Richard Petty Danica Patrick Diss: 'A Female Deal'

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, February 11, 2014

NASCAR legend Richard Petty offered his take on fellow race car star Danica Patrick on Sunday ahead of the Spring Cup scheduled for Saturday.

The Hall of Famer told reporters at the Canadian Motorsports Expo that Patrick would win the Sprint Cup Series only "if everybody else stayed home," ESPN reported. The Sprint Cup Series kick off on Feb. 15.

Petty went on to point out that Patrick is one of very few females associated with NASCAR and attributed that fact to her success.

"If she'd have been a male, nobody would ever know if she'd showed up at a racetrack," said the 76-year-old. "This is a female deal that's driving her. There's nothing wrong with that, because that's good PR for me. More fans come out, people are more interested in it. She has helped to draw attention to the sport, which helps everybody in the sport."

Petty's remarks are not the only criticism Patrick has endured in recent months. The driver became the butt of host Jay Mohr's jokes during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards back in December.

"Danica Patrick, give a round of applause for a history maker, Danica Patrick is here," Mohr began in his opening monologue. "Welcome my love. Danica, I hope you're not too uncomfortable tonight, I know you're not used to be this close to the front."

The joke touched on Patrick's past few races in which she has placed among the last finishers. While Patrick became the first female driver in history to lead the green flag lap at the Daytona 500 in February 2013, she has finished in 38th place, 33rd place, 28th and 20th places over the past year.

Nevertheless, Patrick revealed a keen sense of humor despite Mohr's jab, thanking the comedian for his "funny" jokes at the awards ceremony. And today, Patrick appears unscathed by Perry's comments as well. The frequent Twitter user took to the micro blogging site offering her reaction to the Badgley Mischka show.

"Beautiful," she wrote after retweeting a post by Women's Wear Daily.