Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick publicly criticized Martin Truex Jr. for the way that he addressed the death of his former partner, Sherry Pollex.
Pollex passed away on Sunday after a lengthy battle with ovarian and lung cancer that began in 2014.
Truex and Pollex had been together from 2005 up until they split in January of 2023.
Patrick, who is now an analyst with Sky Sports’ F1 coverage, lambasted the tone of Truex’s statement as being ‘insensitive’.
‘I avoid negativity on social at almost all costs. Almost…’ Patrick wrote in a post on her Instagram story on Monday.
Danica Patrick voiced her issue with Martin Truex Jr.’s statement in honor of his ex-partner
Truex Jr.’s longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, passed away on Sunday after a battle with cancer
Patrick publicly voiced her displeasure over the language used, which she called ‘insensitive’
‘But this the most insensitive disconnected statement from a guy 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 gets. A PR rep wrote this guaranteed. You’re free from this now sherry.’
Truex’s statement addressed Sherry’s battle without sharing any insight into their relationship.
‘From the very minute of her diagnosis, Sherry was determined to not only fight ovarian cancer with everything she had but also 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 was inspiring to everyone. Through her tireless charity work for so many years, her legacy will live well beyond our lifetimes and continue to help countless families who are battling ovarian and childhood cancer.
‘I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her entire family, who have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout her battle.’
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 anyone who knows Danica Patrick personally. Be a GOOD Friend, go to her house, take her cell phone, and smash it with a hammer so the stupid can finally stop flowing from her fingertips. What an absolute a**hole,’ wrote one Twitter user.
Racing fans criticized Patrick for a post that some deemed unnecessary and crude
‘Ok in case if anyone had any remaining doubts, Danica Patrick is just straight up a bad person,’ another wrote.
‘Danica Patrick is f***ing insufferable man,’ another user said. ‘What a weird thing to stick your nose into and post about somebody less than 24 hours after their ex has died of cancer.’
After initially getting into NASCAR through the efforts of her father Greg Pollex – who owned ppc Racing, a team in the sport’s second-division circuit – Sherry began using her business acumen to promote charities and causes close to her heart.
She was instrumental in founding ‘Catwalk for a Cause’ – an annual charity fashion gala in the sport that has raised more than $4million to battle childhood cancer since it was founded in 2010.
NASCAR released a statement saying, ‘NASCAR is saddened to learn of the passing of Sherry Pollex, whose fight against cancer and determination to help others through the Sherry Strong Foundation was an inspiration to all who knew her.
‘NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation’s thoughts and prayers are with Sherry’s family and friends.’
Sherry’s father Greg had been racing at dirt tracks in their native Michigan before eventually transitioning into the national circuits. ppc Racing won what was then-known as the Busch Series – now the Xfinity Series – championship in 2000 with driver Jeff Green.
After moving to Florida in Sherry’s middle school years, she went on to graduate from Florida State University with a degree in sports marketing.
Pollex was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. After surgeries and months of chemotherapy, she went into remission. But the disease returned in her lungs in 2021.
Truex and Pollex had been together from 2005 until they split back in January of 2023
She met Truex while he was in the Xfinity Series. The couple would go on to form the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation – which raises money for pediatric and ovarian cancer battles.
Truex would go onto the top-flight Cup Series, where he would win the 2017 Cup Series title. He currently is tied for the lead as the 2023 season comes to an end – with Truex winning the regular season title.
Pollex’s own diagnosis was given to her in 2014 when doctors found advanced Stage III ovarian cancer. She underwent emergency surgery that August, where doctors removed her ovaries, fallopian tubes, spleen, appendix, and part of her stomach.
After doctors gave her a 30 percent chance of survival in the following five years, she ended her chemotherapy treatments in January of 2016.
After years of remission, doctors found that Pollex’s cancer returned in September of 2021.
They determined that the disease had spread to her lungs – with further scans finding that the cancer had progressed.
Moreover, they found that this strain of cancer was particularly aggressive and resistant to treatment.
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