Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse made headlines when they became a couple. Their relationship started as Danica was making the transition from IndyCar to NASCAR. The newly divorced Danica began dating rookie driver Ricky, who was five years her junior. Danica has always been a big name in the auto racing world. She’s one of the first females to compete in IndyCar and win a race. Plus, she’s become a media sensation with her GoDaddy endorsements, magazine covers, and entrepreneurial ventures.

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As for Ricky, he grew up as a racer just like his famous ex-girlfriend. His Nascar career took off when he drove for the Nationwide Series, in which he won back to back championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, as Ricky was moving up to the top series in NASCAR, he wooed Danica and they became the first power couple of the motorsports world. The media pounced on the couple and their relationship was the talk of the NASCAR community. People wondered how they would race each other on the track along with their plans were for the future.

Danica and Ricky appeared to be in love and rumours swirled that they would be settling down soon once Danica retired. But in December 2017, they once again shocked fans by announcing their split.

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For five years, the couple were together and shared details about their life with the public. Some of the tidbits are well-known, but there are some things people never knew about Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse's relationship.

15 Danica Wanted Marriage And Kids

It was no secret that Danica wanted to be a wife and mother. In interviews, she expressed her desire to be a mother. During race weekends, she could be seen playing with the children of her fellow drivers Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin. Danica was so passionate about being a mom that she even had her eggs frozen.

Aside from being a mother, Danica also said that she wanted to get married to Ricky.

However, Stenhouse wasn’t as keen on the idea of marriage and kids as his girlfriend. With Ricky’s career now heating up, his focus was concentrated more on his professional life instead of personal life. It’s believed that the couple’s different opinions on the future contributed to their breakup. Maybe Danica will finally get her wish of marriage and kids with new beau Aaron Rodgers.

14 Danica Was Already Divorced

While Danica made headlines with her relationship with Ricky Stenhouse, what many race fans don’t know is that Danica was divorced. She married chiropractor Paul Hospenthal in 2005. Hospenthal was 16 years older than Danica and he would accompany her to all the IndyCar races to support his famous wife.

After seven years of marriage, Danica filed for divorce in November 2012.

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Their divorce was finalized in April 2013. Their divorce occurred around the time started dating Stenhouse, leading many to believe she had cheated on her husband. Yet, Danica would later reveal in a Facebook post that she and Paul had been having issues for some time and their relationship couldn’t be repaired. She also revealed that there was no animosity between her and her ex-husband, and she still considers him a good friend.

13 They Were Involved In Multiple Wrecks

In NASCAR, it’s not uncommon for drivers to become caught up in wrecks. Ricky Stenhouse and Danica Patrick experienced plenty of wrecks during their racing careers. Most of the time, Danica and Ricky accidentally got wrapped up in their own wrecks.

During the May 2013 Coca Cola race, Danica got turned into Ricky, causing both of them to crash.

Their next tangle on the track came during the June Sonoma race, where once again Danica crashed into Ricky. While being involved in a wreck is frustrating for many drivers, including Ricky and Danica. Yet, their wrecks on the track had no effect on their relationship as they were able to talk out their problems and move on to the next race, hoping to have better finishes.

12 Danica Was Willing To Help Ricky Win The Daytona 500

After their split, fans wondered how Danica and Ricky would compete with each other during the Daytona 500. In the weeks leading up to the big race, the couple’s breakup was on everyone’s mind.

As the media made their rounds, every reporter asked Danica about her ex-boyfriend. One of the questions was how would they race each other in the upcoming race. Danica said there’d be no change in the way they raced. She even stated that if given the chance, she’d help Ricky win the Daytona 500 if it the opportunity arose for him to win. Unfortunately, neither Danica nor Ricky had a shot at winning the big race. They both crashed early, leaving Danica with a 35th place finish, while Ricky finished in the 29th spot.

11 Their Dogs Travelled With Them On The Road

A majority of the NASCAR drivers have dogs and some of the furry companions travel with their owners to the different tracks across America. Danica and Ricky made sure their beloved pets traveled with them on the road.

They were the owners of a Siberian Husky named Dallas and a Belgian Malinois named Ella.

Although, they were big dogs, the couple made sure their furry travel companions were comfortable in the jet or in the motor coach. When Danica and Ricky weren’t busy at the track, they took their dogs to the local parks to get some fresh air and to play with other dogs. Dallas and Ella also became media sensations like their famous parents when they were photographed in Victory Lane following Ricky’s Talladega win.

10 Danica Earned More Than Ricky

While many fans know Danica as a racer, she has turned into quite the entrepreneur. Since her IndyCar days, Danica has been the spokeswoman for GoDaddy and has appeared in dozens of their commercials.

Aside from her modelling gigs, Danica has transitioned into a businesswoman.

She recently created her own line of women’s workout clothes called Warrior. She’s also written two books, one was her autobiography released in 2013 and the other was a health book called Pretty Intense, which was published in 2017. She also recently got into the art of winemaking by teaming with the California vineyard Somnium to release a special wine collection. Danica’s various business ventures have accumulated to a net worth of $60 million, which is three times more than Ricky’s net worth.

9 Split Their Time Between Charlotte And Phoenix

Being on the road for 36 weeks of the year, Danica and Ricky had busy schedules. At the track, the couple lived in their spacious motorhome during the weekends. But during the weekdays, they could often spent their time at their homes in Charlotte, North Carolina or Phoenix, Arizona.

Most of NASCAR’s drivers live in the company’s headquarters of Charlotte. Danica and Ricky lived in Charlotte during much of the season so they could meet with their teams and plan ahead for the next race. But whenever they had free time, the couple would jet off to Danica’s home in Phoenix, where they could enjoy mountain hikes or lounging by the pool. The Phoenix home offered a nice escape from the harsh winters associated with North Carolina, and it’s no wonder the couple loved their Arizona chateau so much.

8 Ricky Won Rookie Of The Year

When the 2013 NASCAR season started, Danica and Ricky were both newcomers to the Sprint Cup series. Of course all eyes would be on the couple as the new racing season started. One of the reasons was to see which one would be named Rookie of the Year, one of NASCAR’s top honors.

The Rookie of the Year honor is awarded at the end of the season to the new driver, who had a better season. Neither Danica nor Ricky had a stellar year. They didn’t score any wins, were involved in numerous wrecks, and suffered a string lacklustre finishes. Yet, Ricky managed to finish higher than Danica in the standings and was awarded the prestigious Rookie of the Year title at the end of the 2013 season.

7 Danica Is Dating Aaron Rodgers

Following their split in December 2017, Danica didn’t waste any time in getting back into the dating game. Just weeks after revealing that she and Ricky had broken up, rumors swirled that Danica was dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Photos surfaced of the couple out on the town adding further speculation that they were an item.

Danica soon confirmed that she and Aaron were dating.

They made their first public appearance together when Danica drove her final race in the 2018 Daytona 500. With Danica retired from racing, she’ll have plenty of time to spend with her new beau by going on vacations or cheering him on at the next Packers game. Just like her relationship with Stenhouse, Danica and Aaron are sure to cause a media sensation with their new romance.

6 Ricky Scored His First Win Before Danica

Being a driver in NASCAR, you never know when a driver is going to score their first win. Some drivers go years before they find themselves in Victory Lane. The same thing happened to Danica and Ricky. The couple had bad luck on the race track and many wondered when or if one of them would get their first win.

On May 7, 2017, Ricky scored got his first win in the Monster Energy Series at Talladega Super speedway. Despite crashing earlier in the race, Danica would join her boyfriend in Victory Lane as they celebrated his first win. The couple looked ecstatic as they posed for photos next to the trophy. The couple would get a chance to celebrate in Victory Lane again later that year when Ricky would win the Daytona race in July.

5 Confirmed Their Relationship In February 2013

After Danica’s divorce announcement, tabloids reported that she was seeing another NASCAR driver and named Ricky Stenhouse as her new love interest. Rumors circulated that the couple were seen together out in public, yet neither Danica nor Ricky commented on the romance rumors.

It wasn’t until February 2013, just as the new racing season when the rumors were finally put to rest. Danica and Ricky confirmed that they were an item and had been dating for months. The confirmation of their relationship set in motion the media sensation that would revolve around them for years to come. Although, Danica and Ricky were shy at first to talk about their relationship, they soon became comfortable giving the public a glimpse into their private life via interviews and social media.

4 They Double Dated With Other Couples

NASCAR is a close community. Every weekend, you see drivers and their families chatting on pit road. Lots of drivers are friends in real life and often hang out away from the track. Danica and Ricky were close with a lot of the other racing couples.

She loved to hang out with teammate Kevin Harvick and his wife Delana. She was also close to good friend and mentors Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. When Danica and Ricky weren’t enjoying a quiet night at home, they would often go on double dates with other couples such as Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish. Danica and Ricky’s double date nights with these couples were sure to be interesting as the drivers had a lot to talk about.

3 Danica Retired Before Their Split

For 12 years, Danica Patrick made a name for herself in IndyCar and NASCAR. As the 2017 NASCAR season began, Danica’s future was in question. She lost sponsorship deals causing her to lose her ride at Stewart-Haas Racing. This led to speculation that she would be leaving the sport.

On November 17, 2017, days before the final race of the season, Danica announced her retirement during an emotional press conference. Although, she’ll be retiring from full-time racing, she does play to compete in the 2018 Daytona 500 along with the 2018 Indy 500. While she may not have much success as a racer, she did bring a lot of attention to the racing world. She also served as an inspiration for other female drivers that it's possible to succeed in a male dominated sport.

2 Jay Mohr Joked About Them At The NASCAR Banquet

At the end of the season, drivers gather in Las Vegas for NASCAR’s annual banquet to celebrate the crowning of the new champion. Comedian Jay Mohr served as host for the 2013 banquet. Mohr had the audience roaring as he cracked jokes about the drivers, who laughed along with the crowd as Mohr kept the punches rolling.

All the drivers were targets of Mohr’s wisecracks including Danica and Ricky. When Mohr joked about Danica’s driving skills, the camera panned to a shot of the couple, and Danica had a scowl on her face. Mohr later apologized to Danica, who appeared to accept his apology since Mohr would later return as host for the next banquet. But he learned his lesson of not poking fun at Danica.

1 Loved Sharing Photos On Social Media

Being NASCAR’s top couple, everyone wanted to know all the details about Danica and Ricky’s love life. After confirming their relationship, the couple became comfortable with sharing details about their life to the public. The constantly talked about each other in interviews. Plus, they gave fans a glimpse into life away from the track via their social media accounts.

Danica often posted photos on Instagram of her and Ricky attending a red carpet event, vacationing in the Bahamas, or enjoying a nice dinner at home with their two dogs. Fans adored the photos of the couple and it made the public fall in love with them even more. Although, they were popular stars, based on the social media photos, Danica and Ricky were your average couple, who liked to unwind at home and enjoy the simple things in life.

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