Danica Reveals her 2012 Cup Plans

This news may shock you, but Danica Patrick is coming to NASCAR.  Her full-time Nationwide plans have been known for awhile now, but no one was sure what races she'd race in when she got to the Cup Series.  Today, she revealed her plans for a part-time ride with Stewart-Haas Racing.  Below is a list of the Cup races "The Danica" will be racing in:

2/26 - Daytona
5/12 - Darlington
8/25 - Bristol
9/2 - Atlanta
9/16 - Chicago
9/30 - Dover
11/4 - Texas
11/11 - Phoenix

That's only eight races, but Patrick's plans are to run 10 races.  "We're keeping two dates open to see how the start of the season goes and make sure we can call an audible if we need to," said Stewart.  "If we see a place or Danica feels like there's a track that she struggled at, we have that flexibility to plug them in.  But we will run 10 full races with her."  Stewart has said that he wanted to pick difficult tracks for Patrick to race on, which would help her to prepare for a full-time Sprint Cup Series schedule in 2013.

Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart in front of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet (Photo courtesy Getty Images)

The other thing many were unsure of was what number Patrick would drive in the Cup Series.  The No. 7 is her number in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Nationwide Series, but it is currently taken by Robby Gordon.  Patrick decided on the No. 10, which was her car number growing up. 

The wait is almost over.  Danica Patrick is just mere months away from her Sprint Cup debut.  When the Sprint Cup Series rolls into Florida for the Daytona 500, Danica Patrick will be there, in her green No. 10 car, with the rest of the Cup Series regulars.