This isn't that surprising. Most at the top of the list win, lead or both more than anyone else. The top 3 drivers won the most races. Kyle Busch led the most outside that group and is fourth on the list. The next one Gordon had the wild card drama against Busch, an unusual run of bad luck to mention etc....all things that get the most coverage.
Example. Bowyer had some great runs and wins, but he won his races late with great strategy. That is legit and not a criticism, but that is only manifested in the late stages, as in the last 20 percent of the race, prior to that he was typically under the radar.
Danica will get a lot of coverage, that will face scathing criticisms, and great applause.
But the coverage is unavoidable, this is the first female with a great team, great sponsorship etc committed to the entire schedule . Regardless of your thoughts about the nature of the coverage politics etc it has the newsworthy ground breaking or historical elements. I don't know the numbers but there will also will be little girls that will see a girlish girl to connect with, Danica has that girl/woman (no sarcasm or disrespect just stating the obvious) ability. In many cases those will be new eyes, and markets. She is also an industry within herself, maybe the best at image, in a field that requires an image for sponsor's and for personal items sells.
I see the business side and if media members ignore the money train producers will find someone else to hold the mics when there hot. To her credit Danica does make herself accessible, she gets a lot of interest and reciprocates, apparently she loves the camera and is fan friendly, marketing gold or dreams.
She also usually get involved in a skirmish and produces some drama. Occasionally she runs good too, in the end like it or not she cant be ignored. The purist in me isn't satisfied but there are a million other pure racing verse money conflicts, from the local level to the top. I wish it was all about the racing, the best drives isn't always the one that wins. Sometimes a 20th place car gets a 10th and gets little attention. But that's stuff for the hardcore, if you want that you will have to find it yourself, that will never change regardless of who covers.
