Thompson in Turn 5 · Tommy Thompson · Tuesday July 10, 2007
It is no longer particularly noteworthy when Tony Stewart attacks fellow competitors that impede him in his neverending pursuit of winning NASCAR Nextel Cup races. In fact, it has almost become expected that Tony will provide choice derogatory critiques to nationwide audiences of his fellow competitors; all they need to do is challenge his on-track progress or find themselves swapping paint with the two-time Cup Champion in order to become the focus of his wrath. Up until Saturday night, when Tony Stewart directed his patented brand of vindictiveness towards his own teammate, Denny Hamlin, many have attempted to justify and excuse the nine-year veteran’s chronic poor behavior. However, Stewart's verbal bashing of Hamlin during the telecast of the Pepsi 400 was so clearly uncalled for and beyond defending that even the staunchest of Tony Stewart supporters have been left speechless.
Stewart, after clearly plowing into the rear of race leader Hamlin's FedEx Chevrolet, with no apparent attempt to avoid the collision, gave a "jaw dropping" account to viewers of what they had just witnessed for themselves on TV, and from a number of angles, no less…including the No. 20's own in-car camera.
"All of a sudden, he just stops on the exit of turn four in front of 42 cars, and he can't expect all of us to drive around him. He just wrecked two really good race cars," said the veteran of Hamlin, his teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Continuing his condemnation of Hamlin, now in his sophomore season as a full-time Nextel Cup driver, Stewart said, "He tried to wreck us in practice on Friday and didn't get it done. At least he finished it off today. (Hamlin’s) a young guy and he wants to be successful, but I don't know if he knows what the definition of ‘team' is right now."
That Stewart's interpretation of what had occurred was so riddled with inaccuracies is somewhat surprising, but his classless remarks leveled at his generally well-liked teammate have confirmed what many have long alleged… that Tony Stewart can be a world class jerk. A few may argue that Hamlin did momentarily lift from the accelerator to control his car as it wiggled in turn four, though Hamlin insists that he "kept his foot in it." Other stalwart Stewart apologists might even swear, lacking any evidence to support such a theory, that the man tried to avoid the collision – after all, who wants to be involved in a wreck in the first place? But no one can offer a reasonable argument that Stewart's mean-spirited public attack, questioning not only Hamlin's driving abilities, but also his character, was at all necessary or appropriate.
Truth be told, there may be some fault on both drivers’ parts. Things happen at high speeds; most fans accept that. Maybe Hamlin could have moved up the racetrack and conceded the low groove to his teammate. Likewise, if Stewart suspected problems with Hamlin or his race car’s handling, well, Daytona International Speedway provides multiple racing lines that he could have used, especially when running single file in the lead draft. Hamlin may have possibly slowed more than he believed in "catching" his Chevrolet as the car twitched underneath him. Perhaps Stewart was distracted while monitoring gauges, or was in the midst of talking to his crew and just didn't react quickly enough. But what most assuredly didn't happen, as Stewart wanted viewers to believe, is that Hamlin, second in driver points going into the race, was solely responsible for wrecking two really good race cars.
This time, fans are not just rolling their eyes and dismissing the incident in the manner that many have in the past by saying, "ahhhh…. that's just Tony Stewart," in part because they realize it is Tony Stewart. Bad behavior is a chronic condition, sometimes a fatal flaw with a man who I personally believe to be the most talented driver in the United States. But talent alone does not give Stewart, or anyone in any walk of life, a "free pass" to essentially trash others at will. In short, there should be no exemptions from basic standards of sportsmanlike conduct; especially if you’re a superstar at the sport’s highest level.
The list of transgressions during the veteran's nine seasons in Cup racing is long, filled with incidents of not only verbal but also physical attacks on fellow competitors and, on at least one occasion, photographers. A 2002 physical altercation with a freelance photographer resulted in not only NASCAR fining the former open-wheel star $10,000 and placing him on probation, but the incident caused his team sponsor Home Depot to levy a $50,000 fine and probation, as well. A contrite Stewart then announced in the aftermath of the lambasting that he received from his sponsor, team owner, fans, and media that he would be entering anger management counseling and offered that, "This is my heart attack, my wake-up call. There is no excuse for what I've done. I'm sorry, and I don't really expect anyone to forgive me."
"I have a problem with keeping my emotions in check,” Stewart continued. “After all of this, I've felt as I've never felt. But it's probably exactly what I needed to make me seek help. A hard fall like this will tend to jar me back to reality. I'm looking forward to making myself better; better as a person and better in dealing with the things life sends your way - the good and the bad."
Stewart did complete his counseling, but what benefit that it had on his ability to hold his emotions in check, or to deal with disappointments, are difficult to discern. For a period of time, most notably during his 2005 Championship year, he did show a marked improvement in his behavior. But since his second title, Stewart has returned to littering the tracks with personal attacks, intentionally executed in front of cameras to gain maximum exposure against numerous drivers. Some wheelmen having been publicly "called out" by the Indiana native recently include Kurt and Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, David Gilliland, Brian Vickers, Jimmie Johnson, and Carl Edwards. No doubt, there’s more to come; after all, we’re only halfway through the season at this point. As the often agitated Stewart recently announced, "(The criticism) doesn't bother me. I can be politically correct like everybody else and then listen to everybody gripe like they did a couple of years ago. Everybody complained about how vanilla I was and how they didn't like it."
“Obviously, either way, I can't win and can't make everybody happy, so I might as well do it my way."
Safe to assume Stewart did it his way Saturday night. Unfortunately for Hamlin, he was a man who stood in Tony Stewart’s way on the racetrack – and he paid the price.
There are no good excuses for Stewart's transgression. “Ultra-competitiveness” just doesn’t cut it; neither does the common excuse, “he just can't control his tongue.” The heart of the matter is, Stewart does know how to act, and quite often can be quite engaging and likable. And he has, on many, many occasions shown that he is an exceptionally charitable person. But he has been down this road of publicly humiliating his fellow drivers far too many times to have not learned how to refrain from it. He knows what the fallout is, the negative impact that it has on those that he targets. Let's face it…he doesn't care enough to simply quit doing it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t put himself in the position he’s been in.
So, how did Denny Hamlin, ten years Stewart's junior and far less experienced, handle the former champ's unfair charges against him? Well…as if he was the more experienced, wiser, and accomplished teammate. "I’m going to be the bigger man, and I’ll take the blame on this,” said Hamlin. "If he wants to blame it on me, I’ll be the bigger man and take responsibility for it.
“He’s been around this sport longer than I have and he probably knows more than I do, so I’ll just take it for what it’s worth.”
That, Tony…is the definition of ‘team.' Maybe one day, you’ll learn that word.
©2000 - 2008 Tommy Thompson and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!
Tony just needs, and deserves, a good ol’ fashioned ass whipping. A REAL good one.
If Tony Stewart’s brain was half the size of his month and ego, he would possess above average intellegence. As it is he’s just a dumb jack ass.
I guess I just don’t take this so seriously..I mean..do we need more bland J Johnson types blah blah blahing their way through interviews? Is that what we all want to see? I know I don’t. I know Tony is caustic..we all have our problems..most of us don’t have to have our bare butts hanging out for the public to hear and see..I wish I could be as sure of myself that I would act differently given the circumstances..(so many people like to speculate and point out OTHER people’s faults – like they have none) Tony is a great driver..and probably will never change..excuse it? I don’t remember Tony EVER asking anyone to excuse his actions..Sometimes people are just people..they live with who they are..why can’t we?
Someone had posted a remark yesterday about all the blathering that Kyle Busch has been spewing about his teammates. She mentioned that Rick Hendrick is ultimately the man in charge and should step up to the plate and make sure that for the rest of the 2007 season, all goes well within HMS. I agreed with her yesterday and I think the same applies to Joe Gibbs. His response to Tony’s remarks were as sugar-sweet as cotton candy and had about as much of a punch. Yes, Tony speaks his mind, and I commend him for doing that in today’s PC world. BUT, guess what folks, Tony is not the “say all, end all” when it comes to having to listen to whatever crap it is that’s coming out of his mouth. Just because you’ve got the cahones to say something, doesn’t mean that what you say is right. If I had a chance to say something to Tony, it would be: Quit Cup racing and enjoy the rest of your life competing and having fun at Eldora. It’s seems pretty obvious to me that you are no longer having a good time driving in the NASCAR circuit, so leave before you have an honest-to-God heart attack. Tony is a very talented driver but he is an ass. And because of that reason alone, I shop at Lowe’s, not Home Depot.
The first paragraph of the article really captures my feelings, especially the last sentence. I listened to a clip from his Sirius radio show and he really didn’t “clarify” his comments. He restated them in a slightly gentler way, but basically maintained that he as usual did nothing wrong. I just don’t get how his two wrecks at Daytona this year were in no way partially his fault. In one race he was the lead guy who checked up and got hit and in the other he was the follower who hit a guy who checked up.
Tony is too good a person and too good a racer to keep acting like an idiot this way. He’s 36 and its high time for him to GROW UP!
He’s undermining his own credibility to the point that not only are his comments becoming irrelevant but that its starting to be taken for granted that the truth about an incident is probably the opposite of whatever Tony said.
I found it very telling that David Gilliland said that after Tony went off on him a number of other drivers came to him to tell him that he’d done nothing wrong and that he could disregard Tony’s comments.
Is it good for the sport that a rookie can be told to not listen to anything a 2-time champion says?
Tony Stewart — The Racer who Cried Wolf?
I used to root for the guy. I want to like him for all the good things he does away from the track. But this week’s chapter in his ongoing drama is a fine example of why I don’t root for him any more.
Stewart is a spoiled little boy in a man’s body who will never mentally grow up. Carl Edwards was on target when he referred to the possibility of Tony’s “lying out there bleeding” for what Stewart did to Carl on the track. Oh, and Carl was exceptionally kind when he called Tony “a jerk.” In my opinion, Pr***, As*****, and M$&)^)&^^%# would have been far more appropriate and fitting!
While I think Tony is one of the most talented drivers out there, and I like the things he does off the track, it’s definitely hard to let him get off with this one. He just needs to admit he’s wrong – it’s OK.
I still think that Tony will retire from NASCAR after his contract is up and do something he enjoys, such as running Eldora and racing late models. He could even take another stab at the Indy 500…
I also noticed that he seems to be a lot more edgy when he’s dieting. The fat Tony Stewart seems to be the happy Tony Stewart. Just an odd little observation.
Quit crying people, somebody has to keep fuel on the fire (Dale is gone) or it will go out.
Every driver can’t lay back and let others put on the show. Right now we have Stewart, the Busches, Montoya and a few more. Nice guys finish last, as Mark Martin.
When Tony kills someone..does drugs…pilfers money…commits treason…steals…it goes on and on and on and on..then let’s all get up in arms..but hey..it’s NA$CAR…an entertainment industry..and if it wasn’t for Tony and his loose mouth..and his huge talent..what else would the press have to write and talk about..blah blah blah …Is there much difference in what Tony does and other stars…?? I think we as the fans help to create the personna…and expect it..when Tony is good..we seem let down..come on guys..you can’t have it both ways…..
Tommy, you are a trully eloquent writer. Instead of a Tony Stewart type spew about this bonehead crash and heinous explanation, you explain the history and reasons why most fans are “done” with Stewart. I have a feeling that Gibbs is too. Gibbs is too good of a man to continue to accept this imature behavior of a 36 year old coward.
As far as for killing someone before this behavior is unacceptable..he almost killed Kenseth at Daytona last year, and crashing someone at 190mph could be considered attempted manslaughter.
Tony might be a little bit of a loose cannon but its alot better than listening to Jimmie Johnsons blandness.At least Tony isn t a mannekin.
Perhaps during one of Jimmie Johnson’s future interviews he will treat us to an old soft shoe and sing “kiss mine.”
I’ve been a race fan long enough to realize that racing needs personalities like Tony Stewart.I can’t think of anything more boring than being stuck with a race series full of Jeff Gordons,Jimmy Johnsons, Matt Kenseths and their like ( despite NASCAR constantly pushing for just that type of series.)Look back to the great drivers of the past and you’ll see that they, like Tony. were very passionate about racing and that made it enjoyable to watch. Could you ever call A J Foyt politically correct. How about Dale sr. Cale, or Junior, or Curtis Turner, or Steve Kinser. They all spoke their mind, and weren’t really concerned whether or not they hurt another drivers’ feelings.That’s what makes real racing.By the way, most, if not all of the so-called fueds between NASCAR drivers are nothing more than an attempt by sports writers and the NASCAR Marketing boys, to create a story. For instance, i recall when Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman were suposssed to be bitter enemys after an on track incident, several days later Newman mentioned that he had been at Stewarts property to go fishing with Tony. Sounds like a manufactured fued to me.The only people who take these incidents seriously are the fans. The drivers don’t.
I believe Stewart said those things in the heat of the moment. All of us say stuff we don’t mean and make excuses when we’re pissed off.
And, as for not clarifying or changing his statement on Sirius radio……he’s to prideful to admit he’s wrong. Most men are.
Deal with it!
I agree with everyone who is saying that what Tony said was in the heat of the moment, or that it’s great to have some “character” in NASCAR. All that is fine and good, but I what I think has finally irritated fans to the edge is that Tony WILL NOT take responsibility for his own faults. Each and every one of us, no matter or profession, has to take responsibility if we screw up. Sure, we may get by with blaming someone else a time or two, but after it becomes obvious that there is a trend, and that you are the one that’s consistently involved and always pointing the finger elsewhere; well, that gets old real fast. Yes, NASCAR needs the Stewart’s and the Busch’s out there, but as adults, come on….These are, after all, adults driving…I think!!
Finally, I have my answer. Now I know why Bobby Labonte left the “Powerhouse-Superteam” JGR to drive for the struggling Petty Enterprises team. Life’s too short to have to spend it being teamed up with a JERK!
GO Bobby, Kyle & John!
Hey, I’m not saying Smoke is guiltless. Probably all of the anger management lessons didn’t completely sink in.
But I think there’s probably more here than meets the eye.
Tony mentioned an episode in Friday practice that vexed him. Let’s hear more about that.
And, though he’d like to give the appearance of being a goody-two-shoes, Denny has been developing an arrogant and full-of-himself attitude as of late.
I don’t mind seeing him taken down a few notches.
If you look at the film, all the cars lined up behind Hamlin, not just Tony, are closing rapidly.
I’m not giving up on Smoke just yet.
these type of commentarys are insanely stupid…we were not in the car with tony so how do YOU know he “plowed” into hamlin? i heard the 20 cars engines RPMs back off before the bump, so in other words, he tried to avoid hamlin who was obviously loose and was checking up to avoid sliding up the track. it was a racing “thing” and i really have no idea why all you people continue to bash a man that is as passionate about what he does and speaks his mind about how it truly happened…you all make no sense to me. what should he have said? he is the most experienced guys on that track, and if he said hamlin slowed up, then i believe him. if he messed up, then he would have admitted to it, its the kind of guy he is…
I think Tonys just a production of Nascars creation. For years they have let him spin cars out and wreck people. Here are some examples, Sterling and Richmond, Kenseth at daytona, Kurt Busch at Dover, these were all Take out wrecks. Not accidents. Sterling got spun because TS was about to go a lap down, Kenseth and busch just raced tony. And for the nonbeleivers look at the tony kurt wreck again and you will see that tony and kurt are both in the low lane. But anyway its understood in nascar that you DO NOT RACE TONY STEWART!!! This is really the first time the media’s gone against him. Also remember Tony and Busch at Daytona. Tony got loose and let off. Kurt could do nothing, but he knows how nascar works so he just accepted the blame.
Let’s see if I’ve got this right.
Denny is leading, holding it on the yellow line to protect the inside. Tony gets miffed ‘cause Denny won’t get out of his way, so he feels perfectly justified in drop-kicking Denny. Then Tony has no trouble zooming to the top lane to avoid getting involved. But justice is served as Denny collects Tony anyway.
The only “Smoke” in the 20 car is coming out of Stewart’s mouth.
Hmmm. That Hamlin boy is six feet tall, 27 years-old and looks to be in pretty good shape.
http://www.dennyhamlin.com/denny.htm
Fat Tony is 5’9â€, 36-years old and, well, not quite as fat as he used to be, but still….
http://www.joegibbsracing.com/current_season/jgr_wc_20/wc_20_prhist.php
Now it’s one thing to knock a tape recorder out of some pencil-necked-geek-former-chess-club-president-turned reporter’s hand. It’s another thing to body slam Clint Bowyer (6’0â€, 28 YO) and Cousin Carl (6’1â€, 23 YO) on the race track (those 3,400-pound stock cars are great equalizers). It’s another thing to lay his hands on Brian Vickers (5’11â€, 24 YO) while Vickers is still safely strapped in his race car. But Tony is going to have a hard time avoiding Denny around JGR.
Our boy Tony might be well-advised to pick on someone his own size…for his own safety. Stewart keeps flapping his pie-hole, and that Hamlin boy just might invite him by the scruff of the neck out behind the Gibbs shop and beat some sense into him.
I’d like to rope THAT one off and sell tickets!
First time at your site (thanks Jayski) and I couldn’t agree more with ALL your comments. There is a difference between “speaking your mind” and “humiliating competitors” – thanks for pointing that out!
LL
I find it humorous that this article is about Tony Stewart, and what Tony Stewart did and what Tony Stewart said on Saturday. Yet, some readers still have the cakes to mention a Hendricks driver. You people are funny…and sad. Kinda like the time Stewart won the Brickyard and the comment I read on a forum said “this time a real hoosier won the race”. J-Go wasn’t a factor in that race at all but still got hacked on. So go ahead, throw your virtual beer cans at him, I’ll like him even more.
I appreciate Tony Stewarts candor. Its what comes out of that candor that makes him a jerkoff.
As a Smoke fan who has gotten used to his rants, even this one shocked me a little. However, it’s hard to imagine racing without the Tony Stewart type personalities. You people act like you’ve never been around a guy with an ego. Be careful what you wish for—do you really want only Jimmie Johnson Ken Dolls? Gee, what captivating interviews and columns that would inspire! Snoooze…
Ol’ Tony’s mouth. What’s he gonna say next? Makes you want to tune in next week just to see, doesn’t it? Don’t any of you people get the hype? It’s not about the racing, it’s how many people tune in to watch, and how many commercials can be shown. Remember, in All the Right Stuff, one of the astonauts said they weren’t sending a monkey to do the work of a man, they were sending up a man to do monkey’s work?
Well………….
I have been a racer. If you listen to Tony in the interview, he says “I was really catching him thru 3 and 4 for about 4 laps. If I can see that I’m really catching someone for 4 laps, I WILL NOT be following them thru the corner. You can’t pass someone if you are behind them. Why not move up a lane and drive around them? I guess Tony thought it would be easier to drive thru Denny. I don’t have a problem with someone who speaks their mind, but they need to have a mind to speak first. Grow up Tony, admit it when you screw up. It won’t hurt that bad.
People…get some life. If not for Smoke, how many of you will be posting on the boards. Like it or hate it, Stewart adds excitement to otherwise bland set of drivers. NASCAR is an entertainment business and media needs these kinds of stories to stay in business.
Contact Tommy Thompson
