Danica Patrick confirmed on Friday that she is dating fellow Nascar driver Ricky Stenhouse.
Rumors had been flying that Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse may be an item, but the duo chose to hold on off on discussing their involvement until the end of the week at Charlotte Motor Speedway so the focus up until that point would be on racing.
In an exclusive telephone interview with the Associated Press Patrick announced, “I have a boyfriend, his name is Richard.” Stenhouse later confirmed he and Patrick are together.
“I think I am just finally excited to tell someone about this,” said Patrick.
The 30-year old Patrick is coming off a seven year marriage to Paul Hospenthal, age 47. Ricky Stenhouse is 25 and has never been married.
As a woman in a male dominated sport, Danica Patrick first entered the spotlight as a rookie driver in the Indianapolois 500. Patrick finished the Indy 500 fourth in 2005 and third in 2009.
Danica Patrick began testing her tires on the Nascar track in 2009 and moved over full time last year. Though her success has been limited so far with only seven top-10 finishes in 58 starts since 2010, Patrick was voted by fans as their favorite driver last year. Female Nascar fans likely enjoy seeing one of their own take on the boys, and the fellows have been rumored to recognize that Patrick is easy on the eyes.
Though Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse have been racing against one another for a couple of years, public knowledge that they are together will bring a new element to watching them compete. Both Patrick and Stenhouse have commented that their relationship will not affect how they race. Time will tell.
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