Danica Patrick: NASCAR’s most popular female racer hanging up her keys
Danica Patrick, the 35-year-old advertising spokesperson, author and model who rose to fame as one of NASCAR’s most successful female drivers, broke down in tears on November 17 when she announced her retirement from racing. Patrick said that her retirement will become effective after she races in 2018’s Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 competitions. At her news conference yesterday, Patrick said that her decision to hang up her keys came about after she experienced certain “nudges” which included issues she had this year with her sponsors, according to The Washington Post.
One of her sponsors, Nature Bakery, terminated their association with her in January 2017. The Post quoted Patrick as saying through her tears “I definitely faced situations at the beginning of the year that I’ve never faced before. “It made me think about things.” MSN quoted the racer as saying, “I feel like this is where my life should be headed, and sometimes we just get kind of nudged there. Sometimes it’s big nudges and sometimes it’s little.”
And although Patrick may be one of the most beloved and popular NASCAR racers, she isn’t exactly one of the most successful when it comes to the number of wins under her belt. Patrick competed in a total of 365 races. Her only big win was the 2008 Indy Japan 300. In 2016, she finished 24th overall in NASAR wins; and that was her best year ever. Her lack of wins had a lot to do with her sponsorship woes.
Still, Patrick managed to come in fourth as 2016’s highest-earning sportswoman, who earned a little less than $14 million that year. Only tennis’ Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, and MMA’s Ronda Rousey earned more, according to the BBC. “I feel like this is where my life should be headed,” the tearful Patrick announced during her press conference. “I am done after May.”
Patrick’s latest endeavor is her 90-day workout program book, Pretty Intense, a title which is scheduled for release on December 26, 2017. On her Instagram page, Patrick wrote: “you don’t have to wait until then to try the 90 day workout program portion of the book that I have written and tested all of! (Yes, it was time consuming! 😜 I can’t wait to help get others get stronger both physically, as well as mentally! There will also be a nutritional plan to go with it 😋. Go to @prettyintensebydanica to find out more and sign up.
Written by: Ace News Today Staff
