patrick to RCR?

As for where Patrick could land in 2018, one option that has been rumored in the garage is the third Richard Childress Racing seat which will be vacated by Paul Menard at season’s end. RCR’s Ryan Newman and Austin Dillon both visited Victory Lane in 2017 — breaking a four-year losing streak.

“I very randomly, at times, talk to my agent,” Patrick said of shopping for a ride. “There’s really nothing I can do. It comes to money. And it also comes down to what I want to do. Moving parts — and answers that have yet to come to fruition. But that’s what I have to answer. I have to answer, do I want to do this? It is a grind. My only goal is to win. So, if I think I have the opportunity, then, it will definitely be something that I will evaluate.”

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Newman claims "the math doesn't add up" with recent NASCAR penalties

Next article Larson tops second practice at NHMS over Blaney and Truex

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1 47 min

Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda

Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign

Indy NXT

IndL Indy NXT 2 h

Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign

GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 2 h

GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen

13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion

IMSA

IMSA IMSA 3 h

13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts