End Of An Era

Today was kind of a bitter sweet day for me. I got to watch my favorite driver, Danica Patrick for the last time drive in a Nascar race. It didn't work out like she was hoping for since she got caught up in someone else's wreck and I was really hoping she would've finished top-10 or got her first win. At Daytona, it's anyone's race there.
She was back in her iconic GoDaddy green car with her number 7 which was her first number she got when she first joined Nascar in 2010 doing it part time before joining full time.
A lot of folks didn't like her, but I did because she was a driver who wanted to win and even at 5'2", she didn't back down, when necessary, from confronting someone who wrecked her. She is very attractive, but she' passionate about succeeding when behind the wheel.
She lost her ride last year after 5 years at the Cup level which is the top level in Nascar. She spent 3 years in the Nationwide series which is the series below the Cup level.
She started out in the Indy series in 2005 and I was a fan ever since. She will drive in the Indy 500 one more time and she actually has the most success there than any female racer ever. She even won once in the Indy series when they raced in Japan in 2008.
It's gonna be weird after that not seeing her behind the wheel anymore. She's already started a clothing line, has a wine vineyard in California, has a workout book, and even wrote a cookbook so her future is hers and it's bright.
I wish her well and at the same time I'm gonna miss watching her.
She was my last favorite driver which started with Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart in 2000. My belated Uncle got me hooked on Nascar when he gave me a 1999 Jeff Gordon Star Wars diecast car.
Loved watching the races and seeing the cool paint schemes. First Bobby lost his ride in the late 2000's, then in 2015 Jeff retired, then 2016 was Tony's last year leaving Danica.
She lost her ride due to her sponsor leaving the team after one year after signing a 3 year contract. They enjoyed the money and business Danica brought them , but they didn't wanna spend it sponsoring her.
Her car owner couldn't find a sponsor so she decided to call it quits since she couldn't find a quality ride any where.
Female racers in Nascar is rare and not many had the success Danica had. Nascar needs more cause there are some talented female drivers out there, but it seems some owners are biased  and don't wanna hire any.
I'm officially done with Nascar until they get live up to the "diversity" they preach about and get more another or more females in the sport. the NHRA has some successful drivers like the Force sisters and many others. Nascar has a problem and need to get it fixed.
My sundays are now freed up till football starts again.
Gonna be different for me.