Danica Patrick As soon as Sided With Tony Stewart Over Boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in NASCAR Feud

Disagreements are half and parcel of any relationship. However on the high-speed lanes of NASCAR, even the slightest friction can spin uncontrolled. That’s precisely what occurred in 2013 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made headlines for all of the flawed causes when he was concerned in a automobile wreck with Danica Patrick.

Making issues worse, the 2 Dash Cup drivers had been relationship on the time of the incident. What Stenhouse couldn’t anticipate was icy reactions from Patrick’s then-boss, Tony Stewart. He didn’t mince phrases, saying that he’d choke the younger driver for his reckless racing. Maybe what was extra shocking was Patrick’s response.

As a substitute of defending her boyfriend, Patrick sided with Stewart, deeming the veteran team-owner’s response as nothing greater than a case of powerful love.

Danica Patrick Blames Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for Automotive Crash in Charlotte

Stenhouse and Patrick crashed at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Flip 3 on a Lap 319 restart of the Coca-Cola 600 in 2013. Initially, it regarded just like the accident was attributable to Brad Keselowski, however replays confirmed Stenhouse’s automobile making contact with Patrick’s automobile, which “impinged her line” and precipitated her to lose management.

Voicing his displeasure with Stenhouse, Stewart (by way of Sirius XM Radio) mentioned that he liked Stenhouse like household however warned him to get his act collectively. Stenhouse was two laps down on the time of the crash and never able to win the race.

“He was laps down,” Patrick instructed ESPN. “Pisses me off when guys do this.”

Stewart was very upset with Stenhouse, citing his penchant for blocking an excessive amount of as an alternative of staying within the race. He didn’t maintain again in his post-race feedback (by way of USA Immediately): “Ricky Stenhouse, I’d choke him proper now if I may get to him. Another lap of getting to fiddle with him.”

Stewart additionally seized the second to specific his general displeasure with younger drivers on the NASCAR circuit. He mentioned: “Everyone that thinks this crap of blocking is productive, they don’t know truthfully what racing is all about. And the blokes that do it, who assume it’s acceptable, I lose respect for them day by day.”

Patrick Backs Tony Stewart Over Then-Boyfriend

When the criticism over Stenhouse reached Patrick’s ears, she selected sides and backed her boss over her then-boyfriend. Claiming she knew precisely what Stewart’s feedback meant, she mentioned, “Don’t you need to choke your youngsters each once in a while? Everybody desires to choke their youngsters or their dad or their son, or their important different at instances. I believe that’s a remark out of affection, little doubt.”

Whereas Patrick herself was upset with Stenhouse, the couple talked it out on their approach again dwelling. She took the remark as a superb signal that Stewart really wished to assist Stenhouse change into a greater driver. He was a rookie when the incident occurred.

“If there may be anybody on the market that he says one thing about, it’s solely as a result of he is aware of they will be round, and he desires them to learn to play the sport the best way that he’s realized the best way to play the sport,” Patrick mentioned. “It’s really a superb factor that he desires to assist and that he would converse up, as a result of on the finish of the day, we see one another each 5 days, not each couple of weeks.”

Patrick was in the midst of the three-wide pack when Stenhouse made contact together with her, sending her into Keselowski. After taking critical harm, Patrick completed in twenty ninth place and earned her sixth straight results of twenty fifth or worse in her first full season within the Dash Cup. Stenhouse got here throughout the road in 14th place.