Championship race car athlete and entrepreneur Danica Patrick will bring her expertise and insights to the metro when she headlines The Chamber’s ninth annual Voices of Vision on Wednesday, November 14, from noon to 1:30 at the Delta by Marriott. Patrick’s presentation, “Pushing Your Limits and Pursuing Your Dreams,” will inspire the audience as she shares what she’s learned from the track and in business. Then, a moderated Q&A will allow the audience to learn even more about her story and life lessons.
Patrick found her passion for racing as a child through go-karts, going on to win numerous regional and national go-kart titles, and later competing in the cutthroat world of European road racing at just 16 years old. She burst onto the national scene in 2005 when she stunned the world by leading 19 laps and finishing fourth in her first Indianapolis 500. With that performance, she became the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the historic race. Three years later, Patrick made history once again as she became the first woman to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series with her victory in the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan.
In 2013, as Patrick transitioned to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, she made headlines with her record-setting performance in the 55th Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway. She became the first woman to win a NASCAR Cup Series pole when she set the fastest time in qualifying for the Daytona 500 and then finished in eighth place, the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the “Great American Race.”
As Patrick’s NASCAR Cup Series career progressed, she continued to rewrite the history books. She broke the record for most top-10 finishes of any female in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2015 and holds the new mark with a total of seven top-10s to her credit. In May 2016, Danica became a three-time winner of the Monster Energy Fan Vote for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race. She is the lone repeat winner of the vote in the event’s history.
Now, recently retired from racing, she is shifting her focus to turning her “side hustle” into full-time endeavors. Off the track, Patrick is the author of the fitness book Pretty Intense, sole proprietor of the Somnium vineyard in California and founder of althleisure clothing line, Warrior By Danica Patrick. She was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and was the first-ever female to host the ESPY Awards in 2018. Patrick has appeared in 14 Super Bowl commercials, and has been a spokesperson for multiple brands including Coca-Cola, Tissot, Hot Wheels and OPI nail polish endorsements, and long-time sponsor GoDaddy.
We are thrilled to welcome Danica Patrick to Fargo for The Chamber’s biggest event of the year,” Chamber President & CEO Craig Whitney said. “With a history of prestigious names ranging from businessmen to athletes and political figures, Danica is joining the ranks of some of the best as she takes the stage. We know her talk will drive great discussion!”
Voices of Vision is an annual event designed to bring nationally recognized thought leaders to the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo area. This year’s presenting sponsor is Nodak Insurance. Tickets are available at fmwfchamber.com or by phone at 218.233.1100.