Are racing wedding bells about to ring for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick?

November 4, 5:26 PMTampa Bay Sports ExaminerTed Fleming

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Danica Patrick at the 2009 preseason testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Ted Fleming / TBSN Sports Media

If there was ever an auto racing marriage that could be in the best interest of both parties it is Dale Earnhardt Jr. walking down pit row with Dainca Patrick. The most popular drivers in their respective sanctioning bodies, NASCAR and IndyCar, they are about to get hitched as Patrick explores how to drive a vehicle with fenders attached.

Already somewhat joined at the hip with sponsorship deals with GoDaddy.com, Patrick is slated to drive for Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports team for two years in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series although she is contractually bound to race in all IndyCar events for Andretti-Green Racing.

Patrick recently inked a three-year extension with AGR meaning she will not be able to compete full-time with JRM due to schedule conflicts with NNWS.

The 2005 IndyCar Rookie of the Year has been long rumored to be exploring a move to NASCAR and once the details are finalized Patrick could make her first appearance just up I-95 from where IndyCar preseason tests take place in Homestead. However, her first race could be in the ARCA Series, not Nationwide, at Daytona International Speedway during February’s Speedweeks competition.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series kicks off 2010 with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on February 7. IndyCar begins its 2010 season March 14 in Brazil before their United States opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg about a four-hour drive west of Daytona.

A move from open wheel racing to NASCAR is no guarantee of success with Dario Franchitti returning to IndyCar after a less than stellar rookie campaign in Sprint Cup. In his first year back in open wheel he copped the driver’s championship edging out Scott Dixon.

On the flip side, Juan Pablo Montoya, who left Formula One and CART, has but one victory in 106 career NASCAR starts but is currently in fourth place, 239 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

Patrick has the luxury to learn on NASCAR’s second tier before she will make any decision to move to Sprint Cup on a more permanent basis or remain with IndyCar.

Earnhardt, after he was unable to secure majority ownership of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated from his stepmother Teresa, moved to Hendrick Motorsports. Since his departure, DEI has had a number of sponsorship issues causing them to merge with Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates forming Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

JR Motorsports currently runs a pair of cars in the Nationwide Series, the #s 5 and 88, using Hendrick engines and chassies. Hendrick and Earnhart Jr. merged their Nationwide teams in 2008.

SPEED BUMPS: Rick Hendrick was reported to have played a part in the negotiations between Earnhardt and Patrick ….. The ARCA race is tentative until the contract becomes official and NASCAR approves Patrick to drive in the Nationwide Series. If not, her NNWS debut could be delayed until February 21 in California at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana ….. Patrick could inherit the #88 now that Brad Keselowski has signed on to Penske for 2010 ….. The #88 is currently sponsored by Degree V12 but that affiliation could change to GoDaddy.com as the primary once the deal in finalized.