Danica Patrick, Travis Pastrana To Make Debuts At Darlington Raceway

Both drivers looking ahead to the Lady in Black for Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend on May 11-12

DARLINGTON, SC – April 28, 2012 – The Lady in Black is already on theminds of two of the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ most recognizable drivers,Danica Patrick and Travis Pastrana.

After successfully navigating the three-quarter mile RichmondInternational Raceway oval last night, the two drivers are alreadythinking about the track Too Tough to Tame, when they visit Darlingtonon May 11 for the upcoming Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero200.

Of course, much of the talk is also about whether Patrick will make thefield for her second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season in theBojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington on May 12. Patrick is well awareof what Darlington entails and knows that experience is a key factor intaming the Lady in Black.

I’ve got to do a few laps in anything around Darlington, I’ve heard,before I get out there in a car, Patrick told the NASCAR Wire Serviceon Friday after Nationwide Series practice at Richmond. I’ll make sure Iget there the day before…get a rental out there and just kind of runaround.

“The point of this process and the point of choosing Darlington was togo to the toughest tracks and get the toughest ones out of the way, theones that take a lot of tries before you really get comfortable thereand just get the process going,” Patrick said. “I know it’s going to behard. I know there’s going to be some frustrating moments and somemoments that I’m probably going to feel a little embarrassed, but I’mthere to get my Darlington stripes and move along.”

For Pastrana, after successfully racing at Richmond, the Lady in Blackis up next on his seven-race schedule Nationwide Series schedule. Theextreme sports legend and veteran of the X Games will head to a venuethat is vastly different. Darlington is known as a track that doesn’t goeasy on first-time competitors with many regularly glancing the wall,earning them their first Darlington stripe.

Although Pastrana has never raced on the high banks of the famedDarlington Raceway, he received an important lesson on how to tame theLady in Black from legendary driver David Pearson back on March 31.Pearson holds the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Darlington (10)and most poles (12) among other track records.

“I appreciated all the advice he gave me,” Pastrana said. “I’m stilllearning the sport of NASCAR so to get some great advice from a legendlike Mr. Pearson will be extremely beneficial for me when I get toDarlington Raceway for the May 11 Nationwide Series race.”

With both drivers making their Darlington debuts in less than two weeks,fans will have one of very few chances to see both drivers at the sametime.

“With Travis running just a limited seven-race schedule, this is theperfect opportunity for fans to come out and see them compete togetherin the Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlingtonon May 11,” Darlington President Chris Browning said. “It was greatseeing both drivers battle door-to-door last night in Richmond andhopefully we’ll see something very similar here in just 13 short days.

“We’ll also see if Danica will make the Sprint Cup Series field andcompete in her second Cup race at Darlington in the Bojangles’ Southern500. I can almost guarantee that no matter what they’ll both be earningtheir Darlington stripes!,” Browning said.

Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500on May 12 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 onFriday, May 11 can be purchased by calling 866-459-7223 or by visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com.Remember, kids 17 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern500 and FREE for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 in generaladmission.

Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway, or the track Too Tough to Tame as itis known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets truesouthern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway hasseen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to GatoradeVictory Lane. On Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12, 2012, NASCAR’s biggeststars return to battle the track Too Tough To Tame in the Sprint CupSeries Southern 500® and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero200.

You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.