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#### The Danica Rule? Not so fast, NASCAR says

#### A rule change for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race raised eyebrows on Wednesday, but NASCAR said it was a simple oversight not meant to benefit any specific driver.

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# The Danica Rule? Not so fast, NASCAR says

Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports 4:52 p.m. EDT May 15, 2013

Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, gets ready in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 10, 2013 in Darlington, S.C.(Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt, Getty Images)

### Story Highlights

- In 2012, drivers could win All-Star Race fan vote if they finished on lead lap of preliminary Sprint Showdown
- NASCAR says that was a mistake on the entry blank and was corrected this year
- Press releases for the vote still include "lead-lap finish" language

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A rule change for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race raised eyebrows Wednesday, but NASCAR said it was a simple oversight not meant to benefit any specific driver.

In 2012, drivers were eligible to win the All-Star Race fan vote – which goes to the top vote-getter who isn't already qualified for the main event – if they finished on the lead lap of the preliminary Sprint Showdown and had a car in raceable condition (i.e., not wrecked).

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A press release earlier this year said the fan vote rules would be the same for Saturday's race, as have all press releases about the fan vote since 2004. But NASCAR clarified the rule Wednesday and said the fan vote winner would not have to finish on the lead lap to receive the free transfer spot.

That's notable because Danica Patrick is widely presumed to be the runaway fan vote winner since she's the biggest star not already in the race.

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So was NASCAR making a Danica Rule in order to ensure her path into the All-Star Race would be easier?

According to the entry blanks – which are not available to the public – that's not the case. An entry blank examined by USA TODAY Sports makes no mention of a fan vote winner having to finish on the lead lap this season.

That's also the case for entry blanks from 2007-11, though the 2012 entry blank did have that requirement. Apparently, though, the 2012 lead lap rule was a mistake and it was corrected this year.

However, that wasn't communicated prior to the press release with the rules being issued. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said that loophole has been corrected for the future and future releases will always reflect the language on the entry blanks.

Tharp said this year's change was in no way a reflection of any driver who might get the fan vote.

But curiously, the press releases for the All-Star fan vote have had that "lead-lap finish" language every year since it was started in 2004. Even in the years when the entry blank had no such requirement, media and fans were still told it was.

The information was widely disseminated on TV, print and online outlets and no one thought to question otherwise. NASCAR itself stated those were the rules.

As it turns out, there was no official lead-lap requirement. The sudden clarification, though, looks questionable because of Patrick's obvious selection.

It certainly doesn't do any favors for Patrick, who some fans perceive already gets treated differently by NASCAR and the media.

Of course, all this might be a moot point. The Showdown is so short (two 20-lap segments) that it's highly unlikely Patrick would be lapped, unless she crashed. But if she did crash, her car wouldn't be in raceable condition anyway.

Follow Jeff Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

PHOTOS: Danica Patrick's NASCAR career

Danica Patrick waves to the crowd as she is introduced before the 2013 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick (10), the first woman ever to start on a Sprint Cup pole, leads Jeff Gordon (24) to the green flag at the start of the 2013 Daytona 500. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
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By virtue of winning the pole, Danica Patrick got to pick the first pit stall for the 2013 Daytona 500. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick waves to the crowd as she is introduced before the 2013 Daytona 500. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick waves to her fans after making NASCAR history by becoming the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole. Patrick qualified first for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick poses with the pole winner sign after becoming the first woman to win the Daytona 500 pole position on Feb. 17, 2013. Chris Graythen, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick is nothing but smiles as she addresses the media after winning the pole position for the 2013 Daytona 500. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick was the eighth driver out on the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. She posted a speed of 196.434 mph, which held up throughout the day. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick prepares before heading out onto the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports
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Danica Patrick walks from her hauler to her garage during practice for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2013. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP
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Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went public with their romantic crelationship in early 2013 after rumors swirled about the fellow Sprint Cup rookies. Chris Graythen, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick applies makeup before a television interview during NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14, 2013. John Raoux, AP
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Danica Patrick gets a hand from her crew as she prepares to take the track for qualifying practice for the 2013 Daytona 500. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick has formed a tight bond with her team owner and fellow competitor Tony Stewart. Davis Turner for USA TODAY Sports
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In preparation for her first full season as a Sprint Cup driver, Danica Patrick speaks with the press during the NASCAR Media Tour on Jan. 21, 2013. Jeff Siner, AP
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Danica Patrick high-fives fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Ross D. Franklin, AP
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Danica Patrick (10) lands on top of Paul Menard during a crash on the final lap of the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images for NASCAR
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Danica Patrick behind the wheel during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images for NASCAR
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Danica Patrick is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Patrick would go on to finish a career- and season-best 24th. Jerome Miron, US Presswire
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Danica Patrick takes on tires and fuel during a pit stop at the Nov. 4 AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race. Patrick was one of 25 drivers to finish on the lead lap. Tom Pennington, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick finished 24th at the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4. Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR
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Danica Patrick waves to the fans during driver introductions at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept 2, 2012 in Hampton, Georgia. By John Harrelson, Getty Images
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick during qualifying for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug 31, 2012. By Kevin Liles, US Presswire
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Danica Patrick presents the award for Best Team onstage with NBA player Steve Nash at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A on July 11, 2012. By Kevin Winter, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept 30, 2012. By Tom Pennington, Getty Images
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Pat Summitt, left, head coach emeritus of the Tennessee women's basketball team, greets Danica Patrick before the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in Bristol, Tenn. Summitt was the grand marshal of the race. By Mark Humphrey, AP
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Danica Patrick starts her car prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 24, 2012 in Bristol, Tennessee. By Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images
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Danica Patrick sits down for an interview with Pardon the Interruption co-hosts Tony Kornheiser, left, and Michael Wilbon on Feb 21, 2012. By H. Darr Beiser, USA Today
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick crashes during the IRWIN Tools Night Race a Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 25, 2012. By Andrew Weber, US Presswire
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Danica Patrick waves to fans during driver introductions prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. By Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR
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Danica Patrick waves before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, July 1, 2012. By Nam Y. Huh, AP
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Danica Patrick greets fans on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct 12, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. By Tyler Barrick, Getty Images for NASCAR
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick (left) leads a pack of cars during the AAA 400 at Dover Speedway on Sept 30, 2012. Jerry Lai, US Presswire
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NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Danica Patrick (10) talks to the media during practice for the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 11, 2012. By Peter Casey, US Presswire
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick during practice for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2012. By Kevin Liles, US Presswire
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Danica Patrick during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug. 31, 2012. By Kevin Liles, US Presswire
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