Danica Patrick, a trailblazer in motorsports, added her name to the history books during the 2013 Daytona 500. She became the first woman ever to lead laps at this iconic NASCAR event, briefly claiming the front spot from lap 90 through 91. Patrick ultimately secured an eighth-place finish, establishing a new benchmark for female drivers at Daytona.
Following her record-setting accomplishment, Patrick reflected on her race strategy and the teamwork involved:
“You spend a lot of time thinking about what to do when the time comes,”
Patrick said after the race.
“I kept asking up above what was working. You needed a hole, you needed people to help you out. I had a little bit of help today here and there, but I felt like if I was going to dive low, I had a feeling I was going to get freight-trained. … At the end of the day, it was a solid day.”
— Patrick, former
