Danica Danica Danica

UPDATE An AP article all about Danica Danica Danica. NASCAR is fast moving from being a sport where the best athletes/drivers get all the PR, and into a Hollywood gossip mill. "Thanks a lot, Ricky," Clint Bowyer said sarcastically. "I'm down here enjoying the sunny weather in Daytona, at my first 24-hour race, and what do I get asked? About Ricky and Danica."

When NASCAR kicks off its 2013 racing season at Daytona International Speedway next month, Dan Pierce and a group of friends will get together to watch the race as they have every year since 1995.

But Pierce, UNC Asheville professor and NASCAR historian, worries some of the magic might be gone from the track. He said he and his friends spend less time with motorsports than they used to.

“I don’t sense the passion about it anymore," said Pierce. And Danica, Danica, Danica is a big part of that.

01/25/13 Is there any doubt former IndyCar driver Danica Patrick is now NASCAR's biggest star. The last five articles out on NASCAR Sporting News were all Danica:

1. Confirmed: Danica Patrick dating Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2. Danica Patrick dating Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: NASCAR takes a left turn to the surreal
3. Danica Patrick, Ricky Stenhouse face some awkward moments; so will Kevin Harvick, Richard Childress
4. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing not worried about relationship distracting their driver
5. Danica Patrick Super Bowl commercial for 2013