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What's really changed after fines and probation during the years
Two days after punching a photographer who tried to take his picture following the Brickyard 400, the NASCAR driver has decided to seek counseling.
"I need to do something to make it to where I can control my anger better," Stewart said Tuesday after signing autographs at a half-mile dirt track where he was to race in a Late Modifieds event.
"It's obvious over three-and-a-half years, I can't do it on my own, so I'm going to seek professional help and get somebody that can help me learn how to control my emotions," he said.
Shortly before he arrived, NASCAR officials announced they fined Stewart $10,000 and put him on probation for the rest of the Winston Cup season.
It's the second straight year Stewart will end the Winston Cup season on probation. Last year, the Columbus, Ind., native drew a $10,000 fine and had his probation extended for the rest of last season after slapping a reporter's tape recorder away and then kicking it under a truck. Stewart also was involved in a shoving incident with NASCAR officials last season.
On Sunday, Stewart lost his temper again. Upset after a 12th-place finish, Stewart tried to run away from Gary Mook, a free-lance photographer working for The Indianapolis Star. When Mook started running alongside him, Stewart stopped and punched him in the chest.
"It is imperative that we protect the integrity of our sport," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "This type of behavior cannot be tolerated and is in no way indicative of the manner in which our drivers, teams, tracks and sponsors interact with the media.
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Tony is not a normal first time offender. How many other offences were brushed off and/or not reported.
Granted Tony does much for charity, children, etc, etc, but does that mean you can be a total ass and assult people when you are having a bad day. I guess the answer is YES in this country, there is a double standard for the rich, famous and privilige.
(When I was brought up racing for 30 years, I was always told that the driver was responsible for EVERY MEMBER of his crew, and you don't disrespect let alone touch a official even if they are wrong. You may argue with them. But god forbid you assult them, its an automatic suspencion for a great amount of time for you, and probably your driver. And in this particular case, from what I have read on IOW, the TSR team was not even in the right, Tony did not know the correct rules for where the car was supposed to be to make matters worse. The car might have been ready, but it was not in the right location to be pushed off. (Having been at a few Indiana Sprint Week shows this year, I can tell you first hand that USAC waites for no one to replace a flat tire on yellows, but I don't know the exact rules, just what I read on IOW. Even if Tony was correct on the rules, you don't assult or touch 2 officals as it was shown on the video.
Was the penalty fair, I don't know. I do know its the same old story with Tony. I would like to be a fan of Tony, he does a lot of good but .....well if I can not say something good, I just won't say it than.
Well does anyone think USAC has enough money now to pay Tony Jones his share of the 2007 CRA Point money, about as likely as Tony Stewart not having another outburst somewhere with a fan, photographer, a Busch, or an Official.
If Tony Stewart was grumpy in the past, I sure hope this HASS team which has no cars in the top 35 presently improves 100% or Tony could have a melt down and I would advise all Photographers or reporters to be careful around him next year, as a 12th place might be a good run for that team considering everything.
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Aside from the occassional wise-crack, you all covered things pretty well. I am a fan of T.S. driving and respect his love for where he came from and what we all care for- racing.
It doesn't take much to ruin a relationship- as far as actions go. We people remember how we are treated by other people. It take only one "oh crap" to ruin a bunch of "atta boys". We also learn acceptable treatment of others by what is and isn't tolerated socially. USAC, NASCAR and even Home Depot have told T.S. his behavior isn't acceptable.
The level of fine was to get the attention of T.S., I am sure, and in this instance a sliding scale was appropriately used. Especially since Tony is a known repeat offender. There was likely sound reasoning and judgement.
Like a person who physically abuses another- like a domestic relationship- Tony was trying to make up with his by buying shirts and radios instead of flowers and candy. I am not certain that USAC's acceptance of these "attoning gifts" are a good thing because it also sends a message that one can buy ones way out of consequences. Whatever the out come, Tony's reputation and public esteem has suffered. I like many of you that I have read are saddened and disappointed.
I remember as a young guy going to Riverside, my racing buddy was a huge Darrell Waltrip fan. When he approached D.W. to say hello and get an autograph- well, let's just say D.W. lost a few fans at that moment. At the opposite end of that spectrum was King Richard who chearfully signed autographs -even for this lady who kept jabbing him in the ribs to get his attention. We all have our bad days and get frustrated- it is our choices.
Tony does have a good heart and does wear his emotions on his sleve. He is passionate about everything in his life it seems. Those are the positive things. It all comes crashing down with destructive behaviors, even if it seemed to him like he was defending his team during an injustice.
There is no excuse for what he did. I do wonder when someone doesn't push back- but as officials there is also or should be a decorum that restrains one from physical or verbally retaliating. Which makes the assault that much worse. The official isn't expecting physical confrontation and therefore ill prepared to defend ones self. Two wrongs don't make a right but one day T.S. might find a reporter or official primal quicker to the fight or flight reaction.
Unfortunately I have seen an official or two assaulted. Not good times. I have been asked to leave the premisis before and sit at home a couple of weeks for what I thought were injustices. I can understand T.S. or any racers frustrations- racers put alot on the line to make it to the races let alone have calls mess it up- it is a hard thing to reconcile at times. As an official now- the injustices are one reason I wanted to do this Bandit thing that I do, to be better than the ones I saw as incompetent. The frustration for me is I am still an emotional being and restraint is a discipline that I am constantly working on. The other is it is my worst night mare to have someone screwed outta a night because of something did or failed to do.
I wished more officials had that attitude and more good racers want to become officials. Too many race officials come from the ranks of fans or friends of people who need something to do. It takes time to be a good official and I may get there sometime. But at least these folks are willing to serve.
I played and coached a lot of sports as many have done with kids. I have also umpired/refereed sports too. Auto racing seems to be the only sport without clinics for officials/scorers. If I owned a race track that is one thing I would do- have formal training for officials. Good training may be a help.
Again, I have to say it was great to read all of your thoughtful comments and opinions and some tongue in cheek humor. Just my thoughts on the deal.
Peter the Bandit Guy
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Let's face it, Tony is an enigma. Sometimes he's an ass and other times he's the most generous person alive. I think his issue is that he's an extremely competitive private person living in the public eye. If he's your friend then you cannot have a more fiercely protective or supportive friend than Tony. Once you get outside that group and you catch him at the wrong time, time to roll the cameras for YouTube.
Was he wrong for what he did? Absolutely. Would he like to take it back? You betcha. Now that he's done it is there anything he could do to placate his naysayers? Nope. Does he realize he has a problem? Yep. Is this planet a better or worse place with him on it? Better. Besides the charity work that is publically known, I know there are several formerly destitute old racers that hardly anyone remembers who would agree with that last statement.
We all know people who are genuine buttholes and people who are genuine buttholes at particular times. No matter what I or anyone says here, some people will always be convinced he's the former rather than the latter. Really, what's the difference between Tony and Budweiser's "Mr. Overly Competitive Touch Football Game Player"? I'm sure some will say "Well, Tony's a public figure now, he shouldn't act like that" Well guess what, he was pretty flaky back when he drove sprint cars so why should anyone be surprised that he still acts the same at times?
In this post, people have brought up names of some of our local guys. What if we were a nationally known series that was viewed on a weekly basis by millions of people. Can you imagine all the crazy stuff that would be plastered across all the media just based upon any of the controversial events that happened this year? Or better yet, how about turning non-controversial into controversial? ("Joe Racer, who is catholic used the g-d word after he wrecked. When contacted, the Vatican had no comment" How about we throw in any of the things that go on in their private lives that others may find "juicy"? As the microscope focuses in closer, the less attractive anyone looks.
Nah, Tony did something stupid and I think he's paying an appropriate price (and I'm not talking just about money) for it.
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