Danica Patrick is reportedly close to joining the NASCAR circuit.

   ESPN.com says, according to sources close to negotiations, the female IndyCar driver is on the verge of signing a two-year deal with JR Motorsports.

   The Nationwide Series team is owned by Dale Earnhardt Junior.

   The deal will reportedly be completed within a week to 10 days and would be announced at the conclusion of the Chase for the Cup later this month.

   The sources say she could drive in 12 or 13 Nationwide races, if she's approved by NASCAR for the series' Daytona event in February.

   Earlier this year, she signed a three-year extension with Andretti Green Racing.

   With IndyCar's schedule is spread out over seven and-a-half months, she should be able race both on both circuits.
   Earnhardt and Patrick both have endorsements with GoDaddy.com.

   Patrick is the first woman to win a major non-drag racing event in a major American circuit.

   In 2005, she became the first woman to lead a lap at the Indy 500.



   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)