By Brian Bielanski, Editor
(RacingWire) - Danica Patrick is leaving her roots of open wheel racing to go full-time stock car racing in 2012.  Patrick will drive the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule with Dale Earnhardt Jr's JR Motorsports and select Sprint Cup Series races with Stewart-Haas Racing.

"We can finally put the rumors to rest - I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year," Danica told a crowded news conference at Go Daddy's Scottsdale headquarters. "I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season."

She is expected to move full-time to the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas in 2013.

"Danica has done a great job in a short amount of time for JR Motorsports," said Earnhardt Jr. "Her work ethic is probably the best of anyone in the sport. People don't understand how difficult it is to do what she did - racing two totally different cars at the same time. I'm glad she gets the opportunity to devote all of her attention to this car, because I think she's going to continue getting better. Danica has earned her place on the track, and I look forward to having her and Go Daddy back in the No. 7 car next year."

NASCAR is gaining an immediate star and the IZOD IndyCar series is losing it's most popular and marketable driver.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernhard said, "Danica has always been a great ambassador for INDYCAR, and there is no doubt  she has left a positive impression on our sport.  She has touched millions of fans and many that were new to motorsports. Danica attracted a fan base that every athlete and sports property in the world would love to have. We should give her a great farewell the rest of this season as she opens a new page in her career and wish her continued success with her new direction. "

Patrick currently drivers for Michael Andretti's Andretti Autosport.

"Danica enjoyed the most success ever by a female driver in the world of motorsports and was a leading marketing force within IndyCar," said Andretti. "I wish her only continued success in her career. I want to thank Danica for her valued time with our team. "

Tony Stewart's Stewart-Haas Racing is the big benficiary in this deal with plans to expand to a third car driven by Patrick in 2013.

“We’re very excited to have Danica Patrick and Go Daddy join Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012 for a limited NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with the intention of us running her full-time in Sprint Cup in 2013," said Stewart. "We’re proud of the fact she wants to come and be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing and what we’ve built with Ryan Newman and myself and all of our partners. Having Danica and Go Daddy as a combination at SHR is something we’re really looking forward to.

“The thing you see in Danica right away is how determined she is to be good at what she does. She’s very dedicated to taking the time and effort to make the transition from Indy cars to stock cars. She has talent, she has the right mindset and she has the proper drive and determination. It doesn’t matter who it is you’re looking for, those are the key attributes that you look for in a driver, and Danica’s got them.”

The other big winner is NASCAR.  Danica will bring her marketing machine to stock car racing at a time when all sports are competing tooth-and-nail for a limited pool of money.

“We are pleased Danica Patrick has chosen to race full time in NASCAR in 2012," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "She has demonstrated a strong desire to compete and NASCAR provides the best opportunity to race against the top drivers in the world with the largest and most loyal fan base in motorsports on a week-to-week basis. Danica has shown solid improvement in NASCAR and we believe her decision to run full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with additional races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will be exciting for our fans and a great challenge for her.”

Patrick's first Sprint Cup race will be the 2012 Daytona 500.  The rest of her 2012 Sprint Cup Schedule still hasn't been finalized.