Tony Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, found himself entangled in a disturbing stalking ordeal that lasted more than a year between March 2016 and October 2017. What began as a fan’s disappointment over a missed autograph opportunity spiraled into a relentless campaign of harassment that affected not only Stewart but his entire family and business associates.
The person behind all this was Kathi Russell, a 68-year-old woman from Florida. When Stewart didn’t sign her memorabilia, she didn’t just get disappointed, she got angry and decided to make his life miserable.
How Tony Stewart Became the Target of a Fan Gone Too Far
Russell didn’t just stick to harassing Stewart directly. She also reached out to members of the media and other NASCAR drivers, spreading anonymous “tips” and false information about the driver. According to investigators, she used computer programs to hide her identity and disguise where her calls were coming from. She was determined to cause trouble for Stewart any way she could.
“We came, we saw, he died,” followed by maniacal laughter – this disturbing soundbite from Hillary Clinton was among the many unsettling audio clips Russell would play during her harassment calls to Stewart and his family members.
Court papers showed Russell called Stewart, his mom, sister, business, and sponsors at least 333 times using six different phone numbers. Sometimes, his mom would stay silent on the calls, and other times, she’d play creepy music like the Talking Heads song “Psycho Killer.”
Stewart later explained how much this affected him. The calls often came during the early morning hours of race days, which meant he couldn’t sleep properly when he needed to be at his best for the races.
Things got even scarier when Russell called the DEA with a fake tip claiming Stewart’s plane was carrying drugs. This led to officials searching his aircraft in Texas, though they found nothing illegal.
The situation reached its most frightening point in September 2017. Russell sent an envelope to Stewart’s lawyers that contained a white powder, making everyone think it might be anthrax. The building had to be evacuated. It turned out to be just baking soda, but it showed how far Russell was willing to go.
Police finally arrested Russell in Florida and charged her with stalking, making threats, intimidation, and breaking a court order meant to protect Stewart. By this time, Stewart had already retired from full-time racing and was running his team, Stewart-Haas Racing.
This whole ordeal shows the dark side of fame – how public figures can sometimes face real danger from fans who take their interest way too far.