Hononegah High School Alumni
Rockton, Illinois (IL)
Danica Patrick
An auto racing driver, competing in IndyCar Series and NASCAR, with top 10 finishes in Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500[33]
What is Danica Patrick known for?
Born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin, Danica Sue Patrick etched her name in the annals of auto racing history as one of the most successful women in the field. She achieved a series of firsts for women in American auto racing, including being the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race and clinch a pole position in the NASCAR Cup Series. In addition, she holds records for the most starts, laps led, and top-tens in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Patrick's racing career includes impressive performances in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, where she finished higher than any other woman before her. She also became one of just 14 drivers to lead in both races.
Across her career, she received numerous accolades, including the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and the IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver from 2005 to 2010. She also clinched the NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award in 2012.
She began her IndyCar Series career in 2005, participated in 116 races over eight years, and finished 5th in her best season in 2009. Remarkably, she managed to secure one win, seven podiums, and three pole positions in the IndyCar Series. In NASCAR, Patrick drove in 191 Cup Series races over seven years and had seven top tens, and one pole position. She also competed in 61 Xfinity Series races over five years, finishing best at 10th place in 2012.
Patrick, a native of Beloit, Wisconsin, was also a notable alumni of Hononegah High School in Rockton, Illinois. But her thirst for speed and ambition led her to drop out of high school with her parents' support in 1998, as she moved to the United Kingdom to further her career.
Danica Patrick's legacy in auto racing is unquestionable. As a highly successful woman in a male-dominated industry, she paved the way for future female racers and broke many records along the way. For more information on her incredible career, check out her full story here.