How many drivers would have made it to this level if they didn't bring sponsorship funding or some other gimmick? Carl Edwards had a "rabbi" to help him (Benny Parsons) and Paul Menard, Buckshot Jones, Ben Hess, just to name a few, made the series because they had their own funds. Some rose to the occasion while others languished or fell by the way side.
Danica not just a calendar girl and the photos I've seen do not depict her in any light other than you would see your own daughter in a swim suit standing on the beach. Maybe in the world of some men, a female with a towel wrapped around them is an invitation of seduction.
The hype is generated because of Danica is a commodity but she is also a race car driver and she works hard at being one and doing the job at hand. It is easy to understand why so many of her detractors are tired of hearing about Danica, but she is the genuine article and she is much better than Lynn St. James, Janet Guthrie, Shawna Robinson or any of the other females who have tried to enter the top tier of NASCAR. If for no other reason than being a female instead of a male, I hope she wins races and proves the naysayers wrong. Proves that she does belong in this series based on hard work and ability rather than being photographed in a swim suit or scantily clad in a towel.
Here's to you, Danica! Best wishes for a successful career in NASCAR. May you win races while here and upon leaving on your terms, leave the sport a better sport because of your dedication and ability to face challenges.