When Martin Truex Jr. issued a statement about the death of his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, it stirred up controversy, particularly with former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. Pollex was not only a familiar face at Truex’s races but also a pivotal figure in the NASCAR community due to her charitable work. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, she founded the Sherry Strong Foundation to raise awareness and support for those battling cancer. Her work, alongside Truex, through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation was recognized in 2017 when the couple received the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for their significant contributions to stock car racing.
Truex and Pollex’s relationship, which began in 2005, came to an end in January of the same year she passed away. Truex made the breakup public in an Instagram Story, stating, “Sherry and I have made the decision to end our relationship. I will continue supporting Sherry moving forward.” Despite their separation, Truex still felt compelled to honor Pollex’s legacy following her death from cancer on September 17, 2023. In his tribute, shared via Instagram on September 18, Truex praised her for her dedication to helping others, writing, “Sherry’s passion for making a difference in the lives of others was inspiring to everyone.” He also emphasized the impact of her charity work, which had supported countless families dealing with ovarian and childhood cancer.
However, Danica Patrick publicly criticized Truex’s statement, accusing him of being insincere. Patrick, who had a long history in NASCAR herself, didn’t hold back when expressing her opinion. Reposting Truex’s message on her Instagram Story, Patrick wrote, “But this is the most insensitive, disconnected statement from a guy that I have never liked.” She continued with a harsh critique, stating, “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.” Patrick’s biting remarks created a storm of backlash, drawing strong reactions from NASCAR fans.
Patrick’s comments were quickly met with widespread criticism. Many fans took to social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) to voice their displeasure. One fan tweeted, “Danica Patrick’s post on her Instagram story is classless and disgusting.” Another chimed in, saying, “Danica Patrick is f***ing insufferable man, what a weird thing to stick your nose into.” Fans acknowledged that Truex was in a difficult and emotional position, having to address the death of a longtime partner despite their recent breakup. One observer pointed out how challenging it must have been for Truex to issue any statement at all, given the circumstances.
Following Pollex’s passing, NASCAR moved to honor her memory. On September 22, the organization announced that cars racing that weekend would feature a special teal-colored ribbon decal to recognize her contributions to the sport and her courageous battle with cancer. While NASCAR fans came together to support this tribute, they also continued to push back against Patrick’s harsh words. One Instagram user commented, “I personally don’t care why they broke up… And Danica Patrick can stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
Interestingly, Patrick had previously expressed support for Pollex during her time as a NASCAR driver. In 2015, during a Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign with one of her major sponsors, GoDaddy, Patrick spoke about Pollex’s diagnosis. “I come back to Sherry [Pollex] and I come back to her getting ovarian cancer. People don’t know about that one,” Patrick said in an interview with USA Today, highlighting the importance of raising awareness for cancers that often receive less attention.
In fact, a year earlier in 2014, Patrick had participated in another cancer-related NASCAR initiative. She donated her racing gloves to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s charitable foundation as part of a fundraiser that auctioned off NASCAR drivers’ gloves to benefit the NASCAR Breast Cancer Foundation. Pollex was even involved in choosing which charity would receive the proceeds from that event, further cementing her commitment to cancer-related causes.
Despite her past support for Pollex and her involvement in similar charitable efforts, it’s possible there had long been tension between Patrick and Truex. Toward the end of Patrick’s racing career, a 2018 study revealed that she was the most talked-about NASCAR driver during the off-season, despite not performing as well as some of her male counterparts. Truex, who had dominated the NASCAR standings at the time, still ranked second to Patrick in media and fan discussions. While Patrick was in the spotlight, contemplating her future in racing and garnering attention for her romantic relationship with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Truex’s track dominance seemingly went underappreciated in comparison. This imbalance in media coverage may have contributed to any lingering tension between the two, and perhaps fueled Patrick’s later criticism of Truex following Pollex’s passing.
