Some people have suggested that NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is simply a misunderstanding. Others have openly excused his behavior. And still others have admirably referred to him as “NASCAR’s bad boy.” Finally, some have suggested that there is nothing admirable about his behavior. He’s just acting like an idiot. Count me as one of the latter.
I judge people by their behaviors and actions. In this case, Stewart’s actions include his antics on the track, his incidents off the track, and his reactions to questions about these behaviors. After careful review, I think there is only one conclusion a reasonable person can come to: he acts like a complete idiot.
Stewart seems to believe that he is the only one who is unlucky, frustrated, disconnected, broke, beaten, etc. Other drivers in similar circumstances regularly appear in post-race interviews with their frustrations written on their faces, but they generally conduct their interviews with dignity and class.
Stewart comes across in his interviews as a petulant kid in dire need of a spanking. You can imagine him as the neighborhood brat whose parents always backed down and let him get away with it after he had a seizure.
As evidence of Stewart’s rude behavior, please allow me to enter the following items into the file. There are so many incidents and so little space, so I’ll just mention a few highlights.
In 2000 at Watkins Glen, Stewart blocked and hit Jeff Gordon, putting Gordon a lap behind after Gordon sought repairs for the incident. After the race, Stewart was involved in a shoving match with Gordon, where threats and obscenities were exchanged.
In 2001, Stewart and Gordon did it again. Gordon crashed and ran over Stewart at Bristol. After the race, Stewart spun Gordon on pit road. NASCAR fined Stewart and placed him on probation.
In 2001 at Daytona, Stewart was black flagged by a NASCAR official, but ignored it and kept racing. He later confronted a NASCAR official about the incident and further action was taken by NASCAR. He also got in trouble for knocking a tape recorder out of a reporter’s hand, after the reporter asked him about the incident.
In 2001 at Talladega, Stewart was confronted by the same NASCAR official after Stewart refused to wear the mandatory head and neck restraint system.
In 2002, after a disappointing finish at the Brickyard 400, Stewart punched a photographer and was placed on probation for the rest of the year.
In 2004, at the Tropicana 400, Stewart slammed Kasey Kahne into the wall, smashing him. Kahne was leading at the time. Kahne’s owner, Ray Everham, said of Stewart after the race: “…should have hit him in the rear. That’s his problem. No one has grabbed him or given him a good beating.”
In 2005 at Watkins Glen, Stewart was fined and paroled again for ramming Brian Vickers after the Busch race.
In 2005 at Phoenix, Stewart finished second after a series of warnings. After the race, Stewart suggests that the warnings were a fraud and that professional wrestling was more legitimate than NASCAR.
In 2006 at Daytona, Stewart was complaining to the media about how reckless driving by other drivers was going to get someone killed. During the race, Stewart was involved in altercations with Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch. But he finished it off by messing with Matt Kenseth. Stewart cut the nose of Kenseth’s car, forcing Kenseth into the grass, where he lost control and went back up the wall. Surprisingly, after the race, Stewart said, “Kyle Busch, he’s the guy that’s probably going to get somebody hurt.” Stewart then had this to say about Kenseth: “He started it all and I finished it.”
In 2006, at the All Star Race, Stewart got in again and Kenseth ended up with both of them wrecked.
In 2006, at the Pennsylvania 500, Stewart retaliated against Clint Bowyer after Bowyer accidentally ran into the side of Stewart’s car. Stewart waved his hand at him and then crashed into Bowyer’s car, who then crashed into Carl Edwards. NASCAR immediately held Stewart for one lap for reckless driving.
In 2006 at Martinsville, Stewart got into a shouting match with Greg Biffle after he thought Biffle blocked him.
In 2006, Stewart sought counseling for anger issues.
In 2007 at Daytona, Stewart ran into the back of teammate Denny Hamlin and then blamed Hamlin for not getting out of the way.
In 2008 at Daytona, Stewart and Kurt Busch traded blows during a penalty shootout. Busch collided with Stewart again on pit road. During a conference with NASCAR officials, it was reported that Stewart hit Busch.
I could go on and on about incident after incident where Stewart was rude, sarcastic, offensive, etc. He has said incredibly childish things in his post-career interviews and on his radio show. He has complained and whimpered and let go. But I think Ray Everham said it best. To paraphrase: this guy needs a good kick in the ass to get his mind straight.
