Patrick Finalizes First Stage of 'Danica Double' with Daytona 500 Ride

Danica Patrick will drive in the Daytona 500 for Premium Motorsports, finalizing the first stage in her plan to compete in the “Danica Double” in 2018. She will pilot the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports with Tony Eury Jr. atop the pit box, reuniting her with both the number and crew chief with which she began her NASCAR career.

The Associated Press first reported the news.

“I couldn’t have written a better story about how this would all fall into place,” Patrick said in a press release. “Going with the flow is working out beautifully. … It all makes my last NASCAR race just that much sweeter.”

Patrick’s plans for the second leg of the “Danica Double” — the Indianapolis 500 — have not yet been finalized.

Eury Jr. served as Patrick’s crew chief from 2010-12 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and welcomes the chance to rejoin Patrick for one final race.

“It wouldn’t be just any opportunity that could coax me back to the pit box,” Eury said. “Working with Danica and GoDaddy again at Daytona is going to be fun – when you can do what you love and be in your element … well, I can tell you, it doesn’t get any better. Danica and I have shared success before in Daytona, and she has a lot more experience under her belt now, so I look forward to seeing what we can achieve during Speedweeks.”

Premium Motorsports has a charter for Patrick’s entry, guaranteeing her a spot in the field.

Patrick announced in November that the 2017 season would mark her last full-time campaign in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In that same emotional news conference, Patrick also announced her intent to compete in both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 this season.

She has competed six times in the Daytona 500 with a best finish of eighth (twice); she also won the pole position for the 2013 running.

Patrick competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the last five seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. Last September, Patrick announced she would part ways with SHR.

She has since branched into several other careers and projects for her life after racing, including her own line of athletic apparel, a self-penned fitness book and ownership of a California vineyard.