Tony Stewart Bashes NASCAR
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Posted by Jeremy Dunn Apr 25, 2007 |
Tony Stewart neglected the media after the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix Saturday night, however, he did not hold back his opinions on his Sirius Satellite Radio Show. Stewart claimed that NASCAR is throwing debris cautions as a tactic to manipulate races, especially if the field is beginning to spread out. In fact, here is what Tony had to say.
"To me it's not all about the money, it's about the integrity of the sport, and when I feel our own sanctioning body isn't taking care of that, it's hard to support them and feel proud about being a driver in the Nextel Cup Series when they're throwing debris cautions. It's like playing God. They can almost dictate the race instead of the drivers doing it. It's happened too many times this year. You get so frustrated ... But enough of it's gone on that fans are writing in and talking about it. At what point does NASCAR get the hint? I guess NASCAR thinks, 'hey wrestling worked, and it was for the most part staged, so I guess it's going to work in racing, too...I was coming so fast, it was inevitable I was going to get around those guys, so NASCAR throws a debris caution ... I thought racing was about being better than the other guys."
Then he commented on leaving the track without speaking to the media.
"The aggravation for me was I didn't want to go in the media center and bash NASCAR. I don't mind doing it on my own radio show. Anyone who thinks this debris caution stuff is the right direction for NASCAR, I think you're crazy...The thing with the media is they think it's our obligation to do those things...It's a privilege that they get to (talk to us). That's the way it's always been. Maybe it is in some of these other guys' contracts, but it is not in my contract that says I have to go do any interviews after the race is over."
I agree with Stewart in the fact that NASCAR has no right to manipulate a race by throwing a debris caution if in fact that is what they are doing. If they are going to throw a debris caution, they should at least show the debris on television just to avoid accusations such as these. There have been approximately 20 debris cautions thus far and we have only completed 8 races.
I do have a problem with Stewart failing to acknowledge the media after the race. Sure he was upset and would have probably said something harsh regarding NASCAR officials, but he is not that only driver that has emerged from his car upset after a race. He is a grown man, he should be able to speak to the media and at the same time, keep his emotions in check.
None of us should be surprised by Stewart's actions. This is the same volatile Tony Stewart that we have enjoyed watching ever since he punched Kenny Irwin Jr at Martinsville in 1999, or spun out Jeff Gordon on pit road at Bristol in 2001. Tony is going to be Tony whether we like it or not, bottomline.