Danica Patrick in her Go Daddy gear

The best looking driver in the history of NASCAR came in 6th place in her first-ever stock car race:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The record will show that Danica Patrick finished sixth in her stock car racing debut at yesterday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, won by Bobby Gerhart. But that doesn’t begin to describe all that Patrick endured to achieve that result in the ARCA Racing Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.

The 27-year-old IndyCar Series star got quite an education in stock car racing – not to mention bump-drafting – in her first race in a fendered car.

Patrick, who started 12th, made a magnificent save after making contact with Nelson Piquet Jr. on Lap 54, spinning on the front stretch and sliding through the grassy tri-oval area. After dropping back to 24th, Patrick fought her way through the pack to run as high as fifth, before getting hung out in the draft and finishing sixth.

I’m a pretty big fan of NASCAR and stock car racing in general. I’m also a fan Danica Patrick. I’m not such a fan of open-wheel racing. So I’m pretty excited to see Ms. Patrick make the jump over to real racing.

Unlike this neck at RacinToday, who grades Danica’s first stock car race, whose grades and snarky commentary come across as a bit of a good-ol-boy not happy about some young ‘purdy thing racing in “his” sport:

Overall grade. B. Drove within herself and finished top 10. Probably did little to ward off her critics and enough to keep her choir singing.

He’s obviously in the “critics” circle.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe calls her debut “impressive.”

Because no post on Danica is complete without the obligatory "posing on the hood of a car in a bikini" picture...

Yeah…I think “impressive” is a pretty good description…