Danica Patrick Pens Heartfelt Note to Little Sis Amid Surprising ‘Human’ Claim

“That’s it. I quit all my jobs and responsibilities and only do this,” revealed Danica Patrick in an Instagram story. But it might surprise you what she was actually talking about. Was it racing, or her new foray into broadcasting? Well, you’d be wrong if you thought that. The NASCAR legend was talking about spending time with her dogs! For Danica Patrick, this is a little more than just a dream.

Just a few hours after sending a heartwarming message to her sister on her birthday, Patrick took a moment to thank her pet.

Growing up in Beloit, Wisconsin, the sisters share a tight connection. Danica doesn’t say it outright, but you can feel it in her actions that she wants Brooke by her side, thriving, as they navigate life together. She recently wished her sister on Instagram, “Happy birthday sees!!!!! We have had some good times since your 40th a year ago! Love you for helping me walk through this life as a better human. You’re a psychic, amazing mom, caring friend, supportive sister, and great wife. Grateful for you everyday!!!!! ❤️🎂”  But there is someone even more important in her life .

That’s her Husky, Dallas. Patrick’s love for her dogs, the Belgian Malinois Ella and Dallas is no secret. She’s posted “I can’t believe Dallas is 11! My how time flies..” celebrating her dog’s special day the same day as her sister’s. When she saw a post about Loyal’s anti-aging drug for dogs, Danica didn’t hesitate: “I would love some test samples.” It’s more than a playful request, it’s a plea for more time with Ella and Dallas. She’s already told Dallas, when 10, “You’re living to 20. Don’t break that promise.” Danica’s even joked, “I’d co-sign a loan if my dog wanted to buy a car,” showing she’d do anything to keep Dallas around, even fighting wild animals!

Back in 2021, she fought off coyotes chasing them, escaping with bruises. “Mom coming in hot to save my baby from the coyotes,” Danica Patrick once declared on Instagram. Just a little while after her furry friend was attacked by a gang of coyotes and the ex-motorsports star had fended them off, she showed off the scars of her battle. “You should see my face. I’m looking for you coyotes. In the meantime, the tree branches found my face.” 

Danica Patrick’s heart beats loudest for dogs, especially the ones who’ve seen too many years and too few homes. A little over a year ago, she revealed one instance about the difference they make in her life. She said, “It was in Tulum, Mexico. There was a dog, [on] the beach there’s lots of stranded dogs and there was one that came around. First day we were on the beach and and it was so cute and I just named this one Lucy. And I really wanted to see Lucy all the time and when I would release sort of that grip on wanting so much all of a sudden, she’d appear. It’d be like an energetic experience.” 

She’s moved by folks like Steve Greig, a guy who turned his life into a sanctuary for senior rescue dogs—ten of them, all saved from tough spots. That kind of compassion strikes a chord with Danica. “I dream about rescuing the oldest dogs at a shelter,” she shared on Instagram, “to give them a happy home in their last years.”

So why hasn’t she done it yet? Life’s keeping her on the move. Between analyzing Formula 1 races for Sky Sports, jetting off to Trump events, and juggling her wine brand, Somnium, she’s rarely in one spot long enough to settle down with a pack of rescues. But that doesn’t mean Patrick doesn’t take every chance she gets to spend time with her dogs.

Lazy Sundays are spent with her dogs rather than going out and spending them with humans, and her Instagram stories show it all: a plate of food half-gone as those puppy eyes look at her. Captioned, “They know I’m weak,” Patrick has always been glued to the pair. She sees herself as their hero, just not yet. When “someday” arrives, don’t be surprised if she’s knee-deep in wagging tails, finally living that dream.

For now, she can watch as another woman follows in her footsteps in NASCAR history.

Katherine Legge joins NASCAR Cup Series

When Danica Patrick first chose to join NASCAR, it made waves in the community. At the time, Mario Andretti, a vital part of the Andretti racing family, under whose banner Patrick worked, said that the sport would see the downside of her joining. Regardless, it was still a massive moment.

Now, it looks like Patrick’s success has inspired another racer, Katherine Legge, to follow in her footsteps. Legge became the first woman since 2018 to start a NASCAR Cup Series race. When NASCAR visited Phoenix during the Shriners Children’s 500, Legge drove the #78 Live Fast Motorsports car. However, it wasn’t the best of starts for the driver, as she spun out twice at the Phoenix Raceway.

Speaking about her debut, Legge said, “It was baptism by fire. I think there’s a lot of positives to take from it. Obviously, there were mistakes made, but I learned so much. Hopefully, I get to come back.” Despite this, she and her team didn’t give up. “I was so loose. I was hanging on to it. We kept making adjustments. We kept making the car way more stable for me. At the end there, I think we were relatively quick, so it wasn’t bad. I wish we hadn’t made the changes. It was a rough start.”