"I didn’t plan any of this": When Danica Patrick got real about how her racing retirement unfolded

Danica Patrick has been known for her contributions to the NASCAR and IndyCar Series and claimed her maiden IndyCar win at the 2008 Indy Japan 300.

She announced her retirement from both the stock and open-wheel car racing series in 2017, and in a reflective piece for The Players’ Tribune the following year, Patrick opened up about her decision to step away from racing.

"This isn’t how I envisioned the end of my career playing out. I didn’t plan any of this. It actually began with a pretty big jolt when I lost my sponsor last fall. That was really hard. My passion for racing has never wavered. I don’t think it ever will," mentioned Danica Patrick.

Patrick spent five full seasons behind the wheel in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2013 to 2017. She claimed a pole at the 2013 Daytona 500, which was a first for a woman and recorded her best Cup finish, at fourth place, in the 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. That same season also brought her first top-10 finish in 77 races, taking tenth at Dover. Yet 2017 was rocky. She had an average finish of 23.8, eleven DNFs, and only one top‑ten, which placed her 28th in the standings.

After her longtime primary sponsor, GoDaddy, withdrew support, her ride at Stewart‑Haas Racing ended, and the then 36‑year‑old called it quits on her full‑time NASCAR career at Homestead‑Miami.

Patrick did return for two final races the following year, the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. However, her farewell didn't unfold as planned. In Daytona, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports, she was entangled in a six‑car crash on lap 102 and finished 35th. At the Indy 500 with Ed Carpenter Racing, her last run also ended prematurely after her car clipped the wall.

Danica Patrick on being inspired 'to start different companies' by her other passions

Danica Patrick started various businesses after her retirement, a wine brand, Somnium, based in Northern California, a home scent collection, Voyant, and a clothing line, Warrior.

In her Players’ Tribune piece, she revealed the personal evolution behind her career shift.

"I've always been interested in other things… I love to travel, cook, work out and experience nature… I've recently started leaning into these passions more and more, and I've even been inspired by them to start different companies," Danica Patrick wrote.

Patrick also currently hosts a weekly podcast, "Pretty Intense," and serves as a race analyst for Formula 1 events for Sky Sports. The 43-year-old returned to the IndyCar Series as a broadcast analyst for Fox Sports to cover this year's Indy 500 with Tony Stewart and Chris Myers.