Danica Patrick Explained Why Fitness is Not Important in NASCAR With Tony Stewart & Ryan Newman’s Example

Sports personalities normally have to be extremely fit. This is so that they can be in peak condition to perform to the best of their abilities. In motorsports, it isn’t as simple as just getting into a car and going as fast as you can. Drivers need to train as much as they can to keep themselves in shape. However, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick has admitted that fitness is not really a necessity when it comes to NASCAR.

She said, “You don’t have to be that fit. Especially in NASCAR, there are some drivers you look at and think that they probably don’t work out that much. Physical fitness is important but then you got guys like Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman and they do just fine. It’s like running a marathon, with an elevated heart rate. The focus comes from practice, but the stamina and hydration is critical. Repetition with the muscles. A general amount of flexibility and some endurance is good. You get conditioned by doing the actual job itself. I am more fit than I need to be to do the job.”

What is Danica Patrick up to now?

Now that she has retired from the motor racing scene, Patrick has been trying her hand at commentary. Suffice to say, her maiden foray into that arena was a roaring success and many fans praised her insights. However, at her second go at the microphone, the response suddenly saw a massive U-turn. This is because many did not appreciate her constant comparisons with IndyCar, which were getting quite repetitive.

Hopefully, if she gets another chance in the booth with Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer, she can redeem herself. In all honesty, Patrick is an excellent commentator and can be very insightful. Additionally, she has been pretty much a trailblazer for women, especially in introducing them to the world of NASCAR.

READ MORE: NASCAR Fans Lose Patience With Danica Patrick and Her IndyCar References During Live Races