HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - In her 50th career start, Danica Patrick finally won her first IndyCar race on Sunday. The historic victory, in the Indy Japan 300 on the Twin Ring Motegi, was the first by a female in that series.

Although some pundits will conclude it was a fuel-mileage win since the leaders were forced to pit in the closing laps, it doesn't matter. Out of 18 contenders, Patrick, 26, was the best on Sunday. Period.

Nearly a year ago, we asked: Where is NASCAR's Lewis Hamilton? Now, the question begs: Where is NASCAR's Danica Patrick?

If open wheel can groom minorities to fill the seats in Formula One and IndyCars in much smaller fields, why hasn't there been a female or black racer groomed for the podium in stock cars? There's really no excuse.

Some young minority drivers claim that Juan Pablo Montoya's arrival at the Sprint Cup level has satisfied NASCAR's need to have a face of color among the sport's top ranks. Some owners in the garage resent the fact that the onus is on the teams and sponsors to bankroll the development programs rather than NASCAR itself. And some perfectly talented females simply haven't had the necessary support systems to protect their racing interests.

That's about to change. Chrissy Wallace signed a contract with Germain Racing on Wednesday to run for rookie honors in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2009. She will run an additional six races this season, starting with the Milwaukee Mile on June 20.

"I'm extremely excited," Wallace said. "This is a big deal for us. When I saw my name on that contract, I almost couldn't believe it. But I'm thrilled about this opportunity."

Wallace, 19, made her debut in the No. 03 Geico Tundra at Martinsville Speedway on March 29. Although she qualified 35th, Wallace raced to an 18th-place finish.

Having connections like Tony Stewart should open doors for Chrissy Wallace. ( Jason Smith / Getty Images)

Wallace said after her run the Germains realized, "Hey, she can actually drive. We need to do something with her. If we don't get on the bandwagon, someone else is going to sign her."

It was a pro-active move for Germain Racing, which is likely to pay large dividends for both the team and Toyota.

What separates this third-generation racer from her female competitors is a simple equation of experience, talent and support. Wallace graduated through the typical racing ranks — Bandoleros, Legends and Late Model Stock cars. She blossomed in the different divisions and became the first female in 57 years to win at Hickory Motor Speedway.

And her athleticism extends beyond the wheel. She lettered in both basketball and softball. Her skills in the latter earned her a scholarship at Lenoir-Rhyne College, but she turned down the opportunity to focus on racing.

Finally, Wallace's support from her family — including her mother Carla, father Mike, uncles Rusty and Kenny and former track champion Russ — cannot be denied. The Wallace clan was won at every stock-car level, and their knowledge of racing and NASCAR's machinations is priceless.

But Wallace has also earned the respect and backing of Tony Stewart, whose far-reaching tentacles touch many levels in motorsports. In racing, as in business, it's all about who you know. No, most rising racers don't have Wallace's contacts, but without her gift, it simply wouldn't matter.

Although Wallace didn't see Patrick's win, she's proud of what the IndyCar racer accomplished. One day Wallace hopes to accomplish the same feat in NASCAR.

"Danica got her foot in the door and showed that a female can go out there and win," Wallace said. "She proved that. She could very well be the first female to win the title.