Danica Patrick is dating Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The Go Daddy driver confirmed the news to The Associated Press amid widespread rumors of the couple’s relationship.
Patrick revealed the news just weeks after filing for divorce from her husband, Paul Hospenthal.
ABC News reports that Patrick stated during a phone interview:
“I have a boyfriend. His name is Richard. I think I am just finally excited to tell someone about this.”
Danica sounded giddy as she revealed the relationship news. The couple waited to go public with their relationship until after the end of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s weeklong annual media tour.
Patrick and Stenhouse Jr. started their relationship as a friendship as they raced each other in the Nationwide Series of NASCAR. Patrick added of the couple’s reasons for keeping their relationship a secret:
“It was out of respect to NASCAR, to all the manufacturers, the new cars, the teams, the sponsors, just to allow the news of the day to be about racing and not let anything interfere with that.”
The Washington Post adds that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. confirmed his relationship with his fellow driver. He stated:
“Yes, we are dating. I don’t normally say too much about my private life, always been focused on the track. I didn’t want to confirm at media day so that we could keep the focus on the season, the Gen-6 [car], my sponsors and team.”
Patrick echoed her wish to have a private life. She added, however, that she made an exception this time because she wanted to end the gossip. She also wants the two of them to be open about their relationship.
Both NASCAR drivers have said that their relationship off the track won’t keep them from racing each other hard on the track.
Are you surprised to hear that Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are dating?
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