About
Danica Patrick broke ground in motorsports long before she ever took a victory lap. She became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race with her 2008 triumph in Japan, then shifted to NASCAR’s top tier, where she spent seven seasons before calling time on her driving career in 2018. Today she is still a familiar voice and face on race day, joining Mike Tirico and Jimmie Johnson on NBC’s Indianapolis 500 studio team and popping up as a guest analyst for other marquee events. Off‑track, Patrick’s entrepreneurial engine runs just as hard: she founded Somnium, a boutique Napa Valley winery whose Cabernet‑driven reds reflect her love of bold flavors, launched the athleisure label “Warrior by Danica Patrick,” released the fitness‑and‑lifestyle book Pretty Intense, and hosts a weekly “Pretty Intense” podcast that dives into high‑performance mind‑sets with athletes, doctors, and thought leaders.
Before Fame
Patrick was born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin, and grew up just across the border in Roscoe, Illinois. Her parents, Bev and T. J. Patrick, owned a coffee shop and glass company, yet still hauled her kart and gear to races every weekend; dad doubled as crew chief while mom kept lap charts. By age 10 she was winning local kart events, and at 13 she convinced her family to criss‑cross the Midwest for tougher competition. In 1996 the Lyn St. James Foundation selected her for its driver‑development program, an early vote of confidence. Two years later, the teenager packed a suitcase and headed to England—alone—to hone her craft in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford. Living abroad, she learned to navigate rainy circuits, tight budgets, and homesickness but returned to the U.S. with sharper race‑craft and a résumé that impressed IndyCar scouts.
Trivia
- History maker: Patrick remains the only woman to win an IndyCar event and still holds the best female finish (third) in the historic Indianapolis 500.
- Commercial favorite: Her 14 GoDaddy Super Bowl spots make her the most‑featured celebrity in the game’s advertising history.
- Screen time: She has guest‑acted on CSI: NY, voiced herself on The Simpsons and South Park, and appears as a playable character in Sonic & All‑Stars Racing Transformed.
- Award show host: In 2018 she was the first woman to emcee the ESPY Awards, adding live TV emcee to her resume.
- Fitness advocate: Her workout app and book focus on weight circuits, yoga, and whole-food eating—disciplines she attributes to endurance in the cockpit and beyond.
Family Life
Family has always been Patrick’s pit crew. She often thanks her parents for “betting the farm” on her dream and posted a throwback photo celebrating a marathon memory with her younger sister, Brooke, noting they still push each other to stay active.As for romance, the driver’s high‑profile relationships have included fellow racer Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and entrepreneur Carter Comstock. She and Comstock broke up in 2022, and in a 2025 interview Patrick stated she’s happily single and concentrating on personal development after declaring the Rodgers period “emotionally draining.” When she’s not on the road, she divides her time between Scottsdale, Arizona, and Napa Valley, enjoying walks with her rescue dogs and family meals that always lead to raucous storytelling.
Associated With
Patrick’s career is interwoven with some of racing’s biggest names and brands. GoDaddy backed her from IndyCar through her final NASCAR start, turning the green‑and‑orange logo into a cultural touchstone. Three‑time Cup champion Tony Stewart signed her to Stewart‑Haas Racing in 2012, praising her bravery and work ethic even as skeptics questioned the move. On the broadcast side, she shares the booth with Mike Tirico and seven‑time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson each Memorial Day weekend, adding firsthand insights that fans appreciate. Patrick has a long-standing relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well; he’s been a guest on her podcast, and their raw discussions on concussions, family life, and life post-racing frequently yield viral highlights. Off the oval, she partners with wellness professionals, winemakers, and business coaches, demonstrating the same brashness that took her into the record books now propelling her into new possibilities—one daring project at a time.