What motivated Danica Patrick, NASCAR and IndyCar icon, to take up golf after her racing career?

Danica Patrick, the trailblazing former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, is diving into the world of golf seven years after stepping away from professional racing. Now 43, Patrick has been spotted fine-tuning her swing at the prestigious Scottsdale National Golf Course, where she’s training under the watchful eye of renowned coach Brian Daley.

In a recent Instagram post, Patrick shared a photo mid-swing, with Daley praising her form by commenting “Elite positions.” The shift to golf appears to be more than casual, she’s serious about improving and seems to be enjoying every minute of it. She even leaned into the pop culture side of the sport, posting a meme from the comedy Happy Gilmore with the caption, “It’s in the wrists!!!!” to express her excitement about the upcoming sequel.
Since retiring in 2018 after competing in both the Daytona 500 and Indy 500, Patrick has opened up about the emotional and personal reasons behind her decision to walk away from motorsport. Speaking on Nightline, she explained, “It wasn’t in my heart anymore. What I love about racing was that ability to progress and get better… and I just felt like that was becoming less and less something that was in my control.”
Despite a highly decorated career that saw her become the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race, Patrick revealed a growing sense of unfulfillment. Still, the decision to retire didn’t come easy. Recalling her final press conference, she said, “I walk into the press conference room… you could just feel the energy of the room, the weight of it. And it was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I knew at that moment I wasn’t going to be able to keep it together. And I didn’t.”
Though she’s no longer behind the wheel, Patrick remains active in the motorsport world as a pundit for Sky Sports' Formula 1 coverage, where she offers expert insights shaped by years of elite competition.
Outside the racing world, Patrick has also made headlines for her political views. In a post from last October, she revealed that she cast her first-ever presidential vote for Donald Trump, writing, “I voted for Donald Trump and I can’t wait to have him make America great again! Thank you Stephal Vorson for walking me through the process!”