Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

A few weeks ago I seen a post calling Shane Stewart by Shame Stewart. It's been bothering me.... A few years ago before he was racing for Larson Marks I went down to the pits on a qualifying night at the nationals. I went to his pit area to buy a t-shirt. He personally went and got the shirt for me and chatted with me for 20 to 30 minutes. One of the nicest sprint car drivers I have ever met. I love sprint car racing but a lot of the drivers are primodonnas. I just don't understand the hatred.

I like watching Shane race.  However, my son and I have not had the same experiences in the pits as you have.  He was very rude and really couldn't care less that we were there.  I don't hate him for it, but that is just the way it was.  Made me look at him a little differently. 

Pit experiences are always a tough thing. What I will say is every driver in the pits on Friday night of the Royal, before the race and after the race, treated my two girls like queens, including Shane.

We all have to take a step back and remember, when we walk up is a good time for us and perhaps not a good time for the drivers, we don't know. Most of them are there to make a living, cut them some slack.

Try a NASCAR race. Cup drivers basically say "I only sign at this time" and they put their heads down and walk non-stop.

DA

Champphotos is right here.  Pit experiences are always tough.  Either go real early when pit gates open or after the races.  Trying to talk with drivers, etc. during the race program is always a bit touch and go.  Some have no problem, others are "in the zone" (as is their right obviously).   

As for the OP saying most drivers are primadonnas, yeah I'd have to disagree with that.  Are some guys primadonnas? Yep.  Most?  Not even close. 

Im reminded of a conversation I had at Pocono with a NASCAR official who is a family friend- it went like this.

"Ok, which of the drivers is the nicest to be around during race weekend?"

"Any one of 'em, at any given time."

"So, which of the drivers can be the biggest asshole?"

"Any one of 'em, at any given time"

+1 HaHa

I've had two interactions with Shane Stewart. Both were very positive.

Great guy, brought up properly.  Seen dozens upon dozens of interactions with the fans in the pits over the years and can't remember a bad one.  However, this is a work area and things aren't always smooth at work so the odd negative thing can happen, overall one of the nicest, most respecatcle drivers out there....

Very well said.  When you really take a step back, that can be said about pretty much all of us.

Like I said, I still root for Shane but my negative experience sticks in my mind.  That would change with a positive one.  I have had a couple of real positive interactions with Brian Brown before as well, but the last time I was around him, not so much.  I guess we are all human.