I am not a big Nascar fan. She may not be the elite of the elite but she does play by the same rules as everyone else regarding qualification....no?

And yes, she receives a lot of attention because she is a female in a male dominated sport and attractive. There are plenty of athletes male and female who are not the best in their respective sport, but receive a lot of attention for their looks. Maybe it isn't right or fair, but that's life. Good looking athletes receive a lot of attention and endorsements.