Current Racing Status and Retirement Timeline
Danica Patrick is not currently racing in any major professional series. She officially stepped away from full time NASCAR and IndyCar competition after the 2018 season, with her final start coming at the Daytona 500 in February 2018. Since then, she has not entered any official races in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NTT IndyCar Series, or the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Her last competitive appearance in a sanctioned stock car or open wheel event was at the 2018 Daytona 500, where she finished 38th. Patrick has publicly stated that she does not plan to return to full time racing and has shifted her focus to other business and media activities.
Patrick remains one of the most recognizable names in American motorsport history, largely because of her 2008 IndyCar victory at the Japan 300, which made her the first woman to win a premier open wheel race in the modern era. Her career totals include 143 NASCAR Cup Series starts between 2012 and 2018, with a best finish of eighth at the 2015 Daytona 500. In IndyCar, she recorded 64 starts between 2005 and 2018, with a career best finish of third at the 2009 Indy Japan 300. Her racing career is now widely considered complete, and she is not listed as an active driver on the official entry lists for NASCAR or IndyCar in 2024.
Post Racing Business and Investment Activities
After retiring from racing, Patrick launched a series of business ventures focused on wellness, lifestyle, and consumer products. She founded the health and wellness brand Danica Patrick Wellness, which offers supplements and nutrition products. She has also invested in and advised several startups and consumer brands, using her public profile to support companies in the health, fitness, and lifestyle sectors. Patrick has continued to appear in media roles, including hosting and commentary work, and she maintains a strong social media presence that drives engagement with sponsors and partners.
Patrick has also been involved in real estate and other investment activities, though she has not disclosed detailed financial data about these ventures. Her post racing income comes primarily from brand partnerships, licensing deals, and appearances rather than active competition. She has worked with companies in the automotive, fitness, and consumer goods spaces, often leveraging her history as a trailblazing female driver in male dominated sports. While she is no longer racing, her name continues to carry commercial value in marketing campaigns and brand collaborations.
Legacy, Rankings, and Influence in Motorsport
Danica Patrick is widely ranked among the most influential women in motorsport history. She is the only woman to have won a premier open wheel race in the modern era, and she set multiple records for female drivers in both IndyCar and NASCAR. Her highest profile moments include leading the Indianapolis 500 in 2005, a performance that brought her global attention and helped redefine the image of women in racing. Her career is frequently cited in discussions about gender diversity in motorsport, and she remains a reference point for new generations of female drivers entering the sport.
Patrick's influence extends beyond her on track results, as she has helped open doors for women in racing through her visibility and commercial success. She has been featured in major media outlets and has been recognized by organizations that promote women in sports and business. Her racing career is preserved in the official records of NASCAR and IndyCar, and her statistics are available on motorsport databases and reference sites. For more detailed career data, the official NASCAR and IndyCar records pages provide comprehensive information about her starts, finishes, and historical standing.