Danica Patrick Wants to be the Honey Badger of NASCAR

It seems like everyone is using the honey badger as motivation these days. First it was LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu who earned the nickname because of his style of play. Then it was 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh sharing the video with his players. Now it’s driver Danica Patrick, who will be racing in the Sprint Cup Series for the first time beginning in February.

“It was last year, I think, somebody showed me this video of the honey badger, and the commentator on it was very, very funny,” she said. “Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn’t give a (flip), he takes what he wants. And that’s how I’m going to be this year, like a honey badger.

Even though Patrick plans to embrace the honey badger style, she recognizes it’s getting a little played out.

“But I feel like it’s a little diluted with the football player that has the honey badger nickname, too. He’s No. 7, as well. I bet he’s not feeling like a honey badger,” she said in reference to LSU’s loss to Alabama. “I don’t know, it’s a mindset. I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me. It takes what it wants.”

Patrick’s first NASCAR race will be the Daytona 500 on February 26th. My guess is it will be someone like Kyle Busch taking what he wants, not Danica.