NASCAR Figure Sherry Pollex Dead at 44
Sherry Pollex has died. She was 44.
The daughter of former team owner Greg Pollex— who was also a philanthropist and prominent figure within the NASCAR community—passed away on Sunday, Sept. 19, according to a statement shared by her family.
Pollex's cause of death was related to her battle with Stage 3 ovarian cancer, which she was diagnosed with back in 2014 at the age of 35.
Upon learning about her death, NASCAR released the following statement: "NASCAR is saddened to learn of the passing of Sherry Pollex, whose fight against cancer and determination to help others through the Sherry Strong Foundation was an inspiration to all who knew her. NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation’s thoughts and prayers are with Sherry’s family and friends."
Prior to her diagnosis, in 2010, Pollex founded the charity gala Catwalk for a Cause, which brought the NASCAR industry and fashion together in the fight against childhood cancer. Since the initial fundraiser, the event has raised more than $4 million to fund initiatives to combat the disease, per statements shared by the auto racing organization.
A decade later, in 2020, her foundation partnered with Novant Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, to open the Sherry Strong Integrative Medicine Oncology Clinic–a "holistic center that addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual and environmental needs of cancer patients," as described by its website.
In honor of her philanthropic pursuits, in 2017, Pollex and former partner Martin Truex Jr. earned the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for their outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing. She was also named a 2022 finalist for the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award.
Pollex and Truex were romantically involved for nearly twenty years before their split earlier this year, just before the 2023 racing season gained momentum.
After the news of Pollex's passing, Truex shared the following statement: "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," he said, concluding, "I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her entire family, who have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout her battle."
