DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, and Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, talk after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Danica Patrick has a message for her ex-boyfriend as they prepare to meet on the track


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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick will race against each other one final time at Daytona, and it will be the first time in five years that they've raced against each other without being in a relationship.

Stenhouse has already said he doesn't plan to race Patrick any differently, so racing fans shouldn't expect any drama between the two.

Patrick expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with For The Win, and she said she won't race Stenhouse any differently at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.

"I heard his interview, and I agree," Patrick said. "If we can help each other - if helping him helps me - so be it. Vice versa. I agree with all that. When we first met, there was already respect there from the very beginning when we were just friends, so I don't see that changing at all. It's not going to change for me."

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Related: Ricky Stenhouse makes it clear how he will treat Danica Patrick on the track

The two drivers dated for five years and then broke up following the 2017 NASCAR season. Patrick is now dating Aaron Rodgers, and Stenhouse has remained mostly quiet about the relationship.

Patrick recently found a ride for Daytona with Premium Motorsports. It will be her last race in the Cup Series.

Racing fans hoping for any awkward tension or exchanges on the track might be out of luck, but it's also unlikely Stenhouse or Patrick will go out of their way to help the other.

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