I don’t know much about auto racing, but I know of Danica Patrick. I know even less about UFC, but I know of Ronda Rousey.

Fox Sports is counting on both women to help deliver big ratings this weekend. Saturday night, Rousey will make her UFC debut. Sunday, Patrick, sitting in the pole position, will be the feature attraction for the Daytona 500.

Writes Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News:

Eric Shanks, the Fox Sports co-president and executive producer, gets the best of both worlds. He’s in Florida with his network’s coverage of what’s become an unprecedented moment in NASCAR history. But he’ll also be monitoring the events of the UFC landmark moment from his laptop (computer, that is), knowing Fox could darn well have Rousey show up someday soon on one of its mixed-martial arts cards.

“Two of the greatest female athletes in a male-dominated event on center stage – the only thing better would be to have Ronda fighting on Fox Saturday before Danica on Sunday,” Shanks said Thursday afternoon.

Rousey figures to attract an audience Saturday night. Patrick is a bit more of a wildcard because she still has to perform in the race. If she says in contention throughout, big number for Fox.

Said Shanks:

“I’m not sure on Monday morning whether we’ll be able to pinpoint any one particular thing that that will attract viewers to this – Danica’s part of it, but there’s also some other NASCAR rookies to bring new blood, the new car designs … there’s a ton of things converging here.

“At the end of the day, you just hope that it’s kind of an eye-opener – here’s two women at the top of their perspective sports, in sports considered hands down very male-dominated. It’s a cliché, but the idea that sports can brings stories to life that no one could ever write keeps bearing itself out time and time again. It’s fantastic.”