NASCAR star, Danica Patrick raced at the Texas Motor Speedway over the weekend and in her spare time, helped foal out a cute colt by eight-time World Champion, Hot Ones Only (Bruno). Sharnai Thompson’s step-father, Mark Dyer, is Patrick’s business manager and met Danica when he served as Vice President of Licensing and Consumer Products for NASCAR from 2002 to 2007.
“Danica said he was beautiful, and we named him Patrick after her and she was thrilled,” says Sharnai, who owns Hot Ones Only with her mother, Tammy Dyer.
In February, Patrick became the first woman to win the pole in Sprint Cup history, while competing in the 2013 Daytona 500. During that race, Patrick became the first woman to lead a lap at the “Super Bowl of stock car racing.” She finished the race in 8th place.
The petite race car driver was staying at Tammy and Mark Dyer’s place in Texas when they invited her to go see their farm and all of the animals at Highpoint and Taymar Ranch.
“I had a fun opportunity to attend the race, and hang out in the pit, but I had to leave early because I had a feeling one of Tammy’s mares was about to foal at her ranch,” says Highpoint breeding manager, Christi Christensen. “About ten minutes after the foal was on the ground, Danica walked in and helped me dry the baby off. She also got to see all the exotic animals at Highpoint and was in awe of Bruno because he was the biggest horse she had ever seen.” (pictured left, 5’2″ Patrick)
Christensen also said that Danica plans to ride a horse Sunday–her first one besides a rented trail horse that was led in a line behind each other.
“She is going over to Ryan Painter’s today to ride, multiple world champion paint horse, Sonny Dee Zippin,” Christi says. “Hopefully she will be able to walk, trot and lope on him. Horses are an all new world for her, but she seemed really excited about learning more about them and learning to ride.” (pictured below Danica with Christi)
Thank you Christi Christensen for the great pictures!
