Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick publicly criticized Martin Truex Jr. for the way he handled the death of his former partner Sherry Pollex.
Pollex died Sunday after a long battle with ovarian and lung cancer that began in 2014.
Truex and Pollex were together from 2005 until their split in January 2023.
Patrick, who is now an analyst on Sky Sports’ F1 coverage, described the tone of Truex’s statement as “insensitive”.
“I avoid negativity on social media at almost all costs. “Almost…” Patrick wrote in a post on her Instagram Story on Monday.
Danica Patrick expressed her issue with Martin Truex Jr.’s statement honoring his ex-partner
Truex Jr.’s longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, passed away on Sunday after a battle with cancer
Patrick publicly expressed her displeasure with the language used, which she described as “insensitive.”
“But that is the most insensitive, incoherent statement from a man that I have never liked.” And obviously for good reason.
“I don’t care what happened between them, but this is as cold as it can get.” A PR rep is guaranteed to have written this. You’re free of that now, Sherry.’
Truex’s statement addressed Sherry’s struggles without providing insight into their relationship.
“From the minute she was diagnosed, Sherry was determined to not only fight ovarian cancer with everything she had, but also to make a difference in the lives of others battling this terrible disease,” Truex wrote.
“Sherry’s passion for making a difference in the lives of others inspired everyone.” Through her tireless charitable work over so many years, her legacy will live on far beyond our lifetimes and continue to help countless families battling ovarian and pediatric cancer.
“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her entire family, who have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout her fight.”
NASCAR fans were not happy with Patrick’s handling of the situation – or the timing of her comments. They expressed their displeasure on social media.
“To everyone who knows Danica Patrick personally.” Be a good friend, go to her house, take her cell phone and smash it with a hammer so that the stupidity finally stops flowing from her fingertips. “What an absolute asshole,” one Twitter user wrote.
Racing fans criticized Patrick for a post that some felt was unnecessary and crude
“Ok, in case anyone still has any doubts, Danica Patrick is just a bad person,” wrote another.
“Danica Patrick is a fucking unbearable man,” another user said. “What a strange thing to stick your nose in and post about someone less than 24 hours after their ex died of cancer.”
After initially getting into nascar through the efforts of her father greg pollex – the owner of ppc racing, a team in the sport’s second tier circuit – sherry began using her business acumen to support charities and causes closest to her heart hearts lie.
She was instrumental in founding Catwalk for a Cause – an annual charity fashion gala in the sport that has raised more than $4 million to fight childhood cancer since its inception in 2010.
NASCAR released a statement saying, “NASCAR is saddened by the passing of Sherry Pollex, whose battle with cancer and determination to help others through the Sherry Strong Foundation were an inspiration to all who knew her.”
“The thoughts and prayers of NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation are with Sherry’s family and friends.”
Sherry’s father, Greg, raced on dirt tracks in her native Michigan before eventually moving to the national circuit. ppc Racing won the championship of what was then the Busch Series – now the Xfinity Series – in 2000 with driver Jeff Green.
After moving to Florida during her middle school years, Sherry graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Sports Marketing.
Pollex was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. After surgery and months of chemotherapy, she went into remission. But in 2021 the disease returned in her lungs.
Truex and Pollex were together from 2005 until their split in January 2023
She met Truex when he was competing in the Xfinity Series. The couple later founded the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, which raises money to fight childhood and ovarian cancer.
Truex would move up to the top Cup Series, where he would win the 2017 Cup Series title. As the 2023 season comes to a close, he is currently tied for the lead with Truex winning the regular season title.
Pollex’s own diagnosis came in 2014 when doctors diagnosed her with advanced stage III ovarian cancer. In August, she underwent emergency surgery during which doctors removed her ovaries, fallopian tubes, spleen, appendix and part of her stomach.
After doctors gave her a 30 percent chance of survival over the next five years, she finished her chemotherapy in January 2016.
After years of remission, doctors discovered Pollex’s cancer returned in September 2021.
They discovered the disease had spread to her lungs – further tests revealed the cancer had advanced.
In addition, they found that this strain of cancer was particularly aggressive and resistant to treatment.