Retired racecar driver Danica Patrick, whose motor sports career was often overshadowed by her off-track endeavors, has been added to the speakers line-up for the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas in October.
Following in the footsteps of others from the sports world who have addressed the gaming industry’s largest conference, Patrick will give a morning keynote talk on Thursday Oct. 17, the conference’s final day, to discuss her “drive and determination” and how they influenced her success both on the racetrack and as an entrepreneur.
Patrick, who retired from auto racing after breaking down generational and gender barriers in both NASCAR and the Indy Car Series, currently hosts a podcast series titled, “Pretty Intense,” which aims to discover how to untap the human potential to live your best life.
“Not only is Danica Patrick a pioneer in motor sports, but she is a role model for anyone who may not fit a traditional stereotype that is looking to succeed in other industries,” said Allie Barth, vice president of industry relations for the American Gaming Association, which produces G2E.
“With the sports and casino industries continuing to intertwine with the spread of legal sports betting, there is no better time for the gaming industry to hear from Danica Patrick, an inspiring athlete and successful entrepreneur,” Barth added.
Sports business leaders have become part of the G2E lineup over the past few years. Former NBA Commissioner David Stern addressed the conference in 2016 and retired basketball superstar Magic Johnson took part in the 2017 G2E.
Last year, with interest over the expansion of legal sports betting dominating the landscape, ESPN sports personality Scott Van Pelt took part in several G2E discussions.
Patrick will speak from the special events stage inside the Sands Expo and Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. In addition to business – Patrick is now focusing her career on food, wine and fitness – some of the talk could center on legal sports betting, which is operational in 13 states and is reaching beyond the “big five” sports – football, basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey – and branching other sports, including golf and racing.
“What differentiates G2E from other gaming industry events is that we invest in household name, marquee keynote speakers,” said Korbi Carrison, G2E’s event director. “Especially on the show’s closing day, we know that inclusion of Danica Patrick at G2E will deliver value from start to end.”
Patrick ended her 13-year racing career in 2018 with the “Danica Double,” where she competed in the sports two marquee events – NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and Indy’s Indianapolis 500. She stunned the racing world in 2005 by leading 19 laps and finishing fourth in her first Indianapolis 500. She became the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the historic race.
Three years later, 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 race.
She transitioned to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2013 and had a record-setting performance at the 55th Daytona 500, becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR Cup Series pole position with the fastest time in qualifying, and then finishing in eighth place.
Away from the racetrack, Patrick was named to Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” list was featured in pictorials in the 2008 and 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
She has appeared in a record-setting 14 Super Bowl commercials, 13 of which were for longtime partner, GoDaddy!
In addition to her podcast, Patrick owns the Somnium Vineyard in Napa Valley, California, and is publishing a book.
G2E runs Oct. 14-17 and is expected to attract 27,000 gaming industry professionals. The conference portion takes place all four days and tradeshow runs Tuesday through Thursday.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
