Tony Stewart never shied from a headline, even at his own driver’s expense. Days after Danica Patrick made history as the first woman to secure a Daytona 500 pole in 2013, the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner hijacked the narrative with a jab about her love life.
The remark, delivered during a media frenzy at Speedweeks, shifted focus from Patrick’s groundbreaking 196.434 mph lap to NASCAR’s favorite subplot: the delicate dance between personal and professional rivalries.
When Tony Stewart’s Jab Overshadowed Danica Patrick’s Daytona Run
Stewart’s punchline came with a purpose. As Patrick’s car owner, he aimed to deflect pressure after her pole win, a feat achieved in just her second NASCAR Cup Series Daytona attempt.
“It’s not like it’s been 15 or 20 years she’s been trying to do this,” Stewart said. “She’s made history in the sport. That’s stuff that we’re proud of being a part of with her. It’s something she should have a huge amount of pride in.”
But the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion couldn’t resist stirring the pot. “I think Danica has two boyfriends, she has Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.] and she has Tony Gibson,” he added.
“They are all but holding hands in the shop when they’re there every day together. It’s good for me to see as an owner. I like to see that chemistry that you’re talking about.”
The dig masked a strategic truth: Gibson’s mentorship had sharpened Patrick’s skills. Under his guidance, she notched her two best 2012 finishes, 24th at Texas and 17th at Phoenix, before their full-time pairing in 2013.
Stewart-Haas dominated Daytona qualifying, placing all three cars in the top six. Yet Patrick’s milestone risked being drowned by gossip.
“Ryan [Newman] is happy being back with Matt [Borland, his crew chief]. Tony [Gibson] and Danica are happy. … That’s something that having three teams that the drivers and crew chiefs are getting along, happy to be paired up where they’re at, that’s something that goes a long way,” Stewart said.
How Patrick Balanced Love and Racing in NASCAR’s Spotlight
Patrick’s relationship with Stenhouse added gasoline to the media fire. The duo began dating months before her Cup debut, forcing them to navigate on-track clashes and off-track tension.
“You don’t want to go home to the ‘Why’d you crash me?’ thing,” Patrick told ABC News in 2014. “We both have done it, unfortunately. Not on purpose, but cutting it too close.”
Stenhouse later admitted they avoided discussing competition. “We’d talk about car setups, never standings,” he said. The strategy worked, briefly. Patrick’s eighth-place Daytona finish that year outpaced Stenhouse’s 12th, but he claimed Rookie of the Year with three top-10s, including a Talladega podium.
Their 2017 split, amid Stenhouse’s first Cup win and Patrick’s career transition, underscored the risks of mixing love and racing.
“Dishing it out on the track, that’s the problem,” Patrick said of their occasional “trash talk.” Yet Stewart’s “two boyfriends” line endured as a reminder: In NASCAR, drama often eclipses speed.