When Danica Patrick first appeared on the tracks of NASCAR, she created path-breaking records for women in motorsport racing. The first woman to secure pole position at the Daytona 500 retired as a full-time Cup Series driver with Stewart-Haas Racing. Unfortunately, it seems like she has overshadowed those phenomenal achievements through a slew of controversies.
Patrick’s considerable fanbase slowly dwindled with each contentious statement. From talking about extra-terrestrial involvement in Egyptian pyramids to expressing disinterest in finding female F1 drivers, the former racer alienated sections of her loyal fanbase over the years. Fast forward to today, her ill-timed opinion amidst Martin Truex Jr‘s loss only caused further impairment.
Former NASCAR racer targeted Martin Truex Jr after gut-wrenching tragedy
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Martin Truex Jr could only wonder in amazement at the two different halves of his 2023 season. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver won the regular season and looked forward to the playoff championship a month ago. The #19 driver struggled in the playoff races and barely crawled through to the next round after Bristol. And then he grappled through an unbearable anguish.
The 2017 champion received painful news of his ex-girlfriend’s demise after the playoff race. Sherry Pollex battled ovarian cancer for nearly a decade before she succumbed to it. She raised awareness of the disease and continued tireless philanthropic efforts despite her illness. As the entire NASCAR community mourned the tragic news, Martin Truex Jr released a statement about her work’s impact.
Statement from Martin Truex Jr. on
the death of his former partner, Sherry Pollex: pic.twitter.com/lwCMpLdIJN— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 17, 2023
Patrick chose Truex’s moment of grief to express her distaste for the racer and his shared post in her Instagram story.
Patrick shared the driver’s statement on her Instagram story with the on-screen caption that read, “This is the most insensitive disconnected statement from a guy that I have never liked. I don’t care what happened between them but this is as cold as it gets. A PR rep wrote this guaranteed. You’re free from this now Sherry.”
Fans received her comment in a poor light and she was unanimously condemned for using this heartbreaking development to advance her own animosity for Truex Jr. The dissension reached a feverous scale when long-time supporters of the female driver also stood against her vitriol.
I used to look up to her 🙄
— Olivia (@olivia_whissell) September 18, 2023
Several former fans quickly chimed in with their own disillusionment against Danica Patrick.
Watch This Story: “She Inspired So Many…” – Brad Keselowski Mours Martin Truex Jr’s Ex-Girlfriend’s Unfortunate Demise; Fans Join In to Pay Respects
Danica Patrick’s inconsiderate comments distanced her own fanbase
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It wouldn’t be wrong to categorize Danica Patrick as the most successful female racer in the American Motorsports circuit. And not just for her on-track accomplishments. Her film and TV stints, book releases, commercials, and hosting duties amassed a net worth of $80 Million over the years. Yet, instead of serving as a source of inspiration for aspiring women racers, she was often in the limelight for disputed opinions. But an attempt to capitalize on Martin Truex Jr’s torment was far too much, even for her loyal fanbase.
The above post from a NASCAR writer gained traction and several other fans expressed their disapproval toward their former idol.
Judging by your posts, you clearly already make better decisions than her on the content you choose to shine light on. She was completely out of line.
— Kevin Moon (@_KevinMoon) September 19, 2023
“Unfortunately alot of females in racing did, but she’s shown her true colors.”
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“Key words: used to She has said some interesting things lately. “
There were some who felt that social media should not be used as a sole indicator of an influential personality’s true characteristics. “You still can. Emotional social media flaps don’t define anyone despite what society says otherwise.”
While others steered clear of the controversy and focused on remembering the indomitable spirit of Sherry Pollex. “Sherry was a great person. She’ll be missed dearly.”
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At the end of the day, we could only hope for peace and solace for Sherry Pollex’s friends and family during this difficult time.