The most memorable part of the 2015 Daytona 500 was that one pit road argument between Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin. Danica had been in a massive five-car pile-up and when she finally found Denny Hamlin she walked up to him and held his race suit and confronted him. In the calmest argument ever Denny tried to pacify her while Danica kept asking what he was doing. Fans hilariously reacted to the video showcasing the argument; one fan, in particular, stated that [https://youtube.com/watch/nud3uS24k7Y?feature=share] “They fight like a married couple.” While another said, “Denny “It’s Not my problem your loose Danica” Hamlin.” Another individual quoted what Denny said, “I can’t give you an extra two feet because it’s you!” Shortcuts?” – Danica Patrick Wonders About Healing [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-theres-a-lot-of-pain-crying-and-confusion-are-there-any-shortcuts-danica-patrick-wonders-about-healing/] The entire ordeal was one very calming argument, where they mostly sounded like they were not fighting at all. DENNY HAMLIN AND DANICA PATRICK GOT PAST THEIR CONFRONTATION FROM THE DAYTONA INCIDENT Their argument only lasted for a short period of time, after which Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/] apparently laughed [https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2016/02/19/denny-hamlin-danica-patrick-got-over-2015-daytona-spat-quickly/] over the incident and returned to being friends. Danica Patrick [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1348660594.jpg]AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Danica Patrick looks on in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) During the post-race media event, Danica was heard saying [https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2016/02/19/denny-hamlin-danica-patrick-got-over-2015-daytona-spat-quickly/], “I’m pretty sure we were laughing that night afterward. Our buses are parked next to each other. Maybe it was even the next day.” Later on even Denny Hamlin stated, “Looking back on it was funny how it all worked out. I think that’s where her frustration came from the most. Her buddy on and off the track wrecked her a couple of times. Anytime you are superspeedway racing, we’re messing around with inches here and when you feel like it’s your friend that wrecked you, you get a little bit more upset.” Watch This Story: Danica Patrick’s Business Ventures That Propelled Her to a Net Worth of $80 Million [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-danica-patricks-business-ventures-that-propelled-her-to-a-net-worth-of-80-million/] It is good that they both have sorted out their differences right away and did not drag it onto a full-on beef. Moreover, Patrick is retired now, but Hamlin pushes on racing in NASCAR and has been doing pretty well in the current season. 

NASCAR fans react to the Danica Patrick versus Denny Hamlin spat after the 2015
Daytona 500, where the two were involved in a massive wreck.

Srijan Mandal is a NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. With a Master's Degree in Journalism from a top institution, Srijan has written over 1000 articles across various platforms.

His passion for racing began at a young age and has only grown stronger over time. From Formula 1 to NASCAR and from World Rally Championship to World Endurance Championship, Srijan has followed and studied all aspects of these thrilling sports.

Srijan's passion for racing extends beyond writing. He is an avid participant in professional open-wheel sim racing and enjoys producing music, which he shares on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music under the moniker "Lunaprism".

Srijan Mandal

Srijan Mandal is a NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. With a Master's Degree in Journalism from a top institution, Srijan has written over 1000 articles across various platforms.

Srijan Mandal | NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports

https://www.staging.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/es_circle_black_logo.png

Srijan Mandal is a NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. With a Master's Degree in Journalism from a top institution, Srijan has written over 1000 articles across various platforms. His passion for racing began at a young age and has only grown stronger over time. From Formula 1 to NASCAR and from World Rally Championship to World Endurance Championship, Srijan has followed and studied all aspects of these thrilling sports. Srijan's passion for racing extends beyond writing. He is an avid participant in professional open-wheel sim racing and enjoys producing music, which he shares on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music under the moniker "Lunaprism".

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Srijan_Mandal_NASCAR-96x96.png

Srijan Mandal is a NASCAR author at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing
his Master’s in Journalism and has been writing for his own blog, 'Noobs
Onboard', for a while now, covering NASCAR, F1, W Series, MotoGP, WRC and the
WEC. Following motorsports for more than a decade now, he has become a devout
supporter of McLaren Racing, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and Ayrton Senna. Not wanting
to restrict himself to just writing, Srijan also practices to take part in
professional open-wheel sim racing soon. Other than penning down his thoughts
about some of the most prestigious racing series in the world, he also writes
fine art & design content for his online art gallery; Artmoshai and produces
music, with releases on Spotify and Apple Music as Lunaprism.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Srijan_Mandal_NASCAR.png

“There’s a Lot of Pain, Crying and Confusion… Are There Any Shortcuts?” – Danica
Patrick Wonders About Healing

Denny Hamlin Danica Patrick - EssentiallySports

Denny Hamlin Danica Patrick

Shaharyar is an experienced Senior NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A journalist by heart and profession, he has been at the ?wheel? for nearly a decade after starting with Formula 1. He has penned over 1,700 articles on the sport. Shaharyar is known for his quick reporting on controversies and feuds in NASCAR and is one of the masterminds behind "NASCAR In and Out", a Reader-Connect Program of EssentiallySports that boasts a weekly reach of fifty thousand subscribers in the US. Shaharyar believes in the conversational style of journalism, where fans are at the heart of the conversation. As a big fan of Kyle Busch, he maintains a commitment to journalistic neutrality in his coverage. A graduate of journalism from a professional university, Shaharyar blends his love for storytelling with the fast-paced nature of the sport to deliver compelling content that resonates with his readers. Despite his admiration for Kyle Busch, Shaharyar is now turning his attention to Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson, whom he believes is a legend in the making. He is always looking to bring fresh perspectives and insights to his readers and engages in healthy debates and discussions about the latest developments in NASCAR. In his free time, Shaharyar enjoys watching soccer and taking long walks to unwind.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/afc0a65575e79c2dd4b2b19a4e61e9d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Shaharyar

YouTube video player

iframe

strong

figcaption

figure

VIDEO: When Danica Patrick & Denny Hamlin Fought “Like a Married Couple”

Exclusive: Team Kicked Out by NASCAR After a Driver “Snitched” on Them

NASCAR Veterans Take a Dig at Jimmie Johnson’s Star for ‘Wrecking Whole Toyota
Line’ With Wild Dale Jr Accusation

Uncertain “Political Environment” Cause Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing
to Take a Major Sponsorship Hit

“You’re Pissing Me Off” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Instantly Shuts Down Denny Hamlin’s
Solution to Better Talladega

“Just Push Her”: Denny Hamlin Asks Tony Stewart’s Sensation To Move Hailie
Deegan Out of His Way

US Army rides in style & safety! NASCAR champs win acclaim for reinforced Chevy troop carriers 

Hendrick Tech for Army Trucks

Rumors of SHR downsizing fly as sponsorships dry up & Michael Jordan’s team eyes a ‘bargain’


23XI Frontrunners For A Third Car?

We remember a racing legend whose name isn't as widely known as the brand he helped build.

Forgotten Brother Behind Chevrolet’s Legacy

Delving into the business intricacies of the sports world ft. Chloe V. Mitchell

Exclusive unheard NBA stories with dunk master Austin Fritts

3 Time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane- The Chemist who made Arnold Schwarzenegger cry


MILLION DOLLAR BLING, Saudi Arabian Glory, World Title and More  Ft. Impa Kasanganay

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing. The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called ‘The Great American Race’</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crème de la crème. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong> Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

Read on to know all about the glorious history, origins and lesser know facts about the crown-jewel race of NASCAR, the Daytona 500.

Daytona 500: Origins, Past Winners, Race Results

Daytona 500 Archives

NASCAR

NASCAR Archives

LatestNASCAR - EssentiallySports News | EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the NASCAR Cup Series?</strong></h2>
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the authorizing body for stock-vehicle racing in North America. It was established in 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently, the organization fields four types of tracks: Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

[caption id="attachment_2675743" align="alignnone" width="5162"]<img class="wp-image-2675743 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-20T005209Z_1919194866_MT1USATODAY22564783_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="5162" height="3322" /> Feb 19, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Corey LaJoie (7), Kyle Busch (8) and A.J. Allmendinger (16) race three wide for the lead during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Origin</strong></h2>
The first-ever NASCAR race was held at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway on June 19, 1949 and Christian David "Jim" Roper was the victor after racer Glen Dunaway was disqualified for making illegal adjustments to his car.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 1949, NASCAR held its first-ever "Strictly Stock" race.</p>
Thirty-three drivers raced at Charlotte Speedway, six of which were future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Jim Roper was declared the winner following a disqualification to Glenn Dunaway. <a href="https://t.co/yBUDRcRxVo">pic.twitter.com/yBUDRcRxVo</a>

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1670832065690972160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is it named Cup Series? </strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of the racing arrangement in the NASCAR classification. The arrangement started in 1949 and was called the Strictly Stock Division. The series was subsequently known as the Grand National Division from 1950 to 1970.

Then, in 1971, it started renting its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was alluded to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series till 2003. From the next year onwards, the series came to be known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series till 2007 after a partnership with Nextel.

Sprint obtained Nextel in 2005 and 2008 saw the arrangement being renamed as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sprint remained the sponsor of the NASCAR Cup from 2008 to 2016. It was reported in December 2016 that Monster Energy would be the sponsor; therefore, the arrangement was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.

However, after decades of name changes, in 2017, the organization finally decided to shed off its old image and simply be named as the NASCAR Cup Series, with series sponsors being called 'Premier Partners'.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Cup Series?</strong></h2>
The NASCAR points system has been a complicated affair to say the least. Over the years, the organization has tried several iterations, namely the Latford system, the Chase and the current elimination playoffs format among others, to discern one that would be fair to each driver.

While the earlier system saw drivers being awarded points on the basis of prize money in a particular race, in 1972 a new format was introduced. This time the points were awarded on the basis of laps completed. However, even that came with its own flaws and just two years later, in 1974, the organization introduced point calculation based on a mathematical formula. However, given the complexity of the equation, Bill France Jr, the former CEO of NASCAR decided to step in and call upon his close friend Bob Latford, to come up with an efficient way, which later came to be known as Boot Hill Format or the Latford Model.

With equal points awarded in all races, as New York Times aptly put it: <em>"Mr. Latford set up his points scale to reward consistency rather than flashes of brilliance, and drivers seem to like it that way."</em>

This system was perhaps the longest-running one during that time, being replaced in 2003, by The Chase format. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series operates on the Playoff Format. The schedule consists of 31 oval races, 4 road course races, one street track race, and 4 non-championship races to be held on ovals. This also includes 16 playoff races, with four elimination rounds, namely, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 4 and Championship 4.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Teams</strong></h2>
As of 2024, the NASCAR Cup Series has 16 full-time teams participating and three manufacturers, namely Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford. As for the team with the most number of victories and championship, Hendrick Motorsports has has an undebatable upper hand, with 305 Cup Series wins and 14 drivers championships.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Venue</strong></h2>
The first championship race was reportedly held at Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile oval, on October 16, 1949. Currently, the final race of a Cup season is held at the Phoenix Raceway, which is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_1351857" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1351857 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-07T003206Z_1075855806_MT1USATODAY19376372_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg" alt="Joey Logano NASCAR" width="1920" height="1289" /> Nov 6, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races in the final laps of the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Championship</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series hosts three different championship under one name: The Driver's Championship, the Owner's Championship and the Manufacturer's Championship. The driver's championship as the name suggests is the award given to the driver that has emerged as the winner at the end of a season. On the other hand, the Owner's Championship aims to reward the team at the top of the points standings. The driver with the most championship wins are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports has won a record-breaking 14 championships till date.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1195372 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ezgif.com-gif-maker-3-78.jpg" alt="Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt NASCAR" width="1850" height="1253" />

On a similar note, the Manufacturer's Championship sees Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) being awarded a championship based on how races their cars managed to dominate and the points accumulated. In this regard, US-based manufacturer Chevrolet has racked up the most Cup Series wins at 42, followed by Ford at 17, and Toyota at 3.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Track Types</strong></h2>
As mentioned earlier, the NASCAR Cup series organizes its races on four different types of tracks, namely, Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

When it comes to Intermediate tracks, it simply means <em>"any track greater than one mile in length, with the exception of both Daytona and Talladega" </em>according to the official NASCAR website and currently the Cup Series drivers compete on the following Intermediate tracks/Speedways :
<ul>
 	<li>Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.500-mile Quad-Oval, including a 2.280 miles Road Course)</li>
 	<li>Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Dover Motor Speedway (1.000-mile, Concrete Oval)</li>
 	<li>Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.500-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kansas Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Michigan International Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Phoenix Raceway (1.000-mile, Dogleg Oval)</li>
 	<li>Texas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>World Wide Technology Raceway (1.250-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
On the other hand, Superspeedways ae oval road courses of two miles or longer. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series has the following Superspeedways:
<ul>
 	<li>Auto Club Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicagoland Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Daytona International Speedway (2.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kentucky Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Pocono Raceway (2.500-mile, Triangular Oval)</li>
 	<li>Talladega Superspeedway (2.660-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
</ul>
The short tracks (less than 1 mile in length) that are part of NASCAR are:
<ul>
 	<li>Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Eldora Speedway (0.500-mile, Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Knoxville Raceway (0.500-mile, Oval</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)</li>
 	<li>Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (0.686-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Milwaukee Mile Speedway (1.015-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Richmond Raceway (0.750-mile, D-shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
As for Road Courses, NASCAR makes use of the following race tracks:
<ul>
 	<li>Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2.459-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicago Street Race (2.14 miles)</li>
 	<li>Circuit of the Americas (3.426-mile)</li>
 	<li>DAYTONA Road Course (4.170-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.400-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Portland International Raceway (1.967-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Road America(4.048-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sebring Raceway (3.741 mi, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile)</li>
 	<li>Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Crown Jewel Races</strong></h2>
While NASCAR has several racetracks that it competes on, there are a couple venues that are held in high regards. Currently there are four such venues/races, namely the Daytona 500 held at the Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola 500 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway , the Brickyard 400/Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.

Till date, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has the most number of Crown Jewel race wins (21), followed by Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson (14) and retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison (13).

[caption id="attachment_1691261" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1691261 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmie-Johnson-Jeff-Gordon.jpg" alt="Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon" width="1920" height="1280" /> January 20, 2017 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon introduce Rick Hendrick at the NASCAR Motorsport USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Rick Hendrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Richard Childress, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, and Benny Parsons. 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - ZUMAw123 20170120_zap_w123_024[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Cars</strong></h2>
NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and till date, there have been several iterations of the cars used during races. If we go back to the very inception of the sport, the first kind of vehicle that was used used to be called Generation - 1 (1948-1966), followed by Generation - 2 (1967-1980) and Generation - 3 (1981-1991). Later the Generation - 4 (1992 to 2007) was introduced , and then Generation - 5 (2007 -2012) and Generation - 6 (2013-2021) came into play. And currently, NASCAR features the Generation - 7 car that is also known as the Next-Gen.

Anothe notable model was the Generation - 5. Dubbed as the<em> "Car of Tomorrow"</em>, this model featured flaunted prominent front splitters under the bumpers and larger rear wings. Apart from that, according to NASCAR, the car also had <em>"significant safety advancements and a return to symmetrical bodies". </em>

[caption id="attachment_2651610" align="alignnone" width="3461"]<img class="wp-image-2651610 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T030626Z_974940649_MT1USATODAY22533198_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3461" height="2307" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Street Course</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series has come a long way since its initial days. The organization has always been open to developments and one of the most exciting ones came in 2023,when the tourney made its Street Course debut at Chicago.

In a bid to turn make the schedule even more exciting, NASCAR officials were reportedly in talks with Chicago authorities for a number of years, with one attempt of a Chicago street race even dating back to the 1980s. However, owing to political pressure, that plan failed to materialize. Now, fast forward to four decades later and authorities were finally geared up to host an exciting, first-of-its-kind race in downtown Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_1911252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1911252 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-03T052154Z_1117738559_MT1USATODAY20983749_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GRANT-PARK-220.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view as cars race along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race viewed from the NEMA Chicago buliding. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Designed by race simulation video game developer iRacing, the race aimed to showcase the city's major landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain, the Grant Park and the Soldier Field Stadium, among others.

The first iteration of the race came in July of 2023, with New Zealand born driver Shane van Gisbergen clinching victory in his first-ever NASCAR race. If that's not iconic, what is?

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2804674 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0HhwcqXoAI3_zb.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" />
<table style="width: 75.2357%;height: 264px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Year of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">1949</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR "Strictly Stock" Race, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Last Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crown Jewel Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400/ Verizon 200, Southern 500</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Drivers with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Richard Petty (7), Dale Earnhardt (7) and Jimmie Johnson(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Red Byron</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Ryan Blaney (2023)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Team Penske</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

NASCAR Cup Series

Here's everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series, its Origin, Teams, History, Venues, Crown Jewel Races and more!

NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More

NASCAR Cup Series Archives

title

NASCAR fans react to the Danica Patrick versus Denny Hamlin spat after the 2015 Daytona 500, where the two were involved in a massive wreck.

description

link

Danica Patrick Once Got Brutally Roasted for Fighting NASCAR Star Like an Old "Married Couple"

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-video-when-danica-patrick-denny-hamlin-fought-like-a-married-couple/

https://www.facebook.com/essentiallysports

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-139-1-3.png

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:site

twitter:label1

twitter:data1

script

<h2><b>Danica Patrick Net Worth 2023 (Update)</b></h2>
In a male-dominated sport, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/danica-patrick/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Danica Patrick</a> has surely been successful in making a big name for herself. Without a doubt, she remains one of the most successful women in the history of American open-wheel car racing. After spending almost two decades in racing, Patrick is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $80 million as per CelebrityNetWorth.

Interestingly, she created a lot of buzz when she won the 2008 Indy Japan 300, becoming the only woman to win in an IndyCar series race. During her racing days, Patrick reportedly earned a stunning $10 million annually with her base salary estimated to be around $7.5 million.

[caption id="attachment_1242943" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1242943 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-452243656.jpg" alt="Danica Patrick" width="1920" height="1278" /> LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 16: NASCAR driver Danica Patrick attends The 2014 ESPYS at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)[/caption]

Over the years, a lot of her income has come through her sponsors. Some of her major endorsement brands include Tissot, Chevrolet, Hot Wheels, GoDaddy.com, Lyft, AirTran Airways, Coca-Cola, Motorola, etc. While a clear value earned through sponsors is not available, there is a good reason she is termed as one of the 'Most marketable drivers' in NASCAR.

Post-retirement, the 41-year-old has opened up plenty of avenues to add to her net worth. She launched a clothing line in 2017, 'Warrior by Danica Patrick'. In addition to this, she also has a Californian Vineyard to her name that produces Somnium Wine. Also, she has a podcast entitled 'Danica Patrick Pretty Intense' which has gained popularity over time.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Early Life and Parents</b></h2>
Born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin, Patrick grew up in the town of Roscoe, Illinois along with her younger sister Brooke. As she comes from a racing family, the former IndyCar racer needed very little motivation to be enticed into the sport.

Having started go-kart racing at the age of 10, she moved to Britain after six years to race in open-wheel cars. In order to do so, she dropped out of high school midway with the consent of her parents. She spent three years in the United Kingdom as she drove for Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford, finishing ninth in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Championship.

A year later, she came in second at the 2000 Formula Ford Festival at Brands which helped her earn the Gorsline Scholarship Award. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, Patrick had to return to the States in 2001.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Family and Personal Life</b></h2>
In 1982, Patrick was born to Beverly Ann and Terry Joseph Patrick Jr. Interestingly, the latter raced snowmobiles, motocross, and midget cars in his career. Patrick has a younger sister named Brooke who is a pediatric physical therapist.

As far as her dating history is concerned, in 2002, Patrick met physical therapist Paul Edward Hospenthal as she was getting treated for a knee injury suffered in a yoga session. They clicked and eventually got married in 2005. Despite the 17-year age difference between the two, their marriage stood strong until 2013 which is when they got divorced.

[caption id="attachment_1148849" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1148849" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1001950672.jpg" alt="Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers" width="1920" height="1409" /> SANTA MONICA, CA - JULY 19: Race car driver Danica Patrick (L) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers attend Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards 2018 at Barker Hangar on July 19, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)[/caption]

In 2012, Patrick started dating NASCAR driver <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ricky-stenhouse-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ricky Stenhouse Jr</a>. Unfortunately, they broke up after five years of dating in 2017. The Wisconsin-born driver later moved on and started dating NFL player <a href="http://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/aaron-rodgers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Rodgers</a> in January 2018.

They had a good relationship for over two years until July 2020 when <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-nfl-news-ex-nascar-superstar-danica-patrick-felt-intimidated-by-aaron-rodgers-before-their-public-breakup-heres-why/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they went different ways</a>. Almost nine months later, Patrick started dating Freshly co-founder Carter Comstock. After almost a year together, their split was confirmed in March 2022. Post that, Patrick's present relationship status remains unknown.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Racing Career</b></h2>
After returning to the United States in 2002, Patrick competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series for a bit before racing in the Toyota Atlantic Series for two years. After finishing fourth in the Series in 2004, she earned a chance to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Her first stint in the IndyCar series came with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005. She took three pole positions that season.

Two years later, Patrick joined Andretti Green Racing in 2007. In April 2008, she registered the first big win of her career in the Firestone IndyCar 300 race in Motegi, Japan. However, at the start of the 2010 season, she partially raced in NASCAR's lower-tier Nationwide Series. It was only in 2012 that she competed full-time in NASCAR, participating in both Nationwide and Sprint Cup races.

In 2013, Patrick grabbed a lot of attention after winning the pole position in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/daytona-500/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daytona 500</a> race. However, she decided to retire after years with her last race being 2018 Indy 500. Unfortunately, she crashed during lap 68 of her final race.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Wins and Achievements</b></h2>
As mentioned earlier, Patrick did a stunning job in her career to stand out in a male-dominated sport. When she qualified for the Indy 500, she became the fourth woman to do so. In fact, she even lead 19 laps and finished fourth in her first-ever? <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/indianapolis-motor-speedway/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indianapolis 500</a>. By doing so, she earned the right to be the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the race. She was also named Rookie of the Year in 2005.

One of Patrick's most iconic wins has to be the one in the IndyCar series Indy Japan 300 race in 2008. Then, she became the first woman ever to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series. From 2005 to 2010, she earned the bragging rights for winning the Most Popular Driver award in the IndyCar Series.

[caption id="attachment_1290997" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1290997" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-980196678.jpg" alt="Danica Patrick" width="1920" height="1338" /> INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 25: Danica Patrick practices for the Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)[/caption]

In the NASCAR arena, she won the Most Popular Driver award in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. However, her <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-we-would-have-messed-that-story-all-up-jeff-gordon-on-losing-to-never-seen-before-danica-patrick-at-2013-daytona-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best accomplishment</a> in NASCAR would be winning the pole position in the 2013 Daytona 500 by setting the fastest qualifying lap. In fact, she also set the record for the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the "Great American Race" as she finished in eighth place.

Her <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASCAR Cup Series</a> achievements didn't end there. Patrick beat past Janet Guthrie to break the record for the most top-ten finished by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series with seven such finishes to her name. It is truly amazing what she achieved on the tracks. Interestingly, she has been doing some noble work even off the tracks.
<h2><b>Charity and Foundation</b></h2>
In 2021, Patrick was keen on participating in an honorable cause for the Light Foundation. The man behind the foundation was former <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/new-england-patriots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Englands Patriots</a> offensive player Matt Light. Along with his wife Susie, Light aims to help young people develop skills, values and a mindset that will help them build a solid future.

Given Patrick's popularity and zeal to help society, she participated in the 125th Boston Marathon. Her sister Brooke also took part with her as both sisters successfully completed the run. All the athletes involves in the marathon raised more than $400,000 for their youth leadership programs.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s House</b></h2>
Patrick did a pretty good job in making big bucks during her race career. Using those hard earnings, she owns an amazing 8,300-square-foot mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona. It features a cosmic theme, one reason why Patrick likes to call her the "Jetsons House".

She purchase the mansion in 2007 citing the seven-car garage capacity. However, she later realized how the wine cellar could hold up to 1,000 bottles and she grew in love with this feature. Additionally, the house is made of concrete sheathed walls and disc shapes throughout which includes the breakfast bar in the open-plan kitchen.

It is not just the indoors but even the outdoor setup of the mansion that is quite fascinating. With Arizona's famed Camelback Mountain visible from Patrick's house, it truly is a sight to behold.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Podcast</b></h2>
Post-retirement, Patrick has invested a big chunk of her time in her podcast "Pretty Intense". In her podcast, she has discussed several subjects of different sectors and dynamics. While there is no fixed theme, there have been arguments concerning some controversial topics.

[caption id="attachment_1162174" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1162174" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1235553951.jpg" alt="Danica Patrick" width="1920" height="1280" /> CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 25: Former Indy Car and NASCAR drive Danica Patrick is the guest picker for ESPN College Gameday prior a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Wisconsin Badgers on September 25th, 2021 at Solider Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)[/caption]

Surprisingly, one of the frequently talked about discussions involves the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-youd-still-freak-the-hell-out-danica-patrick-has-an-interesting-hypothesis-as-to-why-aliens-are-sneaky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">existence of aliens</a>. Certainly, Patrick believes in it and likes to debate about it in detail. In another discussion, she was intensely seen discussing the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-danica-patricks-tyrannical-new-sex-policy-pushes-mating-pattern-narrative-in-unexpected-manner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sensitive topic</a> of birth control. From a fan's perspective, Patrick's podcast is more than entertaining.

It only gets more tempting given the guests that have blessed their presence on the podcast. From NASCAR, big names like <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dale Earnhardt Jr</a>, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Larson</a>, and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denny Hamlin</a> have already made an appearance. Other than these top drivers, star celebrities like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Trevor Hall, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Manganiello, Jay Shetty, Matthew McConaughey, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas have also attended the podcast.
<h2><b>Danica Patrick?s Social Media Accounts</b></h2>
Patrick has been an active user on social media, more so after her retirement. She likes to update her fans about her personal life with posts on her Instagram account. Having said that she's equally active on her Facebook, Twitter, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzc6KWjzKosSGw0VkIHaaw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>. She has done a good job of summarizing her past and present life on her <a href="https://www.danicapatrick.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, making it more accessible to her fans.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/danicapatrick/"><span style="font-weight: 400">@danicapatrick</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter?</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/danicapatrick"><span style="font-weight: 400">@DanicaPatrick</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DanicaPatrick/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Danica Patrick</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td>Danica Sue Patrick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td>Danica Patrick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td>March 25, 1982</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place</span></td>
<td>Beloit, Wisconsin, United States</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>5'2"/ 157 cm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight</span></td>
<td>45kg/100lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents</span></td>
<td>Terry Joseph Patrick Jr (Father) and Beverly Ann (Mother)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td>Brooke Patrick (Younger sister)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td>White</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td>$80 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td>$10 million annually (last known)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td>Currently unmarried</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td>Divorced</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td>None</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession</span></td>
<td>Racecar Driver, Athlete, Spokesperson, Model &amp; Entrepreneur</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td>Premium Motorsports (last known)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick Net Worth 2023 (Update) In a male-dominated sport, Danica Patrick has surely been successful in making a big name for herself. Without a doubt, she remains one of the most successful women in the history of American open-wheel car racing. After spending almost two decades in racing, Patrick is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $80 million as per CelebrityNetWorth. Interestingly, she created a lot of buzz when she won the 2008 Indy Japan 300, becoming the only woman to win in an IndyCar series race. During her racing days, Patrick reportedly earned a stunning $10 million annually with her base salary estimated to be around $7.5 million. LOS ANGELES, CA &#8211; JULY 16: NASCAR driver Danica Patrick attends The 2014 ESPYS at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Over the years, a lot of her income has come through her sponsors. Some of her major endorsement brands include Tissot, Chevrolet, Hot Wheels, GoDaddy.com, Lyft, AirTran Airways, Coca-Cola, Motorola, etc. While a clear value earned through sponsors is not available, there is a good reason she is termed as one of the &#8216;Most marketable drivers&#8217; in NASCAR. Post-retirement, the 41-year-old has opened up plenty of avenues to add to her net worth. She launched a clothing line in 2017, &#8216;Warrior by Danica Patrick&#8217;. In addition to this, she also has a Californian Vineyard to her name that produces Somnium Wine. Also, she has a podcast entitled &#8216;Danica Patrick Pretty Intense&#8217; which has gained popularity over time. Danica Patrick?s Early Life and Parents Born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin, Patrick grew up in the town of Roscoe, Illinois along with her younger sister Brooke. As she comes from a racing family, the former IndyCar racer needed very little motivation to be enticed into the sport. Having started go-kart racing at the age of 10, she moved to Britain after six years to race in open-wheel cars. In order to do so, she dropped out of high school midway with the consent of her parents. She spent three years in the United Kingdom as she drove for Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford, finishing ninth in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Championship. A year later, she came in second at the 2000 Formula Ford Festival at Brands which helped her earn the Gorsline Scholarship Award. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, Patrick had to return to the States in 2001. Danica Patrick?s Family and Personal Life In 1982, Patrick was born to Beverly Ann and Terry Joseph Patrick Jr. Interestingly, the latter raced snowmobiles, motocross, and midget cars in his career. Patrick has a younger sister named Brooke who is a pediatric physical therapist. As far as her dating history is concerned, in 2002, Patrick met physical therapist Paul Edward Hospenthal as she was getting treated for a knee injury suffered in a yoga session. They clicked and eventually got married in 2005. Despite the 17-year age difference between the two, their marriage stood strong until 2013 which is when they got divorced. SANTA MONICA, CA &#8211; JULY 19: Race car driver Danica Patrick (L) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers attend Nickelodeon Kids&#8217; Choice Sports Awards 2018 at Barker Hangar on July 19, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic) In 2012, Patrick started dating NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Unfortunately, they broke up after five years of dating in 2017. The Wisconsin-born driver later moved on and started dating NFL player Aaron Rodgers in January 2018. They had a good relationship for over two years until July 2020 when they went different ways. Almost nine months later, Patrick started dating Freshly co-founder Carter Comstock. After almost a year together, their split was confirmed in March 2022. Post that, Patrick&#8217;s present relationship status remains unknown. Danica Patrick?s Racing Career After returning to the United States in 2002, Patrick competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series for a bit before racing in the Toyota Atlantic Series for two years. After finishing fourth in the Series in 2004, she earned a chance to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Her first stint in the IndyCar series came with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005. She took three pole positions that season. Two years later, Patrick joined Andretti Green Racing in 2007. In April 2008, she registered the first big win of her career in the Firestone IndyCar 300 race in Motegi, Japan. However, at the start of the 2010 season, she partially raced in NASCAR&#8217;s lower-tier Nationwide Series. It was only in 2012 that she competed full-time in NASCAR, participating in both Nationwide and Sprint Cup races. In 2013, Patrick grabbed a lot of attention after winning the pole position in the Daytona 500 race. However, she decided to retire after years with her last race being 2018 Indy 500. Unfortunately, she crashed during lap 68 of her final race. Danica Patrick?s Wins and Achievements As mentioned earlier, Patrick did a stunning job in her career to stand out in a male-dominated sport. When she qualified for the Indy 500, she became the fourth woman to do so. In fact, she even lead 19 laps and finished fourth in her first-ever? Indianapolis 500. By doing so, she earned the right to be the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the race. She was also named Rookie of the Year in 2005. One of Patrick&#8217;s most iconic wins has to be the one in the IndyCar series Indy Japan 300 race in 2008. Then, she became the first woman ever to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series. From 2005 to 2010, she earned the bragging rights for winning the Most Popular Driver award in the IndyCar Series. INDIANAPOLIS, IN &#8211; MAY 25: Danica Patrick practices for the Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) In the NASCAR arena, she won the Most Popular Driver award in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. However, her best accomplishment in NASCAR would be winning the pole position in the 2013 Daytona 500 by setting the fastest qualifying lap. In fact, she also set the record for the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the &#8220;Great American Race&#8221; as she finished in eighth place. Her NASCAR Cup Series achievements didn&#8217;t end there. Patrick beat past Janet Guthrie to break the record for the most top-ten finished by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series with seven such finishes to her name. It is truly amazing what she achieved on the tracks. Interestingly, she has been doing some noble work even off the tracks. Charity and Foundation In 2021, Patrick was keen on participating in an honorable cause for the Light Foundation. The man behind the foundation was former New Englands Patriots offensive player Matt Light. Along with his wife Susie, Light aims to help young people develop skills, values and a mindset that will help them build a solid future. Given Patrick&#8217;s popularity and zeal to help society, she participated in the 125th Boston Marathon. Her sister Brooke also took part with her as both sisters successfully completed the run. All the athletes involves in the marathon raised more than $400,000 for their youth leadership programs. Danica Patrick?s House Patrick did a pretty good job in making big bucks during her race career. Using those hard earnings, she owns an amazing 8,300-square-foot mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona. It features a cosmic theme, one reason why Patrick likes to call her the &#8220;Jetsons House&#8221;. She purchase the mansion in 2007 citing the seven-car garage capacity. However, she later realized how the wine cellar could hold up to 1,000 bottles and she grew in love with this feature. Additionally, the house is made of concrete sheathed walls and disc shapes throughout which includes the breakfast bar in the open-plan kitchen. It is not just the indoors but even the outdoor setup of the mansion that is quite fascinating. With Arizona&#8217;s famed Camelback Mountain visible from Patrick&#8217;s house, it truly is a sight to behold. Danica Patrick?s Podcast Post-retirement, Patrick has invested a big chunk of her time in her podcast &#8220;Pretty Intense&#8221;. In her podcast, she has discussed several subjects of different sectors and dynamics. While there is no fixed theme, there have been arguments concerning some controversial topics. CHICAGO, IL &#8211; SEPTEMBER 25: Former Indy Car and NASCAR drive Danica Patrick is the guest picker for ESPN College Gameday prior a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Wisconsin Badgers on September 25th, 2021 at Solider Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Surprisingly, one of the frequently talked about discussions involves the existence of aliens. Certainly, Patrick believes in it and likes to debate about it in detail. In another discussion, she was intensely seen discussing the sensitive topic of birth control. From a fan&#8217;s perspective, Patrick&#8217;s podcast is more than entertaining. It only gets more tempting given the guests that have blessed their presence on the podcast. From NASCAR, big names like Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin have already made an appearance. Other than these top drivers, star celebrities like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Trevor Hall, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Manganiello, Jay Shetty, Matthew McConaughey, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas have also attended the podcast. Danica Patrick?s Social Media Accounts Patrick has been an active user on social media, more so after her retirement. She likes to update her fans about her personal life with posts on her Instagram account. Having said that she&#8217;s equally active on her Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. She has done a good job of summarizing her past and present life on her website, making it more accessible to her fans.  Instagram @danicapatrick  Twitter? @DanicaPatrick  Facebook Danica Patrick  &nbsp;  Full Name Danica Sue Patrick  Popular Name Danica Patrick  Birth Date March 25, 1982  Birth Place Beloit, Wisconsin, United States  Height 5&#8217;2&#8243;/ 157 cm  Weight 45kg/100lb  Parents Terry Joseph Patrick Jr (Father) and Beverly Ann (Mother)  Siblings Brooke Patrick (Younger sister)  Nationality American  Ethnicity White  Net Worth $80 million  Salary $10 million annually (last known)  Spouse Currently unmarried  Relationship/Marital Status Divorced  Children None  Profession Racecar Driver, Athlete, Spokesperson, Model &amp; Entrepreneur  Team Premium Motorsports (last known)  &nbsp;

Danica Patrick Archives

Danica Patrick Archives - EssentiallySports

Denny Hamlin

Here is everything you need to know about Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, his Family, Controversies, Net worth and Team in 2024.

VIDEO: When Danica Patrick & Denny Hamlin Fought “Like a Married Couple”

Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick got past their confrontation from the Daytona incident