Mooresville, NC (My Sportsbook) - JR Motorsports announced during a press conference held on Thursday that IndyCar racing star Danica Patrick will attempt to qualify for the February 20 Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in California and then the February 27 event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Patrick said she expects to compete in 13 Nationwide races for JRM in 2010. She will run a full-time schedule in the Izod IndyCar Series next season.

"It's such a great opportunity for me, especially coming into this NASCAR arena," Patrick said.

Patrick was joined by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt, Tony Eury Sr., Tony Eury Jr. and Kelly Bires during her formal introduction at JRM. Last week, Patrick confirmed that she would run a partial schedule in Nationwide next year. She will drive the No.7 Chevrolet for JRM, with Eury Jr. serving as her crew chief and GoDaddy.com sponsoring her team's efforts.

"I think we're going to be really competitive and run well," she added.

Patrick will make her stock car debut in the February 6 ARCA Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The 27-year-old driver will travel to Daytona Beach, FL later today to participate in a three-day ARCA test session at the 2.5-mile track. She tested a JR Motorsports Chevrolet at Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando last week.

JRM is undecided yet whether Patrick will compete in the February 13 Nationwide season-opening race at Daytona. She will spend much of her time with the team in the coming weeks.

"I think the more time Danica spends here, the more she will learn about the car," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I think it's a good idea for her to get familiar with a full-body stock car before entering Nationwide."

While accepting his seventh consecutive NASCAR "Most Popular Driver" Award two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Earnhardt Jr. said his sister, Kelley, and Eury Jr., who is his cousin and former crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series, had acquired ownership interest in JRM.

Bires will drive JRM's No.88 car in Nationwide next year, with Eury Sr. serving as his crew chief. The team plans to run the No.88 entry full-time, but still seeks sponsorship for several Nationwide races next season.

Last month, Patrick signed a three-year contract extension with Andretti Autosport to remain in IndyCar. She has been with Michael Andretti's team since 2007.

Patrick finished a career-best third in IndyCar points in 2009. She also finished third in this year's Indianapolis 500. In April 2008, Patrick became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race with her victory in Japan.