Danica Patrick Told To ‘Shut Up And Race’ By Fellow Driver

Danica Patrick was told to “shut up and race” by fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland. The comment came through Gilliland’s PR representative after Patrick took exception to the way he raced her on Sunday.

Patrick told her team over the radio during Sunday’s STP 400, “He tries to take me out every time. Tell his spotter that I’m coming after him if he does it again. In fact, I might just do it right now.”

Danica didn’t follow through on the threat. She also refused to conduct any post-race interviews, despite her decent finish. But Gilliland did choose to respond after placing 23rd in Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.

Through his spokeswoman, Shari Spiewak, Gilliland told Danica, “Shut up and race.”

With those words said, it is apparent that not every driver likes NASCAR’s sole female Sprint Cup driver. Both drivers are fairly similar in their race outcomes. They are both outside the top 20 in points. While Gilliland finished Sunday’s race in 23rd, Danica Patrick finished in 25th.

And Gilliland’s driving wasn’t the only thing to upset Patrick during the STP 400. The race was also frustrated when a piece of litter got stuck to her grille, forcing her car’s water temperature to rise. The situation led to an unscheduled pit stop for the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.

The lack of comment after the race by Danica likely shows how frustrated she has been by what she feels are lackluster results in the Sprint Cup series. However, the former IndyCar driver did release comments through a spokesman. She said:

“It’s disappointing because I think we could have had a much better finish with the Go Daddy car, but [trash on the grille] is one of those things that’s out of our control.”

Thanks to her finish at Kansas on Sunday, Patrick improves one spot in the Cup standings. She is now ranked 25th.

Do you think David Gilliland is right, that Danica Patrick should “shut up and race?”

[Image via Beelde Photography / Shutterstock.com]