JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Chicagoland Speedway is about the closest thing Danica Patrick has to a home track.
Although the 1.5-mile oval on the outskirts of Chicago’s southwest suburbs didn’t open until 2001 and wasn’t a part of Patrick’s early racing career, it’s only about 100 miles away from her hometown of Rockford, Ill.
That means she’ll have plenty of family and friends here for Sunday’s NASCAR Nationwide race. And based on her 10th-place run last year, she’ll also have a shot at a good finish.
As she continues to make her transition from IndyCar to NASCAR, Patrick said she’s most comfortable at intermediate-length banked ovals such as Chicagoland.
This year’s race will be held during the day instead of at night, perhaps changing the way teams set up and adjust their cars.
