Danica Patrick to be First Woman to Race in Daytona 500 Since 2002
Danica Patrick will be the first woman to participate in the Daytona 500 since Shawna Robinson in 2002.
Patrick will make her Sprint Cup Series debut this upcoming Sunday when this year's Daytona 500 race will kick off and she has stated in the past that her gender has little to do with the kind of competitor she brings to the track.
"I'm excited about the world I'm getting into and about the racing and the people and all the great things that are going to happen," said Patrick to the Florida Times-Union.
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"Talent-wise, in my mind, there's no doubt she can do it," said Tony Stewart, her boss and fellow driver regarding Patrick's chances of winning the race.
The Go Daddy spokeswoman aims to be a fierce competitor on the track, but in her spare time she spends most of it with her husband and trainer Paul Hospenthal.
"I can cook and sew," said Patrick to MSN.Foxsports. "I like to take care of my husband and be a good wife. But I like to be capable of a lot of things it's confidence building."
She enjoys simple things while at home such as yoga and a bottle of quality red wine. Patrick describes herself as a creative person.
"It's nice to do things and create things on your own," she added. "I guess I'm more of a creative, artistic mind that I am a math mind."
While away from race track, Patrick avoids talking about her profession and aims to make the most out of her free time. But despite that, Patrick still remains dedicated to what she does.
"She's very, very dedicated," said Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "It's not just to racing, she's really dedicated to NASCAR. It's crazy, but I think she wants it more than anybody out here when you talk to her."
He believes Patrick is instrumental for making the sport grow.
