NASCAR fines Stewart $10,000, puts him on probation
Quote selected text Published April 27th, 2007 in NASCAR News
NASCAR officials have fined Tony Stewart $10,000 and placed the Joe Gibbs Racing driver on probation through Dec. 31, 2007 for failing to fulfill his postrace media obligations following the Nextel Cup Series race at Phoenix April 21.
“In the past, we had always hoped that we wouldn’t get to this point to get our athletes to fulfill their media obligations,” NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said in making the announcement Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. “Obviously, that didn’t work in this instance. This is a starting point.”
“I cannot say strongly enough how disappointing this was to NASCAR, to all the people who have helped build this sport over the years and put so much time and effort in it,” Hunter said. “To have what I would call just out-of-the-blue comments that attacked the integrity of the sport. To me that is absolutely just wrong.”
Bookmark to:
- Penalties for Gibbs teams more like slap on wrist
- National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinds probation for Stewart, Logano
- Busch and Stewart placed on probation by NASCAR
- NASCAR suspends JR Motorsports crew member, puts Eury Sr on probation
- Stewart fined for altercation and team given probation
NASCAR better watch themselves. They say something about the comments he made on his radio show. They are really close to violating 1st ammendment rights and getting sued.
I wonder what the penalty would have been had Tony not made the comments about the cautions? This entire situation is crap…I’m not liking Nascar more and more.
The race is going to be tough to watch this week - you know this is all the media is going to be talking about. I hope Tony does great and whoops them all!
Wait a minute..so after talladega he wont be racing until december..?
____ WATCHING NASCAR THEN, ILL _______ BOYCOTT THEM, IM NOT _______ KIDDING. ____ NASCAR..THEY WILL GET THEIR ASSES BEAT BY TONY FANS..THEY BETTER WATCH THEIR ASSES IF THEY THINK THAT’S GOING TO GO OVER.
Amanda - that is not at all what that means. It just means that they are going to watch him VERY closely for the rest of the season. If he does something else this year that breaks the rules he will be suspended. We they use the term ’suspended’ then he can’t race.
No Amanda, he has to be a good boy thru December. As for you Franco, any athlete can be fined for comment derogatory to their sport, The NBA, The NFL, NHL and college sports all have these rules, as long as he’s a member of NASCAR, those are the rules. And what’s got me really steamed is alot of fans backed him up, including me, and he doesn’t have the guts to stand by his statement, either it was true or it wasn’t..was he trying to get more listeners? I don’t know, he’s still one of the best drivers out there, but his opinion sure doesn’t amount to much anymore…
Good thing he is allowed to race..
or I would be one in a million of stewart fans who would take down nascar.
Agreed, axel?
very stupid of nascar. im not a stewart fan, but its still stupid
N A S C A R : Nation Association for Stupid Crazy old people with Alsheimers and Rockers.
Seems all the people running nascar are OLD.
Smoke will be like ashes to ashes, dust to dust before long with his cry baby ways. You know he would had been smiling like a big ole chimp if he had won last week and everything would have been fine and dandy in his eyes in Nascar land. Nothing is holding him back, RETIRE or better yet go run in the exciting world of IRL, if he doesn’t want competition and he wins every week. I dare ya Smoke, DO IT!!
melissa must be a hendrick fan.. yea smoke whined alot. i thought that was gay. but copme on.. the anouncers where gettin bored and tired of the stupid cautions an stuff. and nascar is scared because he said somthing and now everybody is thinkin about it. i never used to fall asleep durin races but this year i been out like a light most of them bristol was the most noted one for me. i slept till about 20 to go and didnt miss much.
hey we should all vote mikey in to the allstar so he can make a race this year
Amen Melissa! I too am sick and tired of Tony the Tantrum getting his way in Nascar when he whines. I am proud to say, I am a Jeff Gordon fan and anyone who drives for Hendrick Motor Sports. Tony came into Nascar thinking he could pick up where Dale Sr. left off. I was not a fan of Dale Sr., but give credit where it’s due. Dale never acted like Tony. Dale did act like a Champion as he was a 7 time one. I applaud Nascar for their decision to fine Tony and put him on probation. Tony may be Smoke, but Jeff has the Flames and fire is greater. Smoke comes from ashes which smolder after fire destroys. Go Jeff!
Thank you Melissa!You said it perfectly.
If you exclude Tony’s overly temperamental attitude the parallels between him and Earnhardt are startling.
If there were never people like Tony then companies like NASCAR would have steam rolled us all long ago. It seems like some people have already been brain washed by their corporate “keep your mouth shut” mentality. Blind followers never got NASCAR or our country anywhere. Anyone who thinks Tony got what he deserves needs to see a shrink or if you’re happy with your “follow the heard” and do what your told life style then I’m proud for you.
Somebody in a previous post said “I watch it every week and cheer for whoever is in the lead, unless it’s sissyboy.” — I would be embarassed. “whoever is in the lead.” I don’t want to single a certain group out but I hear that from supposed Hendrick fans often. It seems there is a certain mentality that leads some people to root for a team like Hendrick. Maybe because its safe… Safe unless you bump into a real fan. I’m not saying there aren’t real Hendrick fans out there but they don’t make statements like I’ve heard some supposed Hendrick fans make (especially on here). If you wanna play it safe and pick the easy route racing is not going to be your sport. Being a Tony fan is not easy. Hell, being a “real” fan of any team isn’t easy. Racing is one of the cruelest sports ever invented.
I hope the real Hendrick fans start shutting down these fly by nights who root for Gordon and Jimmie. I know I can’t stand when someone says they like Earnhardt for . You have to live and breath it. This ain’t basketball.
Insert… I know I can’t stand when someone says they like Earnhardt for some brainless reason. You have to live and breath it.
Everyone with a brain knows Stewart would not have gotten fined and put on probabtion had he not made the comments that he did. NASCAR is pulling some shady stuff right now. Not cool by any means NASCAR.
Melissa - have you ever seen Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson act like 2-year-olds when things don’t go there way? If not, then you haven’t been looking very closely. If I remember correctly, last year Jeff and Jimmy did ALOT of crying, but no one ever says anything to them. But as soon as Tony says or does something somebody doesn’t like then everyone is on him like flies on ____. Why are you Hendrick fans sooooo afraid to admit the obvious? Oh yea, because your team would loose races.
You call Tony a “cry baby.”
You don’t like him because he says what is on his mind and how he
sees it whether you like it or not. He is not one of the
preprogramed media robots that you are used to. He breaks the mold.
Of course people aren’t going to like him in today’s society of
class and “conformity is the norm and defiance will not be
tolerated”
brainwashing. People are too conplacent these days.
BUT, NASCAR can play “god” and make every Sunday a living
hell for Tony if they want as well.
M….E…L…I…S….S…..A, you are obviously, yet so subtly talking to me.
Click my name its easy to figure out who I really am. There is no proof your name is even Melissa or that you’re a girl. You could very well be ‘24…lol’s’ or ‘Alesia’ who so happily praised your comments previously. Why don’t you associate some proof with your name?
Moving on… You make my statements easy to defend when you prove my point in your own response. Now, that may be unfair to you. I don’t know you, but you did say “whoever is in the lead but sissy boy.” That is a sad reflection on yourself. I will stand by that statement. Maybe spelling Tony Stewart is a little difficult so if you have issues with it, here ya go. We can keep it to one word. T…O…N…Y. I know, I know… IT pains you to type a simple name. Better wash your eyes out for having read it.
You sure did get offended by my generalization of pseudo Hendrick/Earnhardt fans. Much like NASCAR did by Tony’s accusations. There’s nothing be upset by if its not true…
I’m afraid this post counts as a personal attack on you but you can say you have whoever’s memorabilia you want and make whatever glossy reality you want without facts. Also, I never said Tony was even half the man (or a quarter of the man) Earnhardt was (and still is in my mind). I said there are some undeniable similarities not that he could ever be him.
okay I am most definetlly not a Stewart fan but I have to say that NASCAR has been on a power trip this whole freaking season even before the season started, NASCAR seriouslly needs to stop this bs. Now if I could see Stewart get fined for something that actually is reasonable then I would probally celebrate that but this is total bs. I mean seriouslly fined for not talking. Well I think the deal with NASCAR this season is because Jimmie Johnson got caught cheating last year and won the championship, I really think that pissed off NASCAR so they are making sure that doesn’t happen this season. I don’t know maybe I’m the only one who thinks that.
Go Kasey Kahne
Also, Gordon has been keeping the whine real since 1993….
Tony does it, Junior does it, Dale Jarret has done it, Harvick does it… Every race car driver who has ever lived has done the “whine”. Including Senior. They have all voiced their opinions about something that was viewed by some as “unpopular” or “offensive” at the time.
There isn’t one racer who has done it consistently as Gordon in the history of NASCAR (atleast in the modern era). Tony just turns it into a big bang because he is serious and doesn’t know when to back down (usually). Which is a flaw he has undeniably turned into an advantage, on track and off. I wont deny that Tony may go about things the wrong way at times but that doesn’t mean the point he is trying to get to is wrong.
Ok, seeing as how we’ve gotten off the subject and moved on to personal attacks here I have a better term for it….LOSER!!!!! he is a complete and total _______ that needs to get over himself as he is not _______ god!!! oh and for the record I could give a ____ or care less who you are and I don’t want to know who you are. As for me, you don’t need to know who I am. I am who I am and I will not change my name to hide myself.
Let’s get back on topic ladies and gents. I know debates can get heated at times (and that’s not only ok here it’s encouraged) but let’s not sling mud at each other.
We really appreciate everyone’s input and discussion as there are some very good points being made all over this site. Let’s keep it that way.
And please, enough of the swearing.
Thanks!
Ok, real quick… I’m not hiding myself. Its obvious if you click! I just made a unique name… You obviously do care or you wouldn’t keep bringing it up.
You get angrier and angrier with each post, Melissa. I hope you can handle a Hendrick car being beat by a lesser team this weekend at Talladega! I also hope I can handle it if that doesn’t happen…
Just know I wont be rooting for Gordon this weekend. Beating Earnhardt’s career wins and tying his restrictor plate victories at a track as dear to him as Talladega should make anyone want to vomit. Especially on his Birthday!!!
Well, my last comment for the night……..
I too Axel am very much looking forward to the Talladega race this weekend and I am sure that it will be a good race. It really doesn’t sadden me that you won’t be rooting for Gordon. I’ve been reading links about Mr. Stewart and all his complaints about everything. As far as the new track in Vegas goes, he is a two-time winner…. I would put more stock in the remarks of drivers such as Petty and of course (if it were possible) Dale Sr as they have been around alot longer then Stewart.
Kinda funny to that I see alot of people who seem to think that NASCAR is now rigged and they are letting Hendricks win races. Very sad that Stewart fans take his losses the same way he does.
I do apologize for any personal attacks that I have made against anyone, but like everyone here I have a right to voice my opinion. I can’t stand Stewart but hats off to those who can.
I would also like to apologize to the admin/editor for my fowl language and it will not happen in the future.
As for Talladega, may the best man win the race, weather it’s Gordon, Johnson or Jr, one will take the flag
If he wins this Sunday Dale would be proud as he considered Gordon a close friend
Nascar is rigged. It’s turning into a corporate “superpower”. They throw the yellow when they choose inconsistent w/their own rules. Take Daytona for example. I’m all for Toyota in the sport, hell bring Honda too, let’s just race. Run what you brung. I’m not a “Stewart” fan at all but in the end I wanna see a good race. One that is good to watch the whole way thru & not just for the final few. I’m a race fan but this season there are other things I’d rather do than watch a race bogged down to boredom by Nascar’s so called “level playing field”. I’ts boring. As for Stewart’s comments, I don’t think there was anything wrong w/what he said. He’s a man & can so deal w/his own actions. In politics people are likening our president to Hitler which is very sad but our president does’nt fine or imprison those that make those associations about him. Nascar however is. There is no system that checks & balances Nascar which is a shame. Nascar is doing whatever it wants, which to be frank, pisses me off. No offense to anyone reading but they are acting like little girls. If they are going to do something then they need to be consistent w/ their actions & be upfront about their decisions. That is all for now.
TONY STEWART PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR AND RETIRE EARLY .
I say it’s just like our great country..
if you don’t like it, leave!
if you don’t like NASCAR, don’t follow it!
That may be true Bob, but if he were to fight it in court, he would win.
It is his right to say anything he wants. I just find it suspicious that
every other week NASCAR hands out penalties on Wednesday, but this one took
until Friday? A mysterious three days after his radio show, and not the race.
It seems a little too suspicious to me.
amen franco. i been readin these things and som of u ppl jus dont kno wat the hells goin on. nascar is jus doin wat they want, tryin to make certain ppl win an so on. all the hendrick wanabes say wat u want, but nascar is scared now because tony stated the obvious.
Stephanie..
this is a mature posting site. Comments like that are going to be frowned upon, so make it easier on yourself and don’t post pointless things like that. It’s obviously going to piss people off.
Axel, for the 45th time, you’r completely right.
:] hope our group on myspace gets goin..we have 15 people so far, WOO !
I wouldnt be suprised if tony won the race tomorrow just to show everyone up.
I’d laugh..
at the hendrick fans..
at gordon..
and johnson..
and the nascar officials.
If I read one more thing about this being a free country and what about the first amendment and NASCAR is breaking laws by fining Tony because of the reasons behind giving him a ticket instead of a warning I might stop reading these comments.
The 1st amendment in regards to the workplace is not even nearly free speech. It is against the law to make sex jokes at work and obviously would get in trouble for putting a pin-up in your cubicle. Don Imus got fired, didn’t he?
Obviously, the First Amendment does not apply to private employers. A private employer could unilaterally adopt a speech code that would violate the First Amendment if a government body adopted it, and private employers routinely do so for all sorts of reasons. No one would blame an employer for firing an employee who suggested that goods produced by the employer were shoddy, for example. In fact employers who are liable for employees improper speech are likely to take a very expansionist view of what speech is prohibited since they have little to gain by allowing prohibited speech and have large potential liability for not censoring.
Nascar is ruining a sport thae spent so many years building. Tony can say what ever he wants. If a member of Hendrix said it it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Well, aparently he can’t say whatever he wants and drive for NASCAR without being penalized.
nascar has become big brother……
if your not dale jr then your nobody, and they can do what they want to you………..
it’s time for nascar to clean up it’s act,or lose fans
Applies here too…
I believe NASCAR should be taken to task for fixing races by throwing yellow flags at will. they don’t listen to anyone except the guys who seem to run this asso., certainly not the drivers and the fans.
Tony Stewart didn’t get fined because of what he said he got fined because he didn’t go to the
press confrence after Pheonix race.
I have to ask terry what you meant by the Jr comment, all of these changes nascar has made hasn’t helped Jr at all. Has anyone given any thought to the THOUSANDS of people who would have to be in on “rigging” races? Maybe X-Files should come back and do episode on this. Mulder would get to the bottom of it in a hurry. Jeesh!!
The reason Smoke was penalized was not because he didn’t go to the Media Center. Back in 2003 Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray finished 2nd and 3rd at Atlanta, and both skipped out on the media obligations. And neither was penalized. Bill Elliott has skipped out on media obligations before. And he was not penalized.
NASCAR say what you want, but you only penalized Stewart because he told the truth about your operation and you didn’t like it.
Go Smoke You show ‘em who is the Man. Go and win at Talladega.
Mwahahahahaha…. looks like poor ole smoke hit the wall, rofl
Took it like the sore loser he is as usual….. who’s laughing now Amanda
Gordon took 1st and Johnson took 2nd…..YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh that’s right, cause Tony the tantrum didn’t win the 7 cautions were all bogus right?
and another thing, I agree with you Stephanie 100%
Ya know, I watched the race today from the very beginning and I must say that I a m throughly disgusted with stewarts actions. Everyone keeps saying that he knows what he’s talking about yet on live national tv this afternoon he retracted his statements. Now if he truely believed what he spouted from his mouth he wouldn’t have backed down. But then again I suppose it’s going to be said that he did that because he was threatened by NASCAR officials, which is a complete load of you know what. Another thing is I am so sick of hearing about what a great man he is, what a champ he is and now polite he is…. another load of you know what. Did anyone happen to catch his little tantrum after he hit the wall today? or was everyone blind to that? and what’s with this lame comments, that #38 hit him because he was still upset about the race yesterday. Then he goes on to say that they have no class. Well, Mr. Tantrum, you are the one with no class. Grow up and realize that you don’t always get what you want.
haha melissa
I agree 100 percent about Tony the Tantrum’s actions. What can one expect tho? If he wants respect, he must 1st show some. Kudos to Jeff for his speech after the race. I’m sure it was a very special win for Jeff especially since it was Dale Sr.’s B-day. Jeff will continue to break records and I’m sure someday in the far future, someone will come along and beat his records.
This is in reply to Axel Foley…or should I call you Eddie Murphy,, lol’s.
this is from your post
(Click my name its easy to figure out who I really am. There is no proof your name is even Melissa or that you’re a girl. You could very well be ‘24…lol’s’ or ‘Alesia’ who so happily praised your comments previously. Why don’t you associate some proof with your name?)
Well, I can tell you, melissa and I are 2 different people. I don’t know her, but would like too, since we agree on things here.
Look me up on my myspace…myspace.com/just24
Very well said 24…lol’s
Everyone seems to ignore the fact that Dale Sr is one of Gordons idols and as stated by Dale Jr himself Gordon was also a business partner with Dale Sr.
*grins*, I will do just that 24…lol’s
24…lol and Melissa, your suck fest is disgusting. You guys get a room. I was thoroughly impressed by Gordon on Sunday. Crappy way to get the win but he was the one in position to take it. He was in that position all day.
Tony is not a good person. He is evil and selfish. He wants to win and doesn’t care too much about anyone else on the track. Lots of drivers are that way, Tony just voices what he is thinking more than most. If you don’t like what he’s saying then why repeat it day in and day out? He keeps things interesting even if he’s not producing good results for the time being. Also, just because you don’t like the way he delivers his criticism, it doesn’t mean he’s not right.
I think Tony is giving NASCAR a chance to prove themselves before he says anything else. Everyone needs a chance…
think tony gay ? cause never see him with a lady, need hair cut and loose some pound from his tummy..