I Like Tony Stewart.

[flamehothead]

Junior Johnson, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt.

You know what these names have in common, Everyone of them were considered a Nascar "Bad Boy" and I would say they also Whined from time to time.

The very first Nascar race to be televised was the 1979 Daytona 500 and it ended with Yarborough and the Allison brother "Wrestling" to the ground while still throwing Punches.

I just can't figure out WHY people want to paint this Horrible picture of Tony Stewart when Nascar has had it's share of some Serious "Bad Boys" but today we look UP to them. Don't get me wrong, I like all the drivers listed above but I'm just trying to make a point.

What has Tony Stewart done that is SO wrong or any different than drivers in the past?

We have seen Mikey try to Punch Lake Speed with the helmet on, Jimmy Spencer Punched Busch, Jeff Gordon Shoved Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart Shoved Robbie Gordon. As you can see he isn't the only person to do that either.


Stewart was fined $10,000 and put on Probation because he didn't meet with the Media.
Jeff Gordon was fined $10,000 for Shoving Matt Kenseth at Bristol. This is the kind of stuff I am talking about

Tony Stewart is NOT that bad of a person. IMO of course.

[Apache Racing]

I agree with ya Flame, without our "Bad Boys" especially Tony Stewart in recent years, alot of the races would be boring as hell.
We need racers to mix it up, make it interesting, what fun would it be to just watch robots run the races?

At the moment Tony fits the bill nicely and I thank him for that, also root for him because of it.

Duck

[smyler]

I know you have to be kidding here.  Why do some people dislike Tony?  Gee, it couldn't be for things like last July's Pocono race, or the 100 other times he has knocked people out of races just because he got angry.  It's never his fault when he DNF's either, just ask him.  It's always this guy came down the track and hit me or that guy slowed down too much.  It's never because he wasn't paying attention or because he was actually the one going up the track... or is it?  Tony almost never takes responsibility for his (aggressive) on track behavior.  Please tell me you remember Tony knocking KK out of the Chicago race, back during KK's rookie year?  That was ALL Tony.  Kasey was just minding his own business.  I thought I was looking at a potential homicide.  Thank God that the only thing hurt was sheet metal.

I could literally go on for 10 paragraphs about the reckless (actually the wreck causing) style, but I have given up on constantly worrying about what Tony does.  You asked, so I mentioned, but I normally keep my mouth shut, nowadays.  As I have stated before, I used to boycott Home Depot and Banquet foods because of him.  I just don't do that stuff anymore.  My life is just too short to worry about things.  It's supposed to be fun.  Tony hating is too easy, but I gave up on all of that.  I prefer to think of the nice things he does off the track.  In no way do I think it balances things out, but at least I don't have the added stress of arguing with 20 fans anymore.

Tony seems to fit in well with a lot of people.  He causes a lot of carnage and that is what a lot of people want to see.  Just ask the Brad Dougherty types.  I got a friend into NASCAR last year and he picked Tony as his driver.  It might have started out to bait me, but he ended up really liking him.  Different strokes for different folks, as they say.  He didn't know about Tony's history and didn't really care to hear about it.  The point was that Tony did win races.  You can't argue that point.  For some, that's all that matters.

In closing, I don't think Tony is evil or anything like that but I do think that when he is on the track he is very selfish, which you need some of to be successful, but he is overly aggressive (in my view).  I really don't think he cares who he runs into.  He will self justify it and move on.  Would I drink a beer with the guy?  Sure.  He'd likely be fun to chat with.  Also, if my life was bet on winning just one race (and the driver knew about it) I'd probably bet on Tony. 

[Apache Racing]

I understand your point of view Smyler, but just look back at Martinsville, I enjoyed the finish with Jeff and JJ bumping and grinding, but when the rubber hits the road, I want a driver who in the final lap has NO friends/teammates and will do what it takes to win..

I think Jeff gave Jimmie a pass there, like I said the bumping and grinding was a great show, but I would have rather he spun him on turn 4 for the win that been the 1st loser.

Just my opinion but, on the last lap I want my driver to have "tunnel vision" going for the checkered flag.

Tony has that and few others, buts it's becoming a rare quality in todays Nascar (I.E. burton in Bristol) and I miss it, especially when it was the norm not to long ago.

Ahh the good Ole' days.... LMAO

Duck

[The Voice]

IMO of course.

Always.

[falcon325]

When ol’ Fat Tony first showed up in a Cup car, I was pre-disposed to like him.  After all, I’m an HMS fan and Tony was driving a Joe Gibbs Chevy and Rick Hendrick helped Coach Gibbs get JGR up and running.  But it very quickly became clear that the Mr. Stewart seemed to think that “give and take” meant that he takes and all of the other drivers give. 

Then, some of his behavior off the track made it clear that the boy really was an obnoxious jerk.  You know, slapping reporters, shoving fans, and so forth.

And, as he started winning, some of the talking heads started blabbing about his amazing car control.  It was amazing to me how often the fool was losing control of his car.  Dirt-trackin’ is pretty when it works.  When it don’t, you spin yourself out and wreck in practice and miss the Chase.   

I’ve said before, this sport needs heroes and villains.  When Dale died, I needed a new villain and Tony made SUCH an easy target.  But Tony worries me.   In the immortal words of Cousin Carl (after getting caught up in the mess when Tony intentionally wrecked Clint Bowyer for failing to get out of his way quickly enough, and then flipped Carl off for daring to ask why), “How can a person make it this far in life being such a jerk?”  One of these days, Tony is going to flip the bird to some blue-haired granny on the interstate and she’s gonna reach for her .357 magnum.   THEN who do I find to replace the Furry Pumpkin?  None of the other drivers--even the Shrubberies--are half the jerks our Boy is.  Sigh.   

[flamehothead]

I understand your point of view Smyler, but just look back at Martinsville, I enjoyed the finish with Jeff and JJ bumping and grinding, but when the rubber hits the road, I want a driver who in the final lap has NO friends/teammates and will do what it takes to win..

I think Jeff gave Jimmie a pass there, like I said the bumping and grinding was a great show, but I would have rather he spun him on turn 4 for the win that been the 1st loser.

Just my opinion but, on the last lap I want my driver to have "tunnel vision" going for the checkered flag.

Tony has that and few others, buts it's becoming a rare quality in todays Nascar (I.E. burton in Bristol) and I miss it, especially when it was the norm not to long ago.

Ahh the good Ole' days.... LMAO

Duck

Thats a perfect example Apache.

Any other time Jeff would have done his famous Bump & Run but since it was his Car/Teammate he thought other wise.

Look at Jeff Burton, He has had ample oppurtunities to use his Chrome Horn but after the Bristol race he said, And I Quote "If you have to BUMP somebody out of the way to win then it's NOT a Win".

[smyler]

You can't have it both way.  It is not possible to admire both Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton.  One has car control and doesn't run into other drivers that he feels are blocking him.  The other has some car control but has no issues with driving into others.  I don't even have to tell you which one is which.  You already know.  It is an oxymoron to be a fan of both. 

I'm not trying to pick on anybody.  I just don't, quite honestly, see how you can use Jeff Burton as an example of why you like Tony.  It's like owning an orange grove but only eating bananas. 

[PlanoHarvickFan]

You can't have it both way.  It is not possible to admire both Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton.  One has car control and doesn't run into other drivers that he feels are blocking him.  The other has some car control but has no issues with driving into others.  I don't even have to tell you which one is which.  You already know.  It is an oxymoron to be a fan of both. 

I'm not trying to pick on anybody.  I just don't, quite honestly, see how you can use Jeff Burton as an example of why you like Tony.  It's like owning an orange grove but only eating bananas. 

Why not?  I admire all these guys just because of what they do week in an week out...that's not an easy life.  Now after you've been running away and have a good ride (like Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart or Matt Kenseth), it might be a lot easier once you've accumulated some prize winnings, but it still isn't a easy path

[smyler]

Granted, you can admire all of these guys.  Even the former field fillers.  What I meant, and I think you understand, is that I find it difficult, because of their vastly different driving styles, to be a fan of both TS and JB.  How can one admire someone who drives very safely and another who does not?  Maybe I'm thick. 

[Apache Racing]

You can't have it both way.  It is not possible to admire both Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton.  One has car control and doesn't run into other drivers that he feels are blocking him.  The other has some car control but has no issues with driving into others.  I don't even have to tell you which one is which.  You already know.  It is an oxymoron to be a fan of both. 

I'm not trying to pick on anybody.  I just don't, quite honestly, see how you can use Jeff Burton as an example of why you like Tony.  It's like owning an orange grove but only eating bananas. 

I never claimed to be a Burton fan, I only used him as yet another example of the "kinder/friendly" nascar that I am not a fan of.

It's not the Nascar I have been watching since i was 5 years old at my uncles house...

[smyler]

Ok, I was thick!  LOL.

[flamehothead]

Then, some of his behavior off the track made it clear that the boy really was an obnoxious jerk.  You know, slapping reporters, shoving fans, and so forth.

The shoving fans part I do NOT agree.

I'm sure you have been to the track and seen a driver try to walk thru a crowd of 100. I have sat next to Tony Haters but 10 minutes later they are in the swarm of people trying to get his autograph but you have to figure he is in a hurry so he doesn't miss the Media events LOL. As he pushes his way thru the crowd, he bumps into the Tony Hater and disappears thru the fenced area. Now you have the Tony Hater who didn't get his autograph so he decides to tell reporters that Stewart Shoved him.

I remember when I went to the first Tire Test for the Brickyard 400 and there wasn't many people there at all so you could go just about anywhere you wanted. Me and my brother walked out to the Haulers and as I was walking between Martins Hauler the door FLUNG open and I had to stop it before it smacked me right in the nose LOL. After I stopped the door I look up and it's Mark Martin and he asks me if I was ok and I didn't say anything because I was in Shock from having THE Mark Martin standing in front of me not because of the door incident.

Could you imagine if this happened today but it was Stewart coming out of the door and almost hitting a Tony Hater? The story would then be, Someone was walking next to Stewarts Hauler and was HIT by the BIG METAL Door. Stewart had been argueing with Zippy about the way the car was handling and as he Stormed out of the Hauler he Kicked the BIG METAL Door open Violently hitting the Innocent bystandard in the nose. When Stewart came out his remarks were, They shouldn't have been there in the first place.

This is what happens to alot of todays stories.

[flamehothead]

You can't have it both way.  It is not possible to admire both Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton.  One has car control and doesn't run into other drivers that he feels are blocking him.  The other has some car control but has no issues with driving into others.  I don't even have to tell you which one is which.  You already know.  It is an oxymoron to be a fan of both. 

I'm not trying to pick on anybody.  I just don't, quite honestly, see how you can use Jeff Burton as an example of why you like Tony.  It's like owning an orange grove but only eating bananas. 

So basiclly what your saying is, Just because I like Tony Stewart I can't be a fan of another driver, Right?

I was using Jeff Burton as an example for what Apache said about Gordon doing whatever it takes to win. The first thing that came to mind was the Bump & Run and then I went on to quote what Burton said after Bristol.

[flamehothead]

Granted, you can admire all of these guys.  Even the former field fillers.  What I meant, and I think you understand, is that I find it difficult, because of their vastly different driving styles, to be a fan of both TS and JB.  How can one admire someone who drives very safely and another who does not?  Maybe I'm thick. 

Yeah Just a little.

Don't understand at all actually.

I like Tony Stewart A...N...D Mark Martin. What's SO wrong with that?