When Danica Patrick transitioned from IndyCar to NASCAR, she faced immense scrutiny as the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing entering a male-dominated sport.
Everyone had an opinion about whether she belonged there. But through all the noise and doubt, one person never wavered in his support – Tony Stewart.
Stewart wasn’t just Patrick’s team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing – he became her biggest supporter. While others questioned her every move, Stewart saw potential. While critics picked apart her performances, Stewart focused on her progress. His belief in Patrick would prove crucial as she went on to make NASCAR history at the Daytona 500.
A Rocky Start That Set the Stage
Patrick’s NASCAR debut with JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series ended in disappointment with a crash and a 35th-place finish. The critics had a field day. But Stewart saw things differently. Instead of focusing on the wreck, he talked about what really mattered – the experience she gained.
This was just the beginning of their partnership. Stewart would later bring Patrick to his own team, where she’d achieve something no woman had ever done before in NASCAR’s top series.
Tony Stewart: The Man Who Never Stopped Believing
Stewart’s faith in Patrick was genuine, and he wasn’t afraid to show it. Before her scheduled full-time move to the Cup in 2013, he kept things in perspective, saying, “But I think looking at it, these 10 races for her this year, for me, it’s just finishing the races and just getting the track time. I’m not worried about what her finish is at the end of the day.”
“I think the success at the end of the year won’t be judged by where the finishing positions are at the end of the day, as much as what she takes away from each race weekend. That’s what my goal is for her,” he added.
When Patrick made history by winning the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 and becoming the first woman ever to do so in a Cup race, Stewart’s confidence was proven right. Even though her rookie season ended with a 27th-place finish in the standings, Stewart stayed positive about her future.
“I see room for improvement, but I see a lot of potential. I think she realizes to a certain degree she took a big bite doing this as early as she did, and I think everybody’s judging of her, grading of her, I think you have to look at how much time she’s really had in a stockcar,” Stewart said during her first Cup season.
When NASCAR legend Richard Petty made harsh comments about Patrick, claiming she could only win if “everyone else stayed home,” Stewart fired back. He wasn’t having it. “I did it because it was right. Richard doesn’t know what it’s like to drive in this series right now. There’s still some ill feelings out there toward her… She’s a racer, a lot more than [Richard] gives her credit for. She’s learning and progressing. She’ll figure it out.”
Stewart’s support showed that sometimes the biggest wins aren’t about crossing the finish line first – they’re about having someone who believes in you when everyone else has doubts.