Danica, Danica, Danica!!

It's Danica time again...

If you've been surfing any of the major sports websites for, oh...the past three years or so, about this time every season the rumor mill starts revolving around Danica Patrick - will she leave the IRL? More importantly, will she come to NASCAR?

The reports have once again started cropping up - whether you're looking at NASCAR.com, Fox Sports or even (I kid you not) CNN - everybody is talking about Danica moving to NASCAR.

Well everybody, that is, except Danica.

Sure, the apparent infighting amongst the IRL brass has Patrick saying that she is keeping her options open, since the last thing she wants is a long-term contract if the series is going to continue to be more about boardroom politics than racing, but as far as anyone knows, Danica hasn't talked to a single NASCAR team about switching series.

And, frankly, why should she?

It is funny to listen to the NASCAR media debate the merits of a move by Danica to stock-car racing - they carry on about how it will help her career, she'll be overwhelmed with endorsements and big paychecks and generally become a big star.

They might be right, but last time I checked - Danica already has all those things.

My guess, and hopefully I'm not being too presumptuous, is that Danica currently has no problem paying her bills. She's already got more TV commercials than all but the top NASCAR drivers, and based on the controversy she stirred up in an interview this week - it is apparent that the sports media is already hanging on her every word.

Everyone keeps talking about how much NASCAR could help Danica, but the truth is - NASCAR needs Danica more than she needs them.

Let's face it - NASCAR has an image problem when it comes to diversity, and Danica offers the perfect solution. For once, the Cup Series would have a female driver that is competitive, marketable and recognizable. 

In that respect, Danica would be great for NASCAR, but what happens if she looks like Dario Franchitti behind the wheel and gets unceremoniously booted from the series? Or worse yet, what if NASCAR penalizes all of the personality out of her, like they've done with drivers like Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick?

Bottom line: Danica is talented enough to race in NASCAR, but why would she want to? She is making money, getting endorsements, made the Forbes list of most powerful celebrities and she's the most popular driver in her sport not to have won a "Dancing with the Stars" title.

Why give that up?