Full Throttle

The Danica to NASCAR bruhaha, after her ARCA indoctrination of course, has become the 10,000 pound elephant in the room with every ink stained scribe opining both pro and con on her imminent arrival, or not, in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.

It’s understandable of course, she’s the most marketable driver in IndyCar and she’s joining the team partly owned by the most marketable driver in NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

What’s not to like?

Well for one, who’s getting lost in the shuffle that is Danicamania.

Did you know there are no less than eight females signed to test the waters of ARCA brand stock car racing in the series’ Daytona test on Friday?

We have the “elephant in the room” and Milka Duno, and as noted yesterday Leilani Münter is online to test a Dodge for Mark Gibson Racing.

That’s three, who’s missing you ask? Glad you asked.

First on the list of “forgotten” is ARCA Series veteran Alli Owens who returns for another 10 race deal, with possible starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, in 2010 for Venturini Motorsports

The four others include Jennifer Jo Cobb and Alison MacLoud who are listed [with a caveat] as testing for an “unnamed team” with eight other drivers. Jennifer Jo Cobb most recently ran in several NASCAR Nationwide Series race in the 2009 season.

Alison MacLoud to the best of my knowledge is known as the “Winningest Female Driver in USAC History” as a Ford Racing Sponsored Driver Development driver and her winning ways in USAC Midgets.

The final two are two gals that have been over looked in a number of ways not the least of which is, apparently, by their uncle Derrike.

I say apparently because Amber and Angela Cope have had a racing career that can best be described as one that has progressed in “fits and starts.

A few years ago I proclaimed “who needs Danica when you can have twins.”

I haven’t changed my mind. But have to add, what’s up with the platinum blond hair? The style is a vast difference from three years ago. But it’s all the same under a helmet right?

That said, with thoughts of the twins racing career being pretty much dormant recently, I’ve been a bit hard on Uncle Derrike as he’s struggled, putting it mildly, as a start and parker in NNS the last couple years.

That’s changed for the better as the twins have finished school and Uncle Derrike has formed Stratus Racing Group, Inc., located in Mooresville NC, the new team plans for participation in the ARCA, NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup series.

Derrike will be behind the wheel of the Nationwide car and Camping World truck while Amber and Angela Cope are slated for ARCA races and limited truck series races.

All of which is a good thing, both for the ARCA series but also for the eight females given the chance to test if not race this year.