NASCAR summons Stewart to 6 a.m. meeting at track

kelloggs5TLfan

kelloggs5TLfan

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Posted on Fri, Apr. 27, 2007
NASCAR summons Stewart to 6 a.m. meeting at track
Team can't unload car, get ready until meeting is held
By JIM UTTER / The Charlotte Observer

http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/3928.html

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Two-time Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart was required to meet with NASCAR president Mike Helton on Friday morning when the garage opened at 6 a.m. Central, The Charlotte Observer has learned. Stewart made headlines this week when he likened NASCAR to professional wrestling and said the sanctioning body had "not run a fair race all season." Stewart made the comments during his Sirius Satellite Radio show on Tuesday night.

Stewart's No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team was not allowed to unload and begin preparations on its car Friday morning until Stewart had completed his meeting with NASCAR officials, multiple sources confirmed. Stewart was in the NASCAR trailer upwards of 40 minutes.

NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter was not immediately available for comment Friday morning. NASCAR is expected to address Stewart's actions sometime Friday, sources said.

Last weekend at Phoenix, Stewart failed to fulfil post-race media obligations after he finished second in the race. Finishers 2-5 are required to talk to national TV and radio on pit road and finishers 1-3 required to visit the media center following a race.

The obligations are spelled out on the race entry blank each week. In addition, events director David Hoots repeats the requirement in the drivers' meeting each weekend.
 
OUCH !!!!!

My guess, NASCAR told Tony and Gibbs racing to get their **** together.

Tony's comments have placed NASCAR in a tenuous situation as far as integrity is concerned although NASCAR can make things uncomfortable toward Gibbs Racing in an effort to calm Stewart down.

On the other hand, NASCAR needs to take remarks made by Stewart as a warning.
If playing in the "big leagues" of international sporting events is where NASCAR wants to be, they must be willing to prove beyond any doubt the races are legitimate in every aspect and favoritism no longer exists.
 
Stewarts been acting like a spoiled child lately. It's NASCARS game and if you want to play you play by there rules. If Stewart doesn't like go back to open wheel. I wouldn't miss his whiney butt one bit. The boy needs some serious talking too.
 
Okay first of all, if it is written that the top three, five or whatever finshers are required to the media center then Tony deservfes to get a talkin' to because it is required

BUT

this

Stewart's No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team was not allowed to unload and begin preparations on its car Friday morning until Stewart had completed his meeting with NASCAR officials, multiple sources confirmed. Stewart was in the NASCAR trailer upwards of 40 minutes.
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is BS!!!!

NASCAR is trying to stop freedom of speech..I do not give a rat's arse if NASCAR thinks this gives them a black eye...guess what? It is probably the most truthful thing Tony has ever mouthed off about and he has every right to. NASCAR is trying to dictate the outcome of these races by throwing these pansy cautions and if they don't want to be looked at badly then stop doing it.
 
and now the "mafia" is stepping in.

Nascar needs to stop running the sport like a freakin Crime Organization.
 
be9ak7ts16 said:
Stewarts been acting like a spoiled child lately. It's NASCARS game and if you want to play you play by there rules. If Stewart doesn't like go back to open wheel. I wouldn't miss his whiney butt one bit. The boy needs some serious talking too.
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Exactly my thoughs. :beerbang:

Why is Tony taking back what he said now? scared he'll get axed from Nascar? :growl:
 
http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/3928.html
That beep-beep-beep? Stewart backing off NASCAR criticism

By JENNA FRYER / The Associated Press

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Tony Stewart backpedaled from his remarks that likened NASCAR to professional wrestling, acknowledging Friday that he hurt the integrity of the sport.

The two-time champion was called to a 6 a.m. meeting with NASCAR president Mike Helton, competition director Robin Pemberton and series director John Darby when the garage opened Friday at Talladega Superspeedway.

“It’s a little tender for me to sit down right now,” he deadpanned.

But Stewart otherwise was serious about the controversy he started with a stinging rant on his weekly Sirius Satellite Radio program. During his Tuesday night show, Stewart accused NASCAR of using bogus debris cautions to orchestrate the races.

Stewart said the meeting convinced him that’s not the case, and the races are indeed called fairly. But he acknowledged his initial comments damaged the sport.

“I’m sure I did,” he said. “Everybody in this building makes a living off this sport, I make a living off this sport – a lot of work, a lot of obligations. It’s not a free ride for anybody here.

“Yeah, I probably did hurt the integrity of the sport.”

That’s been the core issue of Stewart’s rant, which began as an explanation of why he skipped the post-race news conference following his second-place finish in Phoenix last Saturday night. Stewart said he refused to do interviews to avoid bashing NASCAR over the way it manipulates the races.

“It’s like playing God,” he said on his show. “They can almost dictate the race instead of the drivers doing it. It’s happened too many times this year.”

Stewart, who said he was fighting a fever and left the two-hour show early, went on to say fans are complaining about debris cautions and NASCAR isn’t listening.

“I guess NASCAR thinks, ‘Hey, wrestling worked, and it was for the most part staged, so I guess it’s going to work in racing, too,”’ he said. “I can’t understand how long the fans are going to let NASCAR treat them like they’re stupid before the fans finally turn on NASCAR.

“I don’t know that they’ve run a fair race all year.”

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter has been the only official to address the remarks publicly so far, saying the sanctioning body was disappointed in Stewart’s remarks.

That was expressed to Stewart in Friday’s meeting by the very people whose credibility he had questioned during his rant. NASCAR races are officiated in a scoring tower above the booth by an eight-member panel that includes Helton, Pemberton and Darby.

“Some of the individuals felt it was a personal attack on them,” Stewart said.
 
kat2220 said:
Yet to NOT allow the car to be unloaded is mature?
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It's their show, they can run it how they want to. Besides, if fining drivers isn't getting the point across, then doing something to hurt the whole team (i.e. docking points or not allowing a car to be unloaded) will be an attention getter. I'm a Stewart fan and have no problem with them doing that.
 
for something that was said away from the venue and not on Nascar property?
 
kat2220 said:
And that rule is written WHERE ? In the sand in a windstorm!
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In the NASCAR Rulebook. :idunno:

Remember kat, it's written in pencil.

I've seen NASCAR's precious Jeff Gordon not comment. And how often does FOX interview the top 5 finishers? They interview the winner, the 2nd place car, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr.
 
Not Fox Andy, they do a post race conference interview. Much like what the NBA does.
 
A couple of questions for those of you who seem to know:
What time does JGR normally get to a track to unload?
What time do others get their to unload?
They couldn't unload the car, could they unload anything else?
How much of a disruption is this 40 minute chat in their over all preparation?
Is Tony the only one ever singled out or is this normal procedures where NASCAR has questions about a driver's actions between races?
Or has the media just found a new storyline to keep churning since the Lil'E/DEI story is starting to age?
Afterall controversey sells papers and captures listeners...

And some of y'all think I'm a cynic :)
 
kelloggs5TLfan said:
Fined $10,000 and on probation until Dec.
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fined for what?

i hope it wasnt for his comments on the radio...if thats the case...then that is out of line.

He didnt say those things at the race track...if this is what the fine is for...then drivers and team owners can now be fined for saying anything bad about nascar any time of day to anyone.

if that is true....thats wrong wrong wrong.
 
All of the drivers should sit out a weekend and allow NASCAR to pay it's bills on it's own for a while. We'll see how long that lasts.
(Obviously none of the drivers would or could because of contractural obligations)
I think the drivers need to form a union.
 
Why?? All other major sports have unions and you know what happens when they are critical of officials or the sanctioning body?? They get fined and smacked on the wrist. Why should NASCAR be any different?? Also as reported on SPEED the requirement to attend the post race press conference is mandatory for the top five finishers hence the fine and probation.
 
This Buds For Me said:
fined for what?

i hope it wasnt for his comments on the radio...if thats the case...then that is out of line.

He didnt say those things at the race track...if this is what the fine is for...then drivers and team owners can now be fined for saying anything bad about nascar any time of day to anyone.

if that is true....thats wrong wrong wrong.
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For missing the post race interview.
 
BobbyFord said:
All of the drivers should sit out a weekend and allow NASCAR to pay it's bills on it's own for a while. We'll see how long that lasts.
(Obviously none of the drivers would or could because of contractural obligations)
I think the drivers need to form a union.
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Thay tried to form a union once years ago.
 
Tony Stewart Fined And Placed On Probation: NASCAR announced today that Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Chevy, has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007 for failing to fulfill his post-race media obligation following the Subway Fresh Fit 500 race last Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway. Stewart violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-H (any member who violates 7-2B: Failure to meet obligation of an accepted entry; failure to fulfill post-race media obligation – with addition to the winning driver, the second and third-place drivers and the highest finishing rookie of the year candidate must also report to the media center upon the conclusion of the race) of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(4-27-2007)
 
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