Danica Patrick has never struggled to find the spotlight even after retiring as a racer. Even before Hollywood star James Franco waved the flag at the 2013 Daytona 500 with – “Drivers and Danica! Start your engines” – there has been controversy and talk surrounding the most popular female racer NASCAR has seen. An icon for women in sports, she has made a fortune through her multiple business ventures after hanging up her racing fire suit.

While her career is certainly the first of a kind, the issues that she constantly finds herself surrounded by, seldom sit well with the NASCAR fandom. Now with the 41-year-old’s name being hit around the topic of a “Hall of Fame” entry, criticisms have already begun breaking the dam.

Is Danica Patrick’s name up for a Hall of Fame consideration?

“Is Danica Patrick a Hall of Famer” – this was probably one of the most searched questions on Google when Patrick retired in 2018. While she mentioned that she was honored by the idea of it, it wasn’t why she raced in NASCAR. Yet, the 2016 IndyCar Champion Simon Pagenaud pitched for her. As reported by apnews.com, he advocated, “I think she’s the best female there ever was, right? You’ve got to give her credit for what she’s done (…) She was the only woman in NASCAR. She’s the only woman to win an IndyCar race. You’ve got to respect that.”

While the words of Pagenaud were completely true and there were many along the lines of him voicing their support for Patrick to be an inductee into the hall, we never saw it happen. Even now, five years after the events of May 2018 – she is yet to find her name in that elite list. Even though we are unsure how long the wait will be before her name gets in there, the tides of public opinion have changed a lot in these years.

Danica Patrick is involved in an ever-piling-up list of controversies. A recent post by ‘The Daily Downforce’ suggesting her induction has riled up fans against her claiming that she was “not even close”.

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Danica Patrick does not have the support of the fandom to enter the Hall of Fame

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In recent days alone, Patrick has found herself earning the wrath of the fandom with her comments against Martin Truex Jr. in the wake of Sherry Pollex’s demise. Then came her out-of-place comment during a Sky broadcast. When a young broadcaster asked the former racer if she would like to watch a female F1 driver in the future, she’d replied, “I think that the nature of the sport is masculine. It’s aggressive.” Being a female driver who battled multiple odds in a field of men, her comment shocked the motorsports world.

A host of such issues that she has entered of her own will has caused hate from fans. Responding to the post by ‘The Daily Downforce’, one X user wrote, “Maybe the hall of shame. Definitely not fame”. Clearly not a fan. Furthermore, there was no respite.

Her entry into NASCAR and racing was a novel idea and not heard of a lot before. But her performances on the track were not on par with her counterparts despite the racing equipment that she had. Touching down on the point, one follower wrote, “Danica Patrick had top equipment with an A- Team, with incredible sponsor money behind her. Her record is horrible, & crashed at an alarming rate. Absolutely does not warrant even consideration for the #NASCAR Hall of Fame.” Another followed on similar tracks hitting where it hurt Patrick the most. “Did she win anything? So no, maybe a participation trophy? I hear those are all the rage to reward so so results.”

Sarcasm overruling the mind of another, they wrote, “Sure she does. I think they are hiring at the snack bar. That’s as close as she gets.” Final blood was drawn when a user responded to the post mentioning her career as “historic” saying, “Historically terrible.” Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and Donnie Allison were the latest icons to make it to the famed hall in the Class of 2024. That gives a gentle reminder about the level of excellence required. Whether or not Danica Patrick sees herself up there could depend much on the positive public perception that she garners. For now, clearly, it is not her strongest point.

“Who Is She?” – Racing Fans Rip Apart Danica Patrick After Controversial Take on Formula 1 Young Gun