[Souporscotty]

I guess ol' Smoke had some harsh words for NA$CAR on his weekly Sirius Satellite Radio program Tuesday. (Sorry I don't have any link.) He compared NA$CAR to pro wrestling and said,"I don't know that they've run a fair race all year." He also stated,"I don't understand how long fans are going to let NA$CAR treat them like they're stupid before the fans finally turn on NA$CAR." And my personal favorite quote,"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." He also commented on the "debris cautions". He said fans are complaining about them and NA$CAR's not listening. Almost makes me think he reads the message boards. Love him or hate him, even if he is just bellyachin' cause he was the first loser, a whole lot of people agree with him.

[obrien]

I have never been a big fan of his, but I like the fact that he is not afraid to say whats on his mind.

[Souporscotty]

Originally Posted by obrien

I have never been a big fan of his, but I like the fact that he is not afraid to say whats on his mind.

It was just nice to see a driver, ANY driver, speak up about this stuff.

[jks812]

Have to give him a big thumbs up for having the guts to say what alot of em probably want to say but don't have the guts to. And I do agree with him, they do throw alot of debris cautions. I listened to Johnson's radio on trackpass one weekend and he said they needed a caution, and wouldn't you know a couple of laps later nascar called a debris caution.

[Bob Tanner]

If I may enter my opinion...

Like him or not, one thing you have to say about Stewart is that the guy has cajones. In fact, to take on NA$CAR as he did, on his radio show Tuesday evening, one of those cajones is the size of a basketball, and the other is a BIG S.O.B.! I listened to it Tuesday and re-listened to the replay last night, just to see if I missed anything. What I heard Tony, and later on his guest, Wally Dallenbach Jr., say was NOT some snarky little snide remark; it was a full frontal attack!

My personal opinion is that this subject of "Competition Yellows" is very real and it's the "900 pound gorilla in the living room," which everyone knows is there but no one addresses directly. Continuing on with my very person opinion, I believe that it is so obvious that anyone who thinks NA$CAR is so creditable that the artificial cautions are a figment of imagination might be a little naive. But, that's just my opinion.

Predictably, much of the media has circled the wagons, and gone into a "Protect NASCAR at any cost" mode. They've interviewed Jim Hunter and John Darby and have all pretty much agreed that Tony is "just being Tony." A likeable, disgruntled malcontent who is looked upon like the genius uncle who MIT has on speed dial for consulting purposes but who lacks the social graces not to belch in public and habitually wears brown shoes with a black suit.

The most intriguing thing I've found in NASCAR response to the matter is what they don't say. Their official response follows:
NASCAR responds to Stewart's comments UPDATE: NASCAR called Tony Stewart's comments "very, very disappointing." "NASCAR has been running races since 1948, and we place the safety of the drivers at the top of the list," said spokesman Jim Hunter. "We have more people and more resources than ever officiating our races. The safety of the drivers is our first priority. It has always been that way and will continue to be that way. There are thousands of talented race drivers out there who would consider it an honor to compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series."

Every sentence is undeniably true. However, where in the above do they actually DENY that they manufacture caution periods?

"NASCAR's been doing this since 1948,".....check
"NASCAR cares about driver safety," ..... again, check
"NASCAR has currently has lots of resources,"..... that's undeniable
"Having Tony leave NASCAR is like pulling you hand out of a bucket of water," .... Probably. However, again, like him or not, Tony Stewart definitely has a way of making things interesting.

[Racer Duck]

just found on NA$CAR.COM

NASCAR.COM - Chastened Stewart admits: "I did a lot of damage" - Apr 27, 2007

I think they (NA$CAR) spanked him enough to make him change his tune. they say penalties are coming....

I have to agree with Tony .. it's frustrating for fans and drivers alike.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

just found on NA$CAR.COM

NASCAR.COM - Chastened Stewart admits: "I did a lot of damage" - Apr 27, 2007

I think they (NA$CAR) spanked him enough to make him change his tune. they say penalties are coming....

I have to agree with Tony .. it's frustrating for fans and drivers alike.

I read it and am absolutely disgusted. Oh well, I guess everyone has their price and it appears that Stewart has his. Unfortunately it doesn't detract from the fact that NA$CAR is obviously an emperor whose cloths are pretty transparent.

I see that NA$CAR continues to infer that Tony's outburst Tuesday was a direct result of his not winning Saturday night. They would have the fans believe that this wasn't a matter of manipulated races, it was simply a case of sour grapes. El toro ca-ca.

I'll, of course, never know but IF I had to guess I'd bet that NA$CAR advised Tony that the twenty-odd Cup drivers, plus Ray Everham, who are scheduled to drive in his "Prelude to the Dream" gala at Eldora on June 6th, MIGHT develop a sudden change in plans if he didn't do an IMMEDIATE about face.

So, NA$CAR won, the media hacks won, and we fans will be treated to an entire season of races with thirty cars finishing on the lead lap and photo finishes, irregardless of how much NASCAR has manipulate things to get this result. Oh well, the fans who believe it's a boring race unless the finish is similar to what I just described, will all be satisfied, no matter how contrived the race is.

I'll not bother you with any more posts on this subject.

[Racer Duck]

aw, come on Bob, tell us how you REALLY feel.

[Quality88]

Isn't that funny. Tony speaks about them controlling the sport, and they fine him to shut him up. We are not stupid. I have been bi$#!in about those damn phantom debris cautions for 2 years. It's funny when even the tv crews are lookin for the debris.

[wardfan]

I'm not sure which I believe more, the fact the the cautions are to tighten things up to try to make an exciting finish, or just a way to slow down the action to cram in some more commercials. I'm thinking its more for the commercials because if they create a caution they can show them and hopefully us fans won't "miss the action" of green flag racing.

[wardfan]

I just read where NASCAR fined Tony Stewart because he didn't do the press conference after the race, not because of his speaking up about the debris cautions. Jeez now NASCAR is trying to talk to me like I am some dummy that thinks wrestling is real!!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by wardfan

I just read where NASCAR fined Tony Stewart because he didn't do the press conference after the race, not because of his speaking up about the debris cautions. Jeez now NASCAR is trying to talk to me like I am some dummy that thinks wrestling is real!!

WHAT ?????

Wrestling isn't real ????

[Bob Tanner]

OK, I promised that I wouldn't add anything, BUT then I read the report on Stewart's $10K fine. But it wasn't for his questioning the phantom cautions; it was for not going to the post-race press soiree. Yeah! Right!!?? That concept has about as much credibility as "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. Trust me."

But what amazed me the most was the following which I lifted from the NA$CAR.com article:

"To be honest, the group that I spoke with this morning is a group of peers that I trust. If they tell me the stuff is out there, I believe them," he said.

"I should have went to them instead of just saying it out in public. That's frustration that's been building up with all these debris cautions."

So Mike Helton, John Darby, David Hoots, and Jerry Cook are all now his "peers?" I guess the last cop who gave me a speeding ticket wasn't really an authority figure who exercised a certain amount of power over me; he was just "one of my peers" who was there to give me some friendly, non-punitive guidance.

What a bunch of unadulterated crap-ola!

Tony, old buddy, do not ever complain that NA$CAR is playing us fans for a bunch of ignorant fools. You've already been there and done that, with your above statement. As I stated in my last post, I guess EVERYONE has his price.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

OK, I promised that I wouldn't add anything, BUT then I read the report on Stewart's $10K fine. But it wasn't for his questioning the phantom cautions; it was for not going to the post-race press soiree. Yeah! Right!!?? That concept has about as much credibility as "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. Trust me."

But what amazed me the most was the following which I lifted from the NA$CAR.com article:

"To be honest, the group that I spoke with this morning is a group of peers that I trust. If they tell me the stuff is out there, I believe them," he said.

"I should have went to them instead of just saying it out in public. That's frustration that's been building up with all these debris cautions."

So Mike Helton, John Darby, David Hoots, and Jerry Cook are all now his "peers?" I guess the last cop who gave me a speeding ticket wasn't really an authority figure who exercised a certain amount of power over me; he was just "one of my peers" who was there to give me some friendly, non-punitive guidance.

What a bunch of unadulterated crap-ola!

Tony, old buddy, do not ever complain that NA$CAR is playing us fans for a bunch of ignorant fools. You've already been there and done that, with your above statement. As I stated in my last post, I guess EVERYONE has his price.

Hmmm, so how do you really feel about the subject at hand Bob? Please elaborate

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

El toro ca-ca.

.

Bob some of your quotes crack me up