Tony’s Tirade
March 13, 2008
Mickey
Mills – SCR
Tony Stewart seems to
have a talent for being right and wrong at exactly the same time. Like many others, I’m not going to dispute the
tire issues. I’ve heard enough drivers echo the same sentiment. Even Dale Jarrett has come out in defense
of Stewarts statements. The monkey in this wrench came about when his teammate, Kyle Busch crossed the finish line first
in a Toyota, making Sprint Cup history. I’m sure Stewart knew all about
it. He was running second and had the best seat in the house to watch it. Second place on any track, on any tire,
is not a bad deal at all.
But what did Stewart do? His
teammate just rewrote the history books and all but dominated the race, yet in the post race interview, all he could do was
rage on about how bad the tires with barely a cursory acknowledgement to Busch, his team, or his sponsor. I’ve
seen enough out of Stewart to expect it. My point here is his choice of timing.
Stewart would have had
plenty of opportunities after the track cooled to vent his frustration to NASCAR, Goodyear, owner Joe Gibbs, crew chief Greg
Zipadelli, and any other person that would care to listen before the night was over. But no… instead he took his
first moment with a microphone and camera lens to verbally point the number one at Goodyear by saying, “the most pathetic
racing tire I've ever been on in my professional career." Yeah, it might have been true, but there’s a place for
truth, and there’s a place for discretion. His tirade at that moment was anything but professional.
He missed a perfect opportunity
to praise his teammate for a job well done, and show some professionalism and put his best foot forward praising Toyota and Joe
Gibbs Racing. We already knew what he thought of the tires from his pre-race comments.
Tony Stewart’s
worst enemy has always been, and probably always will be Tony Stewart. His ten year stint in Cup racing has been marred
by several situations involving his reaction to other situations and circumstances. Turn the clock back a few weeks to
Daytona. It’s the Hatfields and the McCoys all over again, except instead of shotguns and hound dogs, it’s
race cars and fisticuffs, Stewart and Kurt Busch feuding again… Imagine that.
There’s no denying
that Tony Stewart is a great race car driver and former champion. His talent behind the wheel of any racing machine
is second to nobody. I’m afraid his legacy will not be for his driving skills, but his talent for saying the wrong
things at the wrong times. Perhaps a refresher course in anger management with an added course in teamwork is in order. Come
on Coach… do your stuff. Your star quarterback has his own playbook which does not seem to include the rest of
Joe Gibbs Racing.
Questions,
Comments:
Email Mickey
The views and opinions in this article are that
of the writer(s) and not necessarily that of SCR
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2006 StockCar Review.
