When Tony Stewart proposed a Danica Patrick vs. Richard Petty showdown

A decade ago in 2014, Danica Patrick's then-team owner Tony Stewart added fuel to the proverbial fire by proposing a face-off between Patrick and Richard Petty. This came after the 'King' called out the female NASCAR driver for not having much talent as a motorsports driver.

During her rookie 2013 Daytona 500, Patrick set the fastest qualifying lap and came home with an eighth-place finish. Still, amid the 2014 season-opener weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, Richard Petty jibed at the former racer for being known in the NASCAR fraternity because she's a female. The Hall of Famer also said:

"If she'd have been a male, nobody would ever know if she'd showed up at a racetrack" (via Jacksonville.com).

Despite Petty's brutal take, Patrick didn't fight back and had a different take instead:

"It's true that there are plenty of people who say bad things about me; I read them. You get over that stuff and trust that you are doing a good job," she said.

Though Danica took it lightly, Tony Stewart didn't and two weeks later, resurrected the feud and proposed a race between the two.

"I think that (a race) would pretty much settle it once and for all, maybe get him [Richard Petty] to shut up a little bit, too. I will supply the cars. If he wants to race her," Stewart said via ESPN.

If Patrick were to win the race,

"If I were her, I'd take (the checkered flag) over there and cram it up his (butt)," he added.

While Patrick was an active racer, Petty retired 25 years ago. Still, the 7x Cup Series champion accepted Tony Stewart's challenge. However, the race never happened.

Apart from the 'King,' his son Kyle Petty also bashed Patrick during her rookie season, for not being a race car driver. However, Tony Stewart had an answer to the 8x Cup Series race winner's jibe.

"She's got more talent than he ever had"- Tony Stewart didn't spare Kyle Petty and claimed Danica Patrick to be a better rookie

Before his father castigated Danica Patrick, Kyle Petty already gave his take on her race prowess. The latter believed that marketing tactics played a pivotal role in boosting Patrick's popularity, not her racing skills. Though he didn't question the female racer's ability to drive at high speeds, he didn't hold back and claimed that she couldn't race.

"She can go fast, and I've seen her go fast. She drives the wheels off it when she goes fast. She's not a race car driver. There's a difference. The King [Richard Petty] always had that stupid saying, but it's true, 'Lots of drivers can drive fast, but very few drivers can race.' Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs," Kyle said.

Two weeks later, during the 2013 Brickyard 400, Tony Stewart was asked about his take on Kyle Petty's comments. He defended Patrick, slammed Petty, and claimed Danica Patrick to be the better rookie.

"Her rookie season, she's got more talent than he ever had. I think she's got a ton of talent. Everybody doesn't understand that you go about every five or for six years and the level of competition keeps going up," Stewart said via WRTV Indianapolis on YouTube (0.49)

Danica Patrick started her 2013 Brickyard 400 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the rear of the pack in 33rd place but finished three places higher in 30th.