Tuesday, January 18th 'What If' Question

Without the media it would be hard for celebrities and athletes to get the attention they do. Known as a media frenzy, every sport has an athlete or situation that ignites months if not year long coverage of every possible detail.

This past season NASCAR had their own media frenzy when Danica Patrick made her NASCAR debut. Entering the stock car world from that of open-wheel and the IndyCar Series, Patrick became the biggest story of the year. Every move, every word, every action on the racetrack, commercial or appearance was broken down and covered.

Fans were turned off by the constant coverage of 'Danicamania.' It was often heard that she wasn't the only driver on the track. She wasn't good enough to warrant the attention she received. Or that she shouldn't even be in the sport and should have chose just one sport.

Others sat back and enjoyed watching the female try and hang with the big boys. The first half of the year was frustrating as the learning curve was evident. The second half, when Patrick returned to tracks for the second time, change and improvement were evident. One of the biggest days in Patrick and her fans lives from 2010 came when she was spun out at California.

She was running in the top 15 with less than 20 laps to go. James Buescher appeared to have not been pleased with how Patrick was racing him or how close she came to him. Going down the backstretch he turned left and sent her head on into the wall. Her day ended with another 30 something place finish instead of a career best.

Again, the story was fully covered and broken down. Her side, his side, fans side, other drivers side. Everyone had an opinion and got their 15 minutes. Patrick was the top story in NASCAR for 2010.

But ...

What if Danica Patrick had not come to #NASCAR in 2010, in whose direction would the media frenzy been aimed at this season?

@Talon64:They probably would've focused on Denny as the JJ-killer, especially after his run of wins after the ACL surgery. #NASCAR

@BigBankHank18: different media member have their own favorite targets Junior, Kyle, JG, JJ or Smoke, depends on media member

@WhateverJoel: No one. The media just wouldn't have cared about Nationwide.

@cruetten: I think Jennifer Jo Cobb would've gotten a lot more attention and air time.

@MattEmbury: Kelly...do we really want to know that? I hope not. hehe

@StrokerAce90: um, that's a nice "What If" question, if I may say... Was there even a media frenzy in or around #NASCAR before Danica? If so, I never noticed... It was because of the media frenzy that Danica created by coming to NASCAR that I went to Time Warner & got a cable box just so I could get the Speed channel to see her race, assuming that was the channel to view Nascar races on. [I never watched her Indy races] That being said, with out Danica, the 2011 media frenzy would most likely be aimed at the other Jimmy Johnson & his Extenze car because that's what I hear about the most from my non Nascar friends.

Andy Marquis (via Facebook): It'd be endless Jimmie Johnson worship.

Ty McClain (via Facebook): Jr. Who else?

William Duane Cox (via Facebook) I guess the Dale Jr fans would hear about Jr's problems ... again and again... *sigh* I hope he does better... not a Jr fan, the the young guy needs a break... the fan pressure is enormous... And it appears Jennifer Jo Cobb may get a ride in the "B" Series... I'm rooting for her... and I don't hate Danica... just hope she does well as well... she has built a great publicity machine, but that has put a lot of self-inflicted pressure on her.