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Darrell Waltrip responded yesterday to a series of personal sideswipes by Tony Stewart by saying, ''I don't like it when it turns ugly.''
''At first I thought he was just messing around with me, doing a little pre-race sparring, which is OK,'' Waltrip, a Fox Sports announcer, said from his home in Franklin. ''But then he just kept on and on, and I began to realize he wasn't joking around.
''I find it odd that he singled me out as his biggest critic. It's unfortunate.''
Stewart directed sharp remarks toward Waltrip before and after Saturday's race in Richmond, Va. Stewart was upset by Waltrip's comments the week before that perhaps NASCAR should suspend him for one race for rough driving. Several drivers have complained about Stewart's over-aggressiveness in recent weeks.
After the race Stewart, who had made slight contact with Jeff Gordon, said in a live, nationally televised interview: ''Darrell and those guys are up there in the booth now, lobbying to get me suspended for life.''
He continued to make pointed comments toward Waltrip. In reference to contact that was made among several drivers Stewart said, ''If Darrell had his way, we'd have only about 18 cars racing next week.''
During a visit to Nashville last week, Stewart took an especially sharp jab at Waltrip, remarking about his use of provisionals to make races during the final, frustrating seasons of a once-spectacular career.
Stewart was quoted on NASCAR.com as saying he was worried about racing against Waltrip's younger brother, Michael: ''(Darrell) has been carrying a hatchet on me the last couple of weeks. You don't dare touch his little brother out there for fear that he was going to crush you in the media.''
Yesterday Waltrip was asked if he was peeved, hurt or amused by Stewart's personal attacks.
''I don't really have a reaction,'' said Waltrip, a three-time champion whose 84 wins tie for third all-time. ''He drives his car and we talk about it. That's our jobs.''
During his driving days Waltrip was NASCAR's most outspoken driver and often feuded with his rival racers. However, he said he never took the criticism personally, as Stewart seems to do.
''I've been under attack myself,'' he said. ''Richard Petty used to be on my back every week about my driving. You just let it go, for Pete's sake.''
Waltrip said he has always liked Stewart and has repeatedly praised his driving talent.
''I don't have anything against Tony,'' Waltrip said. ''What I said was not meant to be personal. Part of my job is to comment about situations on the track, and you can't ignore Tony's situation. This is reality TV. We don't make it up.''
Waltrip said he has had no contact with Stewart since last Saturday night's outburst.
''I kept thinking maybe he'll call me up and tell me he was only kidding around,'' he said. ''But so far I haven't heard from him.''
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''At first I thought he was just messing around with me, doing a little pre-race sparring, which is OK,'' Waltrip, a Fox Sports announcer, said from his home in Franklin. ''But then he just kept on and on, and I began to realize he wasn't joking around.
''I find it odd that he singled me out as his biggest critic. It's unfortunate.''
Stewart directed sharp remarks toward Waltrip before and after Saturday's race in Richmond, Va. Stewart was upset by Waltrip's comments the week before that perhaps NASCAR should suspend him for one race for rough driving. Several drivers have complained about Stewart's over-aggressiveness in recent weeks.
After the race Stewart, who had made slight contact with Jeff Gordon, said in a live, nationally televised interview: ''Darrell and those guys are up there in the booth now, lobbying to get me suspended for life.''
He continued to make pointed comments toward Waltrip. In reference to contact that was made among several drivers Stewart said, ''If Darrell had his way, we'd have only about 18 cars racing next week.''
During a visit to Nashville last week, Stewart took an especially sharp jab at Waltrip, remarking about his use of provisionals to make races during the final, frustrating seasons of a once-spectacular career.
Stewart was quoted on NASCAR.com as saying he was worried about racing against Waltrip's younger brother, Michael: ''(Darrell) has been carrying a hatchet on me the last couple of weeks. You don't dare touch his little brother out there for fear that he was going to crush you in the media.''
Yesterday Waltrip was asked if he was peeved, hurt or amused by Stewart's personal attacks.
''I don't really have a reaction,'' said Waltrip, a three-time champion whose 84 wins tie for third all-time. ''He drives his car and we talk about it. That's our jobs.''
During his driving days Waltrip was NASCAR's most outspoken driver and often feuded with his rival racers. However, he said he never took the criticism personally, as Stewart seems to do.
''I've been under attack myself,'' he said. ''Richard Petty used to be on my back every week about my driving. You just let it go, for Pete's sake.''
Waltrip said he has always liked Stewart and has repeatedly praised his driving talent.
''I don't have anything against Tony,'' Waltrip said. ''What I said was not meant to be personal. Part of my job is to comment about situations on the track, and you can't ignore Tony's situation. This is reality TV. We don't make it up.''
Waltrip said he has had no contact with Stewart since last Saturday night's outburst.
''I kept thinking maybe he'll call me up and tell me he was only kidding around,'' he said. ''But so far I haven't heard from him.''
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In spite of all his troubles in 2000 the guy won the title and was a great representative of the sport, this is starting to look more and more like a repeat season.
but I do agree with you.
I don't think so DW!!
