Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick has appeared well on her way to being a right-wing influencer across the past couple of weeks since announcing her return to social media.
“I think I am going to start using (X) more again,” she wrote on Elon Musk’s social media site back on Oct. 14. “Thanks in large part to (Elon Musk) has done with it. Also … I used to avoid opinions as an athlete. I did my job and promoted what was asked and I was fine with that for that phase of my life. However now, I am ready to promote my beliefs, questions, curiosities, hobbies, and most definitely my dogs.”
That prompted a response of “Cool!” from Elon Musk.
“You’re cool,” Patrick responded.
She went on to campaign for president-elect Donald Trump in the days that followed, and she has continued to try to amplify her right-wing reach in the days since he won the election. Her most recent post, however, probably got her some blowback that she didn’t appreciate.
Patrick reshared a post on X that showed a photo of Trump’s recently picked press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, next to current press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“Best. Upgrade. Ever,” the post read.
Patrick wrote, “Ever,” above it when she re-shared it.
And it was on.
There were many MAGA folks who agreed with her and supported the post.
“The Trump administration believes in competence over diversity,” one person responded. “Thankfully.”
But there were plenty of others who took it as an opportunity to attack Patrick, who drove in 252 NASCAR races across the Cup Series and Xfinity Series without scoring a win.
“Remember when liberals fought for you to drive,” one person responded. “Sounds like DEI to me.”
“Hey, how many NASCAR races did you win?” another wrote. “Oh that’s right none turns out you’re as bad a racer as you are a person. Hey but you did win that one Indy race.”
“The NASCAR DEI hire speaks,” another wrote. “We are surely Kelly Bundy will be incredible.”
“You’re a DEI hire yourself,” another wrote. “Don’t forget that.”
For what it is worth, Patrick did, indeed, pick up an IndyCar Series win, and she did have seven top-10 finishes in NASCAR. Still, she wasn’t exactly a dominant driver, and the criticisms have to sting at least a little if she takes them in.
Patrick has not responded, though, and she probably won’t. She is likely to hear the digs plenty more as she continues to try to build her new following and mixes it up with folks on the left.
