Crocker has drive to stay

By SHAWN A. AKERS
AROUND THE GARAGE

Last update: October 02, 2005

Danica Patrick has proven she's the real thing. Unless she decides to make an abrupt career change, the 23-year-old phenom is here to stay in the Indy Racing League.

In the NASCAR ranks, however, no female driver has ever been able to make such a claim. From Louise Smith to Janet Guthrie to Shawna Robinson, female drivers just haven't had the staying power when it comes to driving a stock car in the elite divisions of NASCAR.

Guthrie, the first female driver to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, made 33 Nextel Cup Series starts between 1976 and 1980, and brought home five top-10 finishes. She is arguably the most successful female stock car driver ever.

No other female driver has made more than 11 Nextel Cup starts. Robinson was the latest to attempt to break into the circuit, but made only eight starts between 2001 and 2002.

Many believe the latest female standout to hit the scene, Erin Crocker, will buck that trend. She's proven her worth in the ARCA Re/Max Series with three top-five finishes in only five starts this season for Evernham Motorsports, vindicating team owner Ray Evernham's decision to hire her for his developmental program.

But there's still that stigma -- being labeled as a "female driver" -- Crocker must overcome.

"I think in the past there have been some women drivers who have been capable of having success here (in NASCAR)," the 24-year-old Crocker said. "I think a lot of it is getting with a good team, and I already have accomplished that. I just need to learn and stick with the team.

"Equipment is such a huge part, and the marketing side of things, you need to hook up with a good sponsor. A woman is not as physically fit as a man, and there's some work to be made up there, but these days with the power steering and everything hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

"I really don't know how I differ from other women drivers. One thing I have going for me is I'm very competitive, very naturally competitive. I've played every sport in the book and I think I have a level of concentration that dictates to being patient as well as aggressive."

Crocker has experienced problems in her first two NASCAR starts. She made her Busch Series debut at Richmond three weeks ago and finished 39th after an accident. Last weekend at Dover, she was involved in another accident and finished 35th.

While she may be off to a slow start, one of Crocker's biggest supporter has been Evernham, who said he just got a good feeling from Erin at their first meeting, much like he did with Kasey Kahne, the driver of his No. 9 Nextel Cup Series Dodge.

"There was just something about them (Kahne and Crocker) and you know they've got it," Evernham said. "If they can get going with the personality, they should be able to be a real superstar. She's bubbling with personality, and she believes she can knock the wheels off the boys, and I like that."

Evernham said he will continue to run Crocker in the ARCA Series for a few more events, the Busch Series and she'll also race in the open-wheel ranks. Whether she'll get an opportunity to drive a Nextel Cup Series car before the end of the season remains to be seen.

Other female drivers are still hoping to get the opportunity Crocker has been given.

Sarah Fisher, a former regular in the IRL ranks, currently drives a Chevrolet for Billy McAnnally Racing/Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series. She's currently 12th in the standings and has tested an RCR Busch Series car recently at both Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., and Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.




Allison Duncan, who has two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Western Late Model Division victories this season at Stockton (Calif.) Speedway, also tested an RCR Busch Series car recently at Caraway Speedway.

"Whatever this test leads to is still unknown right now, but I will always be able to say that I got to drive an RCR Busch car, which very few people can say," Duncan said after the test session.

Kim Crosby, who made five Busch Series starts last year, continues to try to make it in NASCAR as well. She's made four Busch Series starts this season.

Heck yeah, Erin! She is the real deal!

:nod

Yep!

I don't think she'll be in NEXTEL this season. Probably sometime next season though.

I agree!

Yes she is!

Thanks for sharing the article!

Yay Erin! She's so awesome. She's got the talent, drive, determination, and she's also such a sweet and caring person. She's definitely going to do great things in this sport!