Dale Jr Takes a Hands off Approach to Danica Patrick's ARCA Racing Series Debut

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. says that he is refraining from giving driver Danica Patrick too much advice heading into her stock car debut in Saturday's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards race, allowing the IZOD INDY Car Series veteran to make her own race day game plan.

"I really don't have the urge to give her a bunch of advice," said Earnhardt, Jr. "I'm just curious as to how she is enjoying her experience and what she thinks about her opportunity today and how things have went as far as the chemistry goes and when today is over what we can do differently to make it smoother and to make it a more consistent weekend. And to find out if there are any speed bumps or whatever that she saw but otherwise she doesn't need too many people barking in her ear about what she needs to do. She's a smart racecar driver and probably has a great game plan already built up in her head. She doesn't need to have people telling her what to do so that she starts second-guessing herself."

The comments were made during a Hot Wheels Press Conference in the Daytona Int'l Speedway Infield Media Center on Saturday afternoon, just hours before the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA season-opener at Daytona. Earnhardt, Jr., Patrick and JR Motorsports Team Owner/General Manager Kelly Earnhardt were among the participants in the press conference.

Patrick starts 12^th in Saturday's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA race, live on SPEED beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.