Danica Patrick finished a career-best 24th at the NASCAR at the Dollar General 300 at Joliet, besting her 30th place finish a week earlier.

However, the thought of her best finish being because she has knowledge of the Joliet track since she has spent time there in an IndyCar is not true.

“This track looks nothing the same in Indy cars as opposed to stock cars," Patrick said. "In an IndyCar, you are running so low and fast that it seems flat. In stock cars, it's completely different. It is a big arc on the way in and a big arc into three. Other than knowing the way in and out of the pits, it's hard to compare the two cars on this track. There is not a ton of grip in these cars compared to what I am used to in IndyCar.”

The race was also the closest she’s competed in to her home town of Roscoe, IL, which is less than two hours from Joliet.

“It is the closest to where I grew up,” she said. “I always feel lucky I have the fans. When I am driving on to pit road I feel an extra oomph. There are guys giving the pump of the fist and a cheer and that might be because I am local.” The fan support was out in numbers, as Patrick got a roar of an ovation from the fans at pre-race introductions.

Her car was mobbed on pit road prior to the race by photographers, media, fans and security.

All the fan support is helpful to Patrick, who has not had a great season on the track in either series.

“Anytime it gets bad you have to remember how lucky you are that you have people always around you wanting autographs and that you have people constantly rooting you on,” Patrick said. “I feel bad because it is not better, but that is just life and in life, you don’t always have good days. I wish I was higher up because it is better for the fans and it is a better story. It is just very hard. It just speaks volumes of how good these drivers.”

Patrick is scheduled to return to Joliet for the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 on August 28.