Eight questions with: NASCAR driver Danica Patrick

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 12: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 12: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JANUARY 12: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Danica Patrick was already a popular celebrity prior to joining NASCAR, having appeared in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue and for her sponsor in television commercials during the Super Bowl among other things. The former IndyCar star announced that she would give up the open wheels for stockcars starting with a part-time schedule in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 2010.  Her transition became complete last season when she raced the entire Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. She finished with one pole, four top ten finishes and was tenth in the final championship standings.

This season will be yet another transition for Patrick. In 2013, Patrick is scheduled to compete fulltime in NASCAR’s top Sprint Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing. After an off season that included divorcing her husband of seven years, and questions surrounding her future TV commercials during the Super Bowl, along with rumors of her again competing in the Nationwide Series, Patrick is ready to focus her attention on her new Sprint Cup ride. Last week she was part of NASCAR’s preseason Thunder Sprint Cup test session at Daytona International Speedway.  MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.