Filed Under » NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. became the latest big name in sports to sign on with Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports Agency and the first from the world of NASCAR.

"I feel like my brand is well-known among NASCAR fans, but I want it to grow beyond stock car racing," said Earnhardt, Jr. "And Jay-Z is where it's at right now. I am excited to work with him and the good folks at Roc Nation."

Earnhardt joins a Roc Nation client roster that includes Robinson Cano, Geno Smith, Skylar Diggins and Kevin Durant. The Earnhardt, Jr. partnership could allow Jay-Z to make plays for up-and-coming NASCAR stars such as Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard. Next could be forays into NHRA truck racing and professional bass fishing.

Jay-Z scoffs at those who suggest a pairing with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is an odd match.

"Why? Why would you say that? I think I know why you're saying that," said the entertainment mogul. "I aim to make Roc Nation the premier sports agency. This is legitimate. You can't pigeonhole me to just black athletes in the three major sports. You might want to, but you can't."

Jay-Z also vowed the partnership would "be far more successful" than the recent hip hop and country collaboration between LL Cool J and Brad Paisley.

Danica Patrick's car is out for Sunday's Fresh Fit 500, and is likely out for the season, after suffering what mechanics believe to be a torn engine. A look under the hood later today will confirm the diagnosis.

The car came out of a turn awkwardly during a practice run at Phoenix International Raceway. After sitting on the track for several minutes, the car drove off gingerly but under its own power. Footage of the incident showed the front of the car bending grotesquely, and sickened several who saw it.

"Obviously, this would be a big blow to our team, and we hope for the best right now," said Patrick, the car's driver. "But if the engine is torn, we'll just have to find another car and do our best. No one will feel sorry for us because we got a torn engine."

Patrick's backup car is an old Chevelle that hasn't raced in decades. Her team is reportedly scouting the waiver wire, used car lots and AutoTrader.com for other options.

NASCAR officials hope the sport of stock car racing will gain huge visibility among men following Jimmie Johnson's victory Sunday in the Daytona 500.

"I don't want to make this out to be just any other race," said NASCAR president Mike Helton. "This could be really big for us. I think Jimmie could bring in the male demo and grow the sport among men, making NASCAR bigger and better than ever."

Johnson said after his victory that he is more than happy to take on the pressure.

"I won't claim to speak for all men and I won't claim to represent all men," he said. "But I think I showed today that men can compete in auto racing and I hope I inspired a lot of boys out there to get into this sport. Maybe in the future we'll see men in the victory circle all the time."

Perhaps overshadowed by Johnson's victory was the fact that men finished in the first seven spots in the Daytona 500, with no women placing until Danica Patrick in eighth.

Danica Patrick will start from the pole position in Sunday's Daytona 500, motivated to become the first woman to win the prestigious race.

"Women have always heard how we're not big enough or strong enough to compete with men in sports and that we can't drive cars," said Patrick. "I want to be the one who proves to the world that women can drive cars."

In fact, women can drive cars in the United States and in every other country in the world, as well.

"I don't know about that," said Patrick. "If that were true, I wouldn't be so inspirational. No, I'm pretty sure car driving is not a thing most women are allowed to do."

According to studies, more women than men have drivers licenses in the United States.

"Look, if you go and stand by a road, I'm sure you'll see some cars not driven by women," said Patrick. "That's because not all women believe they can drive cars. But I'm out to prove that they can. So there."