Retiring NASCAR star Danica Patrick hopes to have a cooking show

Even though Danica Patrick has yet to complete her final lap as a race car driver, her attention is already starting to turn to life after motorsports.

To that end, Patrick recently released a health and fitness book, “Pretty Intense: The 90-Day Mind, Body and Food Plan that will absolutely Change Your Life.” In a promotional interview with ESPN, the 35-year-old also revealed her intent to someday become a chef with the goal of hosting a television show.

According to ESPN, Patrick seems pretty content with the direction of her professional life moving forward.

“Retirement looks bright! I think many people retire and don’t know what they’re going to do next and have to figure it out, but I know what I’m going to do. I don’t doubt that (retirement) will change and shift my life in ways I would never expect, so I’ve got to be ready for that …

“I’d like to expand in the book world as well. I don’t even know what that might lead to, exactly. Maybe it leads to public speaking engagements — generally that arena of educating people. That could take any shape.

“I’d also like to have a cooking show, to help people learn how to cook healthily. So those are my retirement plans. Not much, ha!

“Oh yeah, I’d like to travel, catch a few concerts and see some places in the world that I’ve never seen. Those are just the fun things on the side.”

The cooking show direction makes a lot of sense at face value since her Instagram page is occasionally a how-to cooking guide for parts of the year. Her book also is full of health-conscious recipes, falling in line with her long-established brand away from the track.

Patrick announced last month that she would step away from full-time competition with two more races on her schedule — the 2018 Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. Patrick has yet to sign a deal for either race but hopes to finalize her plans shortly after the new year.