The 2013 Daytona 500 marked a turning point in Danica Patrick’s career. It was the day her preparation met the perfect stage in the NASCAR Cup Series, confirming her status as a full-time driver. However, one poorly chosen comment turned into an uncomfortable footnote within a historic achievement.
Patrick entered that edition after competing part-time in 2012, making 10 starts in the No. 10 car for Stewart-Haas Racing. The season-opening race represented her true introduction to NASCAR’s top level. She quickly delivered. Patrick posted a 196.434 mph qualifying lap, which secured the pole position and placed her in the record books as the only female driver to earn a pole in the Cup Series.
That achievement pushed her to the center of the media spotlight ahead of the so-called Great American Race. Everything pointed toward a flawless celebration. Then the pre-race ceremony introduced an unexpected twist. Actor and filmmaker James Franco served as the Grand Marshal for the 55th Daytona 500, while promoting his film Oz the Great and Powerful.
The phrase that overshadowed the moment
According to The Sports Rush, Franco’s duties included delivering the traditional command to start engines. In an attempt to single out Patrick, he altered the usual wording and said: “Drivers — and Danica! — start your engines!”
The phrasing landed poorly. Instead of sounding inclusive, the line suggested separation, as if Patrick stood apart from the rest of the field rather than among it. Whether intentional or not, the implication questioned her status as a driver instead of fully integrating her achievement. The remark echoed around the speedway and immediately spread across media and social platforms.
Patrick offered no visible or verbal reaction at the time. She chose silence and focused on the race itself. Even so, the moment quickly became a national talking point. Sports analysts labeled the line a mistake and, in some circles, an unnecessary editorial comment that emphasized her gender over her performance.
Despite the distraction, Patrick stayed locked in. She started from the pole position and delivered a composed performance across all 500 miles. When the checkered flag waved, she finished P8, closing a day that ultimately confirmed her competitiveness despite the external noise.
Over the next five seasons, the SHR driver made 180 additional Cup Series starts before retiring in 2018. During that span, she added six more top-10 finishes, further cementing her place in a discipline that historically offered few sustained opportunities to women. Franco’s mistake became an anecdote; Patrick’s achievement became the legacy.
