And the answer is… yes, she will!

An official announcement was made Tuesday afternoon (December 8th) ending over eight months of speculation and rampant rumors on whether or not she would make a move to NASCAR in 2010.

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Patrick will run a partial schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, a team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick. Patrick and Earnhardt Jr. are both sponsored by GoDaddy.com. The internet company will sponsor Patrick in both racing leagues.

“It’s been a long time coming, but the stars finally aligned for me with Go Daddy and JRM,” Patrick said. “I have always said I love to drive, and if I could make it work to race in both IndyCar and NASCAR – with the right sponsor, like GoDaddy.com and the right team, like JRM – then I’d love to drive in NASCAR!”

She will continue to run full-time in the IndyCar Series while pursuing NASCAR. Her stock car debut will come in the ARCA Re/Max Series race at Daytona International Speedway on February 6, 2010. Although her Nationwide Series debut could come in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, it is almost certain she’ll race at Auto Club Speedway, the second series’ race on the ’10 schedule.

Patrick will drive the bright green no. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series.

For the official GoDaddy.com press release, click here.

A press conference was held on Thursday, Dec. 17th at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, North Carolina to introduce JRM’s 2010 line-up. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick fielded questions from the media along with Kelley Earnhardt and Kelly Bires, the newly named driver of the no. 88 in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. Bires replacing Brad Keselowski.

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

When will Danica make her official NASCAR race debut? It was one of the biggest questions of the day. Will it happen at Daytona International Speedway?

“The race is basically a Cup race — some 30-odd drivers from Cup (are) running that race, and is that the right time for me to start or not? I’m really not sure,” Patrick said. “You only get one grand opening, as I’ve heard. We want it to be the right opportunity. We want to make sure everything is going the right direction, and everyone is on board with that. There is support across the board if I do or don’t do it. It’s just really a matter of time when we make that decision. We don’t want to over-commit and underdeliver.”

JR Motorsports Director of Competition, Tony Eury Sr. added, “The biggest decision is going to be made, Danica is going to make it.  She doesn’t know what to expect. I think she wants to wait until after the ARCA race (Feb. 6). She wants to do good. She doesn’t want to start off with negative press. If she thinks she can be in the Nationwide race and be a competitive car in the race, I think you’ll see her there running. If she doesn’t think she’s quite ready for that after the ARCA race, I don’t think you’ll see her there. … Whatever her decision is, we’ll be prepared for it.”