CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - Danica Patrick refuses to get down on herself even though her first full season on the Sprint Cup series has been a struggle.

Patrick is 28th in the Sprint Cup point standings after 11 races and has just one top-10 finish, that in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Patrick, speaking at a promotional event Wednesday in Concord, N.C., told The Associated Press "at the end of the day it's about keeping your head up" and "not getting discouraged to the point where it takes away from potential."

Patrick has particularly struggled on 1.5-mile tracks, which leaves her concerned about her chances at Sunday's marathon Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

She says "if things don't go well it could get really bad" because of the length of the race.

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