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Danica Patrick achieved fame as the most successful woman in open-wheel racing, following her 2008 IndyCar victory. Despite retiring from the Cup Series in 2018, she remains a magnetic presence in the motorsports world, albeit not always for the right reasons. Recently, Patrick stirred controversy with her comments about the late former girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr, Sherry Pollex. Her remarks raised eyebrows and fueled the ongoing debate around Patrick’s outspoken nature. Furthermore, Patrick also found herself in the line of fire of passionate Formula 1 fans when she joined Sky Sports as a reporter during a past race weekend.

However, it now seems that Danica Patrick, one of the sport’s most controversial figures, has found an unlikely ally in NASCAR’s poster boy, Chase Elliott.

Unlikely alliance as Danica Patrick and Chase Elliott find common ground

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Danica Patrick’s vocal opposition to a fully vegan diet is no secret among her followers. In her 40s, Patrick has solidified her position as a notable influencer in the realm of dietary preferences, consistently sharing her candid opinions and personal experiences.

In the past, her love for meat came to the forefront of conversations when she responded to a doctor’s post discussing muscle loss after the age of 30. While the doctor emphasized the importance of a protein-rich diet and resistance training, Danica added her own perspective with a straightforward “Eat meat. Lift weights.” Her stance, though aligned with her dietary choices, may raise eyebrows among some NASCAR fans who strictly adhere to veganism. However, this is not the first time she has made polarising statements.

During one such instance, she asserted that veganism accelerates the aging process, a perspective she arrived at after briefly attempting a vegan diet out of concern for animals but ultimately finding that a meat-inclusive diet made her feel significantly better.

While Danica Patrick’s dietary opinions have stirred headlines, a recent revelation from Hendrick Motorsports’ star, Chase Elliott, appears to align with some of her perspectives. The moment unfolded as Hendrick Motorsports shared a teaser video addressing popular Google web searches about the 2020 NASCAR champion. One question posed was whether Elliott is vegan, to which he offered a resounding “I’m definitely not vegan.”

This revelation aligns with his past statements when in a 2018 interview with NASCAR reporter Jeff Gluck, Elliott was faced with a hypothetical scenario: NASCAR offers the No. 1 pit stall to the first driver willing to go vegan for a month. His response was unwavering, as he firmly rejected the notion, No, absolutely not. No. I’ll take my chances,” emphasizing his fondness for meat. His commitment to a non-vegan diet was underscored by his explanation of meat serving as his preferred fuel source in another interview with GQ. He detailed his pre-race meal, typically consisting of grilled chicken, before taking to the racetrack. I’m pretty strict on a grilled chicken-type lunch with rice and corn.”

Indeed, since that disastrous stint at Watkins Glen in the regular season, Chase Elliott seems to have found a winning formula, not just in his diet but also on the racetrack.

Superspeedway showdown as Elliott gears up to defend Talladega glory

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In the midst of the NASCAR postseason, Chase Elliott’s name continues to resonate loudly, even though he’s not in the championship contention. Rick Hendrick‘s #9 team has had a far-from-stellar regular season, encountering misfortunes lap after lap. However, following the embarrassing limp to the pits due to a fuel shortage in the penultimate regular season race at Watkins Glen, the Georgia native has maintained an incredible streak. Ever since that fateful race, top-10 finishes have remained consistent for Elliott, except for a recent 11th-place finish in Texas.

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The spotlight now turns to Talladega, and the focus is on continuing the recent streak of success that Elliott has enjoyed. In the last seven races, he has secured top-10 finishes in five of them. Entering Talladega as the defending winner, having triumphed in the 2022 race at the same venue, Elliott says, “I don’t really think it’s any different. I do think everyone has gotten smarter just with the way we plate race now and manage a race.”

He emphasizes that “smarter” doesn’t mean avoiding crashes altogether, as there will still be plenty of that action. Instead, it’s about strategic race management and survival. “Ultimately, you can just hope that you get through all of that and try to salvage a good points day. If you have a shot to win, try to grab the win. But, ultimately, I think, it’s just trying to survive the day.”

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Read more: William Byron Acquits Chase Elliotts’ Traitor Despite Recurring Problems Plaguing the Drivers

As the playoffs unfolded, could Elliott secure a trip to victory lane this season, proving that even from the sidelines, he could be a force to be reckoned with? Only time will tell.