NASCAR: ‘Disrespectful’ Danica Patrick comment makes no sense

Martin Truex Jr. posted about statement about the passing of ex-partner Sherry Pollex, and Danica Patrick proceeded to shred the NASCAR Cup Series champion for no apparent reason.

The NASCAR community continues to grieve the loss of philanthropist Sherry Pollex, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer after several years last Sunday.

Pollex, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2014 and passed away at the age of 44, is the former girlfriend of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., and she played a major role in the work done by the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation to raise awareness for ovarian and childhood cancers.

She used her platform to inspire countless lives, including those of many children who took part in the Catwalk for a Cause initiative she started back in 2010.

Truex and Pollex had been dating for 18 years before they broke up in January, and Truex was among those who put out a statement following her passing.

His statement reads as follows:

"“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.“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.”"

Ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick inexplicably proceeded to lash out at Martin Truex Jr. for his statement.

"“I avoid negativity on social at almost all costs. Almost…. But this is 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.”"

Maybe she knows something we don’t, but that’s not really anybody’s business, so why she felt the need to post it to the world (if true) is baffling.

Regardless, we aren’t going to speculate, not just because of the fact that this is a real-world situation involving the passing of another human being and a loved one to so many, but because we truly have no idea what in the world she is talking about.

Given how her remarks were received throughout social media, it’s safe to say that everybody else is wondering the same — and wondering how she could have the nerve to make such a post.

Truex’s statement does not come across as “cold”, “insensitive”, or “disconnected”. It reads like it should read and does a wonderful job expressing what Pollex meant to the world.

While some might have been expecting a more intimate statement, given his history with Pollex, it’s not Truex’s job to spill his deepest feelings for the world — or Danica Patrick — to analyze and pick through.

Even if it were, you have to consider the fact that they ended their dating relationship in January, even though they were said to have remained close friends following their breakup.

But it’s not his job, and everybody — everybody — grieves differently. We are talking about real human beings with real feelings dealing with real loss.

No two people are in the same situation, and nobody’s approach, public or not, to getting through tough times should be subject to this sort of uncouth judgment. Trying to weaponize his statement against him because it’s “not good enough” is absurd.

There is literally zero reason for Patrick to post what she did, and if anything is “cold”, “insensitive”, or “disconnected”, it’s what she decided to write about the matter.

Going out of her way to find such qualities where there clearly are none just goes to show she does not “avoid negativity at all costs” as she claims. Her remarks come across as repulsive at best.

It may interest Patrick to know that the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation also put out a statement following the death of Pollex which reads as follows:

"“It is with great sorrow that our HERO, Sherry, quietly passed away on the morning of Sunday, September 17th. Although there are no words to express our sadness, we take solace in the fact that Sherry is no longer suffering and has been taken back in the arms of the Lord. As we all know, Sherry lived her life to the fullest, as she influenced thousands, if not millions of people through her own personal journey. Her love for her family, Catwalk kids who she adored, and her friends will last forever. Please join our family in thanking God for giving us Sherry, as she is such an incredible expression of love that will live on. We will continue her legacy of love and caring for those in need, as she will always be alive in our hearts.Psalm 23:4“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”“The Pollex family requests privacy during this very difficult time.”"

What’s next? Is she going to lash out at the Foundation because King David wrote Psalm 23?

It’s just strange, no matter how you look at it, and very disrespectful. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but it’s another to promote your opinion at someone else’s expense — especially in situation as serious as this one.

However, it was unfortunately not a surprise to some.

Patrick is a former driver whom fans have long either loved or loved to hate, and she has always been viewed by critics as a driver who loves the spotlight.

So the fact that she referenced her own dislike of Truex (for a supposedly “obvious” reason, at that) to make her point at a time when the community is mourning led some to believe that this is her way of getting attention and keeping herself relevant.

Those same fans view her as a has-been who never was. While you can’t neglect to respect the fact that she made it to the top, she had very, very little to show for her efforts on the race track during her competitive career. As a perennial mid-pack to backmarker driver, she was far from deserving of the amount of media attention she received.

Her lone IndyCar win came in a fuel mileage race in Japan on a day when a separate IndyCar race was being contested in Long Beach, California, and despite driving for one of NASCAR’s top teams, she failed to finish a single Cup Series race in the top five in five-plus seasons at the sport’s top level.

But quite frankly, even if she had been an eight-time champion, her comments would still be ill-advised to say the least — and relatively confusing.