That she is a woman in a male-dominated sport is not her introduction. At least it shouldn't be. Instead, 30-year-old NASCAR driver Danica Patrick can be best described as a racer who strives to drive with the competition in her rear-view.
On Monday (February 18), Patrick became the first woman to claim the pole position in NASCAR's Daytona 500. While it was a historic moment, she was not entirely surprised with her performance. "I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," she said.
Born in a Wisconsin family of Norwegian descent, Patrick took to cars early in her life. Karting gave way to Indy Car series and high speeds gave way to records. Named the rookie of the year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season, she has since been declared as the most successful woman in NASCAR's history. For Patrick though, nothing short of being the most successful 'driver' would do.
While she remains committed to racing, Patrick's talent has seen her hosting several TV shows and acting in CSI:NY. She also has a compassionate side and is the celebrity spokesperson for an awareness campaign against chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Her personal life has been under media glare too, especially after she announced a divorce with her husband of seven years - Paul Edward Hospenthal. It is speculated that she is currently dating 2-time NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion and fellow Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
The racing track though is where Patrick makes the biggest news. While she has been criticized by few as someone whose light bodyweight helps her propel the car (body-car weight ratio), others have argued that it is the same which also acts against her because of lesser endurance. Speculations, praise and ciriticisms aside, Patrick has been at the forefront of letting her car do the talking and with her latest achievement, only the chequered flag can be the limit for this dynamic sportsperson.