Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick has sparked intrigue by offering a rare glimpse of her new, unidentified boyfriend in a candid New Year's Instagram post. The 43-year-old racing legend shared a series of personal photos, seemingly confirming a fresh romance after publicly stating she was single for much of the past year.
A Blurry Glimpse and Jenga Games
The Instagram photo dump provided subtle clues about Patrick's new partner. Among pictures with friends, including Mikhaila Peterson and Emily Powell, were several featuring the mystery man. The images included a blurry selfie of the couple, a shot of Patrick kissing him on the cheek at a New Year's party, and a playful moment of them playing Jenga with Emily Powell. Notably, Patrick did not tag her new beau in the post, deliberately keeping his identity a secret from her followers and the public.
From 'Single' to a Public Relationship
This revelation comes just months after Patrick insisted she was not in a relationship. In a June appearance on Ty Dillon's 'Believe in the Good' podcast, she was directly asked about her love life. When co-host Haley asked, 'Are you single right now?' Patrick answered definitively, 'Yeah.'
The timeline of this new romance appears swift. Last September, Patrick posted a picture kissing a man at the Burning Man festival, but she did not confirm a relationship at the time. She then went public with this new partnership in December 2024, a significant shift from her podcast comments earlier in the year.
Moving On from Past Heartbreak
Patrick's new relationship follows a highly publicised and painful split from American football star Aaron Rodgers. The pair dated for two years before their breakup in July 2020. Patrick has been candid about the emotional toll of that relationship.
In a May appearance on 'The Sage Steele Show', she described the split as her most painful experience. 'Because it was so sudden,' she reflected. 'It felt like it was my life. So when you live with somebody, it’s your whole life.' She went further, stating, 'And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing.'
In her latest Instagram caption, Patrick expressed optimism, admitting she is 'kinda pumped for 2026' after seemingly finding love again. While the identity of her new partner remains under wraps, the post clearly signals a new and happy chapter for the former racing champion.
