Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick’s first season driving stock cars in was punctuated at times by jarring wrecks and verbal run-ins with other drivers. But this week, the first of the off season, provided a wild ride of a different sort.
The former IndyCar star and up-and-coming driver in Nascar’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup series announced she and her husband, Paul Hospenthal, are divorcing after seven years of marriage. The revelation came two days after she was named the Most Popular Driver among Nationwide series competitors – an award determined by fans’ votes.
Hospenthal, 47 years old, is a physical therapist who met Patrick, 30, when she sought treatment for a non-racing injury. They married in 2005.
Patrick announced the split on her Facebook page, and while not necessarily expected, the news will not be surprising to people familiar with motorsport. Racing cars, after all, has always been hard on relationships.
Of course the speed, noise and violence unique to racing make it an especially stressful sport. But the elements that test and often destroy intimate bonds are present in many competitive endeavors at the highest level, especially those with huge fan followings like Nascar.
Last edited by SpiderGearsMan; November 22, 2012, 09:21 AM.
I knew her father was a founder of the Paul Mitchell Hair product company (as well as the Patron Co.), so this thread got me to look him up on wiki. Sounds like a great American success story! Good on him!
He used to hang out at the ski shop I worked at in Aspen, right at the time he launched Patron. I was provided with enough shampoo and tequila to last the winter. He really is a nice guy.
Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick’s first season driving stock cars in was punctuated at times by jarring wrecks and verbal run-ins with other drivers. But this week, the first of the off season, provided a wild ride of a different sort.
The former IndyCar star and up-and-coming driver in Nascar’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup series announced she and her husband, Paul Hospenthal, are divorcing after seven years of marriage. The revelation came two days after she was named the Most Popular Driver among Nationwide series competitors – an award determined by fans’ votes.
Hospenthal, 47 years old, is a physical therapist who met Patrick, 30, when she sought treatment for a non-racing injury. They married in 2005.
Patrick announced the split on her Facebook page, and while not necessarily expected, the news will not be surprising to people familiar with motorsport. Racing cars, after all, has always been hard on relationships.
Of course the speed, noise and violence unique to racing make it an especially stressful sport. But the elements that test and often destroy intimate bonds are present in many competitive endeavors at the highest level, especially those with huge fan followings like Nascar.
Thirty weekends away from each other while she was off racing and her husband at home doing his job would be the most likely problem. Drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have the whole family at the track during race weekends. I doubt her hubby wanted to follow her around to carry her helmet bag.
Thirty weekends away from each other while she was off racing and her husband at home doing his job would be the most likely problem. Drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have the whole family at the track during race weekends. I doubt her hubby wanted to follow her around to carry her helmet bag.
Yep......conjugal visits are a must for a marriage to work.
Thom "The object is to keep your balls on the table and knock everybody else's off..."
I knew her father was a founder of the Paul Mitchell Hair product company (as well as the Patron Co.), so this thread got me to look him up on wiki. Sounds like a great American success story! Good on him!
2007 SBN/A Drag Week Winner & First only SBN/A Car in the 9's Till 2012 First to run in the .90s .80s and .70's in SBN/A 2012 SSBN/A Drag Week Winner First in the 9.60's/ 9.67 @ 139 1.42 60' 2013 SSBN/A Drag Week, Lets quit sand bagging, and let it rip!
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