Danica Patrick to Tangle with the Lady in Black

Danica Patrick is 500-to-1 to win at Darlington (Getty)

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 7, 2012) – With David Reutimann’s 22nd-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Danica Patrick and the No. 10 car have officially made the field for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

The No. 10 car, which sits 33rd in owner points after Talladega, secures Patrick in the field based on NASCAR automatically giving the top 35 cars a spot in the starting field without having to race their way in on qualifying time.

Patrick will be just the third woman to ever compete in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway, joining Shawna Robinson in 2002 and Janet Guthrie in 1977. Robinson and Guthrie finished 42nd and 16th in those races, respectively.

“I know it’s going to be hard. I know there’s going to be some frustrating moments and some moments that I’m probably going to feel a little embarrassed, but I’m there to get my Darlington stripes and move along.” Patrick told the NASCAR Wire Service on April 27 at Richmond.

Patrick will also make her debut at Darlington on Friday in the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.

- Darlington Raceway