Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Driver dodges rumors that he and Patrick are dating

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Amid rumors that Danica Patrick a nd Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are dating, Stenhouse wouldnt go into details Thursday about his relationship with the soon-to-be-divorced Patrick.

Stenhouse, meeting with the media Thursday during the Sprint Media Tour, was asked directly about rumors and reports on various celebrity websites that the two Sprint Cup rookies are dating.

Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are good friends, leading to rumors that they might be dating. (AP Photo)

I dont like to talk too much about my personal life, Stenhouse said. This week is about our season that were looking ahead to.

Both Stenhouse and Patrick were rookies in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 and have raced together in that series the past three years. They developed a friendship, often sharing racing information and chatting at the track.

Weve got a great relationship, Stenhouse said. Obviously that started when she first came into the sport. We were both going to rookie meetings. Its been cool to work with her in the Nationwide Series.

I felt like she could come to me for advice with the experience that Ive had.

Their growing relationship has led to rumors and reports that the two may be more than friends, particularly with Patrick recently filing for divorce from her husband.

The National Enquirer and ShowBizSpy.com both recently ran stories about Patricks divorce and her relationship with Stenhouse.

Patrick, a former IndyCar star who has become a worldwide celebrity thanks to her success on the track and her racy commercials for sponsor Go Daddy, wasnt asked specifically about the reports Monday but did say that she would not talk about the details of her personal life. She filed for divorce from her husband, Paul Hospenthal, in January and is looking to end her seven-year marriage.

Stenhouse, 25, is single.

When asked earlier this week if she had a rivalry with Stenhouse, the 30-year-old Patrick said were good friends.

Both Stenhouse and Patrick were among a group of NASCAR drivers who recently went to a Professional Bull Riders event in Winston-Salem, N.C., further sparking the rumors.

A group of us went to the PBR, Stenhouse said. Obviously she was in town this week for media week. So there was a big group of us that went and hung out at the rodeo. It was a lot of fun. I think that was her first rodeo ever or PBR bull riding.

Its cool. Learning new things is fun. Obviously it was a different experience for her.

Both Patrick and Stenhouse struggled in their first year of Nationwide Series racing in 2009. Stenhouse went on to win the series championship in 2010 and 2011 while Patrick, who made the move from full-time IndyCar to full-time NASCAR in 2011, finished 10th last season.

When she first came into the sport, obviously she is very outgoing and wants to learn as much as she can, Stenhouse said. I felt like our backgrounds were somewhat similar coming from light racecars, open-wheel race cars.

Ive given her as much advice as I can.

Stenhouse said even though they are friends, he wouldnt race her any differently as they compete for 2012 Sprint Cup rookie honors.

Were going for rookie of the year, Stenhouse said. People always say, Ill wreck my mom to win. Thats a racers mentality. You go out and you want every spot on the racetrack.

I want to win rookie of the year just as bad as she does.

Patrick said Monday that she doesnt see their rivalry on the track changing their relationship.

Thats really interesting, she said. Both of us are running for rookie of the year and both of us want that. I dont see any reason why it would change.

He was always very generous with information about how to drive the Nationwide car, certain tips. Were good friends. Its not really a rivalry.

I understand Mark Martin is gonna send the pair a dating guide from his publisher:

Yall fishing for big stuff with a short line arent ya

As soon as you get down to Daytona, Johnny and get all these folks back on the track the "writers" will have real racing topics, I reckon.

In the meantime, I hope Jeff doesn't give Ricky a hard time.

That would be a match made in hell. Oh God, the kids they could produce!

Which one?

lol.....not Jeff and Ricky.......Ricky and the Go Daddy Cupcake......I see on the net this morning that she has made it official...they are dating.....Since she is now a Cougar,maybe she can drive for Ford...

Speaking of "kids" , wonder if "Dale Jr." has hurt feelings over this?

Isn't that just the sweetest? That is the kind of Goat....I want people to think of me as...as I sachet...around dancing..sweetly...I love that Kid!!

Well...she obviously doesn't know anything about "Cowboys", so Ricky should always be right!! Wonder if she has ever even seen a Rodeo on TV?

I think Chase needs to offer a Schaefer opinion at this forum:

http://forums.sixpackspeak.com/showthread.php?101469-Mississippi-boy-Ricky-Stenhouse-dating-Danica-Patrick

Inquiring minds, you know.....

Maybe I need one of these books...LOL!!

I had figured they were getting on together. Does'nt take a rocket scientist, my buddy former Indy 500 driver Jimmy Kite gave a heads up on Facebook too, a month or two ago. I can just imagine how this will be played up on Cup broadcasts

Now that they have come out of the closet does this mean drafting will go from Bumping to Kissing Bumpers? Wonder if Ricky will allow others to get close enough to kiss her "BUMPER"? Just wondering

Patrick said she won't race Stenhouse any differently. supposedly

Does this constitute doing it together?

Only 5 years between them right? But Jr has his squeeze already,also the mgr of the Charlotte boots and britches or otherwise known as a beer joint

You saying ole DW is gonna have a new chapter in his Boogity Boogity book

Ole Trevor better watch out! Cougar is prowling!

Thiswill be the hottest couple in Daytona since Juan Pablo Montoya and the jet dryer.

Good one, Jay!

That is obviously meant for an old man's eyes!

Thank you. Be sure to tip your waitresses.

I'm TooMuchCountry but I'm NotEnoughStupid to waddle into the middle of a Mississippi-Alabama discussion.

lol!

Hey Ma --you read what AP News wrote about Danica & Richard (as she calls him) on todays Sports? They called it Kissing bumpers, Does this kinda guarantee that Danica will always finish ahead of Ricky?

Hendricks better build her a really fast motor because several cars will be out to expose her in real traffic time..........

I havent said anything mean or dirty have I ? ? ? Im just letting inactive little minds exercise a little.....

Well, Johnny and Mama, I'm thinking we ought to get 80 year old Mel Tillis over to Speedweeks and let him cut a new music video with this pair to his great 70s hit. Bound to be money to be made if we can keep NASCAR and ISC's hands out of the pot!

If they make the video, they gotta go side by side, no bumper kissing.

Patty Are you insinuating that this is a Deere-John video?

Johnny, I married one of them "older women" - Joyce is a year and a half older than me, but I just had to train her right. I went straight to a song by her favorite singer, Tompall Glaser (and the Glaser Brothers) and sang it right back to her.

I'm gonna send Ricky a copy. If he'll use these rules with Danica, he'll be just fine!

Well Dave since you opened this can of worms and can be deadly if not handled delicately --I too have one of those special girls, She is 2 1/2 years older than I am but judging by the problems I went through back then to get her into some pits where age was checked I thought that I was older -- But 43 years later im still her teddy bear..

Wonder what happened? Tompall wrote some songs for Bobby and a lot of other follks. He produced most of Waylon Jennings's hits at his Tompall Studios in Nashville. Brother, Jim, made tons of money writing "Woman, Woman." Of course, it was Marty Robbins who discovered them and they sang backup for Marty for years. I was looking through Joyce's albums last night and I lost count of the Tompall albums. In the pix Joyce has with them they all look clean cut - no beards, before Tompall went "Outlaw."

November will 40 since I was first tracked down, lol! Can always remember we were married not long after Benny Parsons clinched his 1973 Championship! Joyce was pulling for DW to win Rookie of the Year (she thought he was gorgeous) and I was pulling for Lennie Pond. Now that I think back, that's probably the only time I ever won over her!

To have one dedicated and to stay that long with racing involved there has to be something special in her... like a special walk on the beach---------------------remember Dave?

Ok... all you drivers' wives and girlfriends.....

I remember that my "buddies" sure messed up my '73 Monte Carlo and that I missed the 1973 Southern Late Model 200 at Wilson County Speedway!