Last Update on February 09, 2010 03:30 EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Danica Patrick is set to make her NASCAR debut this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

The IndyCar star will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in Saturday's second-tier Nationwide Series race.

The decision announced Monday to race at Daytona was made after team officials dissected her stock-car racing debut in the ARCA race at Daytona on Saturday. The team had left the option to race up to Patrick, who wanted to assess her first race before deciding whether to enter one of the most prestigious Nationwide races of the season.

Patrick overcame a midrace spin to finish sixth. She had been hesitant to make her debut at Daytona because of the top talent that race attracts.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler is close to returning from a foot injury that has sidelined him for 22 games.

When he does come back, he'll come off the bench -- at least for now.

Chandler participated in his first full practice Monday since being sidelined just before Christmas with a stress reaction in his left foot. Chandler says it's possible he could play some on Tuesday against Washington.

Bobcats coach Larry Brown says Nazr Mohammed will continue to start at center as Chandler works back into form.

Chandler is averaging 6.6 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Bobcats after being acquired from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor in the offseason.

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Bridgette Mitchell and Keturah Jackson scored 12 points apiece, and No. 8 Duke routed No. 18 North Carolina 79-51 on Monday night to bounce back from its first Atlantic Coast Conference loss.

Krystal Thomas had 11 points for the first-place Blue Devils . They never trailed and dominated nearly every stat category -- their 52-28 rebounding advantage included a 35-12 edge in the second half -- in avoiding its first ACC losing streak in a decade.

She'la White and Laura Broomfield had 10 points each to lead the slumping Tar Heels . They had no shortage of reasons why they lost their third straight ACC game for the first time since 2001-02.

They had 25 turnovers, shot 24 percent in the second half and managed just two field goals over the late 10-minute stretch in which it got out of hand.