Danica Patrick came from a working-class household. Before earning her spot as one of the most successful women in the history of American open-wheel car racing, she had to fight for her dreams. Be it babysitting in the neighborhood or trying to move to a different state early in her karting career, she always had to ride solo as her parents were divorced.

Later on, things got a little messy between Patrick and her parents, T.J. Patrick Jr, and Bev Patrick, as they got too involved with her racing career, taking over the roles of crew chief, coach, mechanic, contract negotiator, and even finances. Eventually, she fired them. But later on, Patrick opened up about how was ‘manipulated’ into firing her parents by her then-husband. However, it looks like she made peace with her past. In a recent conversation with Doug Bopst, she discussed these painful parts of her life.

Danica Patrick’s relationship with her parents

Despite the love and support, the former SHR driver wanted her parents to feel accountable. Things got so bad that she didn’t see her parents at Thanksgiving and Christmas for five straight years due to her marriage. However, her relationship with her parents got better after she realized that her ex-husband, Paul Edward Hospenthal, had manipulated her into firing them. “I realized how important my family was to me.”

So, sharing insights on how she improved the ties with her family, she said, “I was dealing with more of my own familial patterns and how sort of my dad impacted me and my mom impacted me. Wanting apologies or explanation or something to sort of correct the wronging or the difficulty that it created. It doesn’t really work like that… Like someone just saying I’m sorry like that, it usually won’t match the level of pain from a love correction standpoint.”

She further explained how her unconditional love and affection towards her family enhanced their bond. “So when I started loving them right where they were at and understanding their own patterns, they just started shifting on their own, like immediately. And it was really beautiful, I’m not saying my parents have to be someone different, but certain things soften up and shifted, and it was nice.”

Opening up about mental health and self-healing takes a lot of courage. In Danica Patrick’s case, it allowed her to reflect that all her broken relationships were somewhat the result of being co-dependent. She realized that instead of being dependent on others to feel validated, it should come from within herself.

Danica Patrick accepted playing a part in failed romantic relationships

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Patrick has had a pretty wild ride in finding her soulmate. One that has left her in pieces many times. The racer was once married to Paul Edward in 2005, but they parted ways in 2005 after the marriage turned toxic. She then paired up with NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. They dated for five years until they called it quits in 2017.

NFL star Aaron Rodgers was also linked with her, and they started dating in 2018, but that too didn’t work out. Carter Comstock was the latest chapter in Danica Patrick’s romantic life so far. Their bond only lasted for a year and ended in 2022.

In the past, she never really understood the reasoning behind this rift and dissolution of her relationships. Only after self-healing and taking accountability for her own actions, she was able to see herself in a new light. “I think relationships is the hardest because it tends to bring out the most emotional stuff and the insecurities. The difference now as opposed to in the past is that, number one, I used to think nothing was my fault… and you don’t realize okay, well, maybe I have a part in this too… So still stuff comes up, but you know more self-awareness and ability to take accountability, which is critical.”

Danica Patrick believes that working with family isn’t always the best thing, and there were parts of that working relationship that could’ve been better. But at the end of the day, she believes her parents just wanted what was best for her. Flying solo yet again, she now finds solace in the company of her two dogs and keeps busy with her business in Formula 1.