paul
Team Owner
DAYS NUMBERED FOR GARAGE AREA FREE-FOR-ALLS
August 16, 2002
NOLAN WEIDNER
http://www.syracuse.com/motorsports/postst...95465307985.xml
Joe Gibbs, the former Washington Redskins coach and
current Winston Cup race team owner, made an
interesting observation before Sunday's race at Watkins
Glen.
"In this sport, (fans) have a chance to come on race day,
get back here, maybe get an autograph, talk to people,
maybe talk to a driver at some point. In most other
sports I've been around, you could get arrested doing
that. I kind of like the fact that it's a free-for-all," Gibbs
said while discussing NASCAR's fan- and media-friendly
garage area.
Free-for-all it is.
When the Winston Cup "circus" (as one reporter called
it) rolls into town there's always plenty of excitement.
There was more last weekend, because the "Tony
Stewart Punches Photographer" saga had raged all
week.
Under relentlessly sunny skies, the heat that kept
everyone sweaty through the weekend also frayed more
than a few tempers. And a highly entertaining weekend
became one that eventually weighed on many, including
Gibbs' top driver, Stewart. Consider:
When Stewart appeared at the rear of his race hauler
Friday to admit that his temper finally had him worried,
so many reporters and camera people crowded around
that a fight nearly broke out among those trying to gain
precious positioning. How ironic would that have been?
Another clash between television cameras, radio people
and print media occurred Saturday behind the hauler of
defending race and Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
After qualifying and practicing poorly, Gordon finally
found the speed of a contender during Saturday's final
practice. One Time-Warner reporter, who thought he
and his cameraman had their territory near Gordon
staked out, watched as members of the media crowded in
front of him. You had to wonder if the reporter or his
cameraman were able to get any footage of the
diminutive Gordon, who stood 15 feet away on the back
step of his hauler.
After Stewart won on Sunday, the track's media center
was filled with people - many there just to watch or take
pictures as fans. There was so much chatter that veteran
reporter Chris Economaki turned to bellow "Hey, quiet
back there!" so tape recorders and ears could pick up
the winner's words.
It took only 48 hours for the media to get back on the
nerves of Stewart, who sat slouched in a chair on the
small stage with dark sunglasses and his Home Depot hat
pulled low.
On Friday, he had confessed his sins to reporters and
vowed to change his surly ways. On Sunday, he spent
three hours in a race car in near 90-degree heat, then
endured three more hours of photos, television, radio
and print media interviews.
Stewart must have felt like choking a reporter who spent
about 45 seconds posing a question that, loosely
translated, asked: "So Tony, could you sum up once
again how bad you feel about punching that poor
photographer?"
Instead, Stewart launched into a small tirade, first at the
reporter whom, he suspected, either missed Friday's
confessional or failed to take notes. Then he talked about
the impending Southern Tier sunset, and his lost hope of
flying back to North Carolina in time to actually see the
new home he'd purchased near Charlotte while there was
still daylight.
One had to wonder how long it would be before Winston
Cup's booming popularity forces garage areas (locker
rooms) and post-race interview sessions to become
"players only," or "media only," like the major-league
sport Gibbs used to be associated with.
August 16, 2002
NOLAN WEIDNER
http://www.syracuse.com/motorsports/postst...95465307985.xml
Joe Gibbs, the former Washington Redskins coach and
current Winston Cup race team owner, made an
interesting observation before Sunday's race at Watkins
Glen.
"In this sport, (fans) have a chance to come on race day,
get back here, maybe get an autograph, talk to people,
maybe talk to a driver at some point. In most other
sports I've been around, you could get arrested doing
that. I kind of like the fact that it's a free-for-all," Gibbs
said while discussing NASCAR's fan- and media-friendly
garage area.
Free-for-all it is.
When the Winston Cup "circus" (as one reporter called
it) rolls into town there's always plenty of excitement.
There was more last weekend, because the "Tony
Stewart Punches Photographer" saga had raged all
week.
Under relentlessly sunny skies, the heat that kept
everyone sweaty through the weekend also frayed more
than a few tempers. And a highly entertaining weekend
became one that eventually weighed on many, including
Gibbs' top driver, Stewart. Consider:
When Stewart appeared at the rear of his race hauler
Friday to admit that his temper finally had him worried,
so many reporters and camera people crowded around
that a fight nearly broke out among those trying to gain
precious positioning. How ironic would that have been?
Another clash between television cameras, radio people
and print media occurred Saturday behind the hauler of
defending race and Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
After qualifying and practicing poorly, Gordon finally
found the speed of a contender during Saturday's final
practice. One Time-Warner reporter, who thought he
and his cameraman had their territory near Gordon
staked out, watched as members of the media crowded in
front of him. You had to wonder if the reporter or his
cameraman were able to get any footage of the
diminutive Gordon, who stood 15 feet away on the back
step of his hauler.
After Stewart won on Sunday, the track's media center
was filled with people - many there just to watch or take
pictures as fans. There was so much chatter that veteran
reporter Chris Economaki turned to bellow "Hey, quiet
back there!" so tape recorders and ears could pick up
the winner's words.
It took only 48 hours for the media to get back on the
nerves of Stewart, who sat slouched in a chair on the
small stage with dark sunglasses and his Home Depot hat
pulled low.
On Friday, he had confessed his sins to reporters and
vowed to change his surly ways. On Sunday, he spent
three hours in a race car in near 90-degree heat, then
endured three more hours of photos, television, radio
and print media interviews.
Stewart must have felt like choking a reporter who spent
about 45 seconds posing a question that, loosely
translated, asked: "So Tony, could you sum up once
again how bad you feel about punching that poor
photographer?"
Instead, Stewart launched into a small tirade, first at the
reporter whom, he suspected, either missed Friday's
confessional or failed to take notes. Then he talked about
the impending Southern Tier sunset, and his lost hope of
flying back to North Carolina in time to actually see the
new home he'd purchased near Charlotte while there was
still daylight.
One had to wonder how long it would be before Winston
Cup's booming popularity forces garage areas (locker
rooms) and post-race interview sessions to become
"players only," or "media only," like the major-league
sport Gibbs used to be associated with.
