Danica Patrick confirmed this week that she has never voted in a presidential election but revealed why that would be changing in November.
The former racing driver, 42, recently threw her support behind Donald Trump as she prepares to cast her first ever ballot for the former president.
After previously endorsing Robert F. Kennedy Jr, she later followed him in backing the Republican leader to reclaim the Presidency in November’s election, even joining the likes of former ESPN reporter Sage Steele and Lara Trump on the campaign trail.
Patrick, who previously dated fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, has truly stepped on the gas on the political circuit over the course of the past year, going from zero to 100.
And the ex-IndyCar and NASCAR queen explained what changed her mind this year.
Danica Patrick explained why she will vote for the first time on Jesse Watters Primetime
The former racing driver, 42, recently threw her support behind Donald Trump (pictured)
‘It’s not something I’m proud of I would say, but it is true,’ Patrick, who remains the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race in history, said on Jesse Watters Primetime.
‘To explain myself slightly, one of the rules I had for myself in all of past elections no matter what’s happened is I said, “Look, if I don’t vote, it doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion, but I’m not going to tell anyone about it. I don’t have a problem with anything, I can’t complain anything because I didn’t do my part.”
‘And for so long, racing was all I did. It was my only focus. I didn’t have time or energy to really understand politics even.’
She explained that she went from never watching the news to it becoming all she ever watches after tuning in at the beginning of the year.
Patrick also attended America Fest in Phoenix last December – a four-day event ‘celebrating the greatest country in the world’ – which reinforced her love for her country.
‘There were so many great speakers, and I posted some pictures afterwards,’ she said about attending the event.
‘Of course, it was very red, white and blue. Red is also my favorite color, and I basically just said I love this country. AMFEST, America Fest, I love this country, seems like the place to be. It just drew so much media attention.’
Patrick also explained why Trump has her first ever vote in the Race for the White House.
The ex-IndyCar and NASCAR queen explained why the Republican candidate has her vote
Patrick remains the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race in history. Pictured in 2008
‘It feels like voting for Donald Trump is like the vote of reason. It’s like the rational, reasonable choice,’ Patrick said.
She claimed that she didn’t understand why Trump’s slogan, ‘Make America Great Again,’ was considered an insult by some.
‘There is a difference definitely between the way that men and women are voting, and I think maybe one of the reasons why women are having a harder time with the vote is just his [Trump’s] personality,’ she said.
‘That’s the most common answer you hear from people. ‘I just can’t vote for him.’ I don’t think that’s a good enough reason. You don’t have to go to dinner with him. You just have to like the country that you live in.’
And Patrick insisted that the country would become the greatest it has ever been if Trump returns to the Oval Office.
‘I feel like most of all, though, what this country could be if he gets into office, with all the amazing, brilliant people who are supporting him, I feel like it can not only make America great again, but make America greater than it’s ever been,’ she said.
As she prepares to cast her first vote, Patrick has hit the campaign trail in support of Trump and his running mate Ohio Senator JD Vance.
She made her shock electoral admission while on stage with Trump’s running mate JD Vance
Sage Steele, Patrick, and others hit the campaign trail in support of former President Trump
Patrick and and former SportsCenter anchor Steele were pictured together wearing pink ‘Women for Trump’ shirts while making political stops in Georgia.
The sports pair also snapped photos with Lara Trump, Tulsi Gabbard , and others in between campaign events at a local donut shop.
The Trump campaign also shared a video of the group singing along to Taylor Swift’s hit ’22’ before changing the lyrics to, ‘I don’t know about you but I’m voting Donald Trump.’
Swift publicly endorsed Harris in a lengthy Instagram statement following last month’s presidential debate.