Stewart Out $10,000 After USAC Incident

Tony Stewart can't be a big fan of the word "detrimental".

The word has been slapped on Stewart multiple times in his career in the form of a NASCAR penalty because the sanctioning body nearly always includes Rule 12-4-A "Actions detrimental to stock car racing" for every violation of the rule book.

And even in the case of USAC penalties, Tony Stewart can't avoid it there either as that sanctioning body's vice president of racing operations called Stewart's most recent actions "unacceptable behavior detrimental to the sport" Monday afternoon.

The incident last Thursday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis brought the two-time Sprint Cup champion a $10,000 fine and probation.

Of course, he's probably pretty used to that probation thing.

He also will buy the series brand new radios and uniforms for the officials.

The penalties come from Stewart's temper, as he got tremendously irritated after USAC failed to allow the midget car he owns of Tracey Hines back on the race track in time to avoid going a lap down during an event at the half-mile track that preceded the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series events at the track.

Stewart first yelled at the official and then knocked the official's headset off. He later pushed an official quite hard as he stormed away.

Of course, the incident is nothing new for Stewart -- a guy who has always showcased a hot temper and acted a lot before he thought about what he was doing.

I still don't understand why the NASCAR media as a whole isn't buying into this story very deep because its not everyday that a Sprint Cup champion gets entangled in such a nasty, unprofessional mess. Of course, the tire issues on Sunday afternoon at the Brickyard will trump most any other stories.

Stewart finished 23rd in Sunday's Allstate 400.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

7-28-2008 @ 7:01PM

TERRY ADAMS said...

IF YOU TOUCH AN OFFICAL YOU SHOULD BE THROWN OUT $10,000.IS POCKET CHANGE TO STEWART.AT MY SPEEDWAY WE WOULDTHROW YOU OUT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.EVERYBODY FORGETS THEY CAME FROM THESE SANCTIONING BODIES SO DONT COME BACK IF YOU THINK YOU ARE TO BIG..THANK YOU

7-28-2008 @ 10:02PM

Mike LeVan said...

I have been pretty supportive of Tony Stewart this year because he has, up until now, controlled his piss poor attitude when things do not go his way. I was hoping he has sought some help in the form of anger management or perhaps even was under the care of a psychiatrist and taking some form of medication.
In any other sport, if a player were to strike out at an official that player would be serving a several game suspension. Tony Stewart is a team owner. I agree, he should be banned from the track as would be the case in any assault case. Tony is lucky this did not happen at a Nascar event. What is Nascar going to do next year when it does?

7-29-2008 @ 12:37AM

anna seitter said...

To the question: what is nascar going to do next year when he does?
The answer is : NOTHING .
Have yo forgotten about the untocchable of nazcar ,mike?
Who are the untochables? The G.O.N. aka:gods of nascar and you know all 5of them.
works for me....

7-29-2008 @ 3:39AM

Yes 10.000 is pocket change for TONY STEW.
But maybe, just maybe the usac official got what deserved!!!
Why he did not let HINES continue the race when he should of ?. Why an explanation is nowhere to be found?
Maybe the officsh..t had something personal or some kind of beef against TONY or his drivers? POSSIBLE? AH?
Oh yeah any track owners or sanctioning body can tell any driver or team owner:you are not welcomed here. Sure they can. However, in many tracks the grandstands already look like
ghost town because the economics and whatever else.
BAN few big names from the premises and you will have the NEVADA DESERT.
Sanctioning bodyes are dirt wiithout the star drivers and even star team owners! It's a win, win ,situation and not my way or the highway.

7-29-2008 @ 9:10AM

Jerry Clements said...

Would it have even made the news if it had been a lesser known driver?

7-29-2008 @ 11:59AM

Susan said...

We've had many articles on the AOL Nascar Fanhouse about this shove. Tony apologized. I am glad that there is video of this. Everyone can make their own judgements.

I think I know why the MSM aren't writing endless stories about this.

I would like to know why the reporters, columnists and bloggers are not reporting the story of Nascar and the COT this season. Nascar's attitude about the COT and telling drivers to only talk positive and not give opinions. The anchors on Speed and Fox and ESPN have to stick with the same b.s. Nascar story. I have noticed 2 exceptions to this and that's Monte Dutton and Lee Spencer.

This isn't Russia. If it's bad enough that Nascar tells drivers to not give opinions then there is a story there. If a few weeks later, there is a race that is a complete debacle then reporters have a story. I wonder if I'm in a communist country when the race is over and everyone talks about the great job Nascar did. It's like a bunch of Stepford Wives (drivers, owners, crew chiefs) running around and the media is part of the con job that is being pulled on the rest of us.

7-29-2008 @ 12:59PM

Don Emerson said...

Well said Mike and Susan. A small fine like that to a jerk like Tony is a slap in the face to the hard working officials just trying to do their job. Tony's deal is in place now, so look for the old Tony to appear once again. If I were a rich man, I'd put a bounty on him. 50,000 dollars to the man (or woman) who adjusts Tony's attitude. Hmmm perhaps they'd take a check. As for living in a communist country....nah, you're just living in a country full of sheep, trained to swallow and follow everything that's dished out. That's why Tony and Nascar get away with their actions. Everyone's too concerned with not rocking the boat to even notice that the damn thing might just be sinking. Works for me.....

7-29-2008 @ 3:37PM

DEBRA said...

I WATCH NASCAR FOR TWO REASONS, DALE JR AND TONY STEWART. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THESE TWO NASCAR WOULDN'T HAVE NEAR AS MANY VIEWERS.EVERBODY WANTS TO SEE JR WIN AND THEY WANT TO SEE TONY TELL IT LIKE IT IS. FACE IT, HE'S THE ONLY ONE WITH THE GUTS TO DO IT. LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM. I FOR ONE LOVE THEM.OH YEAH AND TONY IS SEXY TOO. SO IS JR

7-29-2008 @ 4:14PM

Del. said...

Rules are rules; If you cant abide by them dont play.

7-29-2008 @ 4:22PM

Pete Mobley said...

You got it Jerry,,No Big Name,,,No news coverage

7-29-2008 @ 6:58PM

Considering what nascar is tuning in to i wish with all my heart
that 10 more TONY STEWARTS emerge out there.
NAZCAR ordering drivers what to say? Screw nascar USSR style federation!!!!. Our military has never fought for any elite in this country to oppress the fredom of speech to another elite or individual. Truth is exactly the opposite and if nazcar
wants to copy nazi germany or USSR of the past lets organize
the nation of sheeps and lambs in pushing nazcar to go operate in those countryes or china,iran,venezuela.
VIVA TONY STEWART ALWAYS A SYMBOL OF ACTION , LEADERSHIP AND OUTSPOKEN AGAINST INJUSTICES AND INCOMPETENCYES.FOREVER TONY.

7-29-2008 @ 9:16PM

Anna, it is one thing for Tony to go shooting of his mouth as his usual custom but did you watch the video? Do you really think we need 10 more people like Tony Stewart assaulting people when things do not go their way? Having passion is one thing but attacking the officials is taking things to a whole new level.
I'll agree that much more is going to be made of this because it is Tony Stewart and not just the average Joe. But if it had been the average Joe, he would have been gang stomped by security and kicked out bleeding and bruised and told not to come back.
This season started off very well for the image of Tony Stewart as was hilited by the many articles Geoffry wrote regarding how TS gives back to many. Considering his very good record over the past 9 seasons, his two Cup Championships, his ownership of three racetracks, and his pending Nascar Sprint Cup team ownership, he is certainly in a position to be an ambassador for racing in this country. But when you are that good, you have to understand that everything you do is being watched by someone. He has to control himself.

7-29-2008 @ 11:03PM

No mike, i did not see the video. Where is it ?. The only thing i saw was a picture of a video in the previous JEFFERY FILE about STEWART. The video is only 46 seconds according to JEFF. What's that's going to show or prove other than TONY
ruffing the 2 officials?Why don't they show us the all story?.
Why USAC or the officrap involved did not supply a comprehensive story to the fans on why TRACY HINES was not allowed back in to the race before going a lap down?
WHAT'S BEHIND ALL? Who was the offis..t favoring?
why is this story so partial and missing what really triggered tony to blow up like that?
We all know he is a hot head but when ever before he assaulted an offis..t? I remember him knocking a camera off a reporter before. Rumors says he punched KURT BUSH.
Few years ago he got into again with another driver. I FORGOT WHO.
And YES I DO WISH THAT 10 MORE TONY STEWART WILL APPEAR AND SOON! we all agree how detrimental the nascar
management has becomed and conseguently the sport is plunging to hell; can we really depend on the sheep nation to not show up at the tracks anymore? yeah sure, how long is it going to take to chop a BIG DENT iN NAZCAR POCKETS and the local tracks owners?10yr?15-20?.Attendance is down and so some ratings but how much? 5%-10 maybe?15 %?
YOU HEARD JEFFERY MILLER SAYING THERE WERE 220.000 FANS AT THE BRICKYARD.
That's more fans that attend the DAYTONA 500 estimated repeatedly at 200.000. Did you know that?
Ok, 20 years from now when some of us may be 6 feet under
NAZCAR finally decide to fix their crap. GOOD LUCK.
Meanwhile today's days NAZCAR management has going overboard and exceeded their power, when i read that this
monkees are telling drivers how and what to express in their own FREE SPEECH. That is DEPRIVING THE DRIVERS OF THEIR FIRST AMENDEMENT LIBERTYES AND YOU KNOW THIS, AS WELL OR BETTER THAN I DO. By their own actions, NAZCAR is not a free democratic sport sponsorship or sanctioning body anymore and ABUSE OF POWER NEEDS TO BE COUNTERED BY THE SAME from the other side.
That's why 10 more tony stewarts are needed and fast.
Please think about it and also think about what your lovable late DAD was fighting for. I'M SURE IT WAS NOT for marxist or nazist style country or elites to dictate tirannyc rules.

Kim said...

Susan, Don, and Mike:

Your comments are all right one. I don't know what if anything I could add to the conversation since your comments were all so good. I guess I will just comment on your comments. :-)

Mike,

I have to agree. I too have been supportive of Tony this year and I don't mind his occasional outbursts. I have even come to enjoy them like Susan says, they take the monotony out of NASCAR now a days. But when you get "physical" with an official, that's simply not acceptable. We are all adults, Tony included. It's one thing to yell, stomp your feet, and maybe even throw something off into the distance, but to shove someone and knock another's head set off, just isn't acceptable by any stretch of the imagination.

Susan,

You are right. I too am sick and tired of the "gag" order that has been issued on the drivers concerning the COT. Like you, I believe there is clearly a HUGE issue here that needs to be addressed. I know for me this season has been hit or miss. I never used to miss a race, never fell asleep during one, but this year....I could almost care less. Wake up, NASCAR....Your fans are begging for you to change your ways!

And lastly, Don:

First, nice to have you back! Second, I couldn't have said it better myself. We aren't in a communist country but we sure are in one where the residents act as followers and not leaders. It's sad, really. It's going to take ALL American Citizens to take a stand and let their voices be heard, but unfortunately there are too many that are content with just being "sheep."

Take care, all!

Kim

7-29-2008 @ 11:47PM

YOU KNOW SOMETIME I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND MANY OF YOU.WE all bitch and complaint, we all want this and that, but when it comes time for action like TONY DID you are all willing to avoid and keep the status quo. How often the soft ways and the let go policyes have worked? Maybe the official had some bad blood against tony team ? Did that ever popped as a question?

7-30-2008 @ 2:41AM

WE THE PEOPLE shall be replaced by WE THE SHEEPS&lambs. Congress shall vote and pass an amendement to the constitution that utoryzes the usa government left/right wings to be the shepard of the nation and not it's servant.Congress shall also authoryze nazcar governing body to enforce a all new policy of totalitary action against their drivers, team owners and team crews.
The new GOVERNING code of silence shall also firmly be obeyded by the media and the fans.
Congress shall also autoryze lifelong penitenziary to any athlete,team owners, crew member or fan that assaultes a nazcar regime official or any other low or higher category sanctioning regime WITHOUT DISTINCTION IF THE CRIME PERPETRATOR WAS RIGHT OR WRONG!!!. Congreess shall
authorize mandatory death penalty for second and multiple offenders, beginning with the opposition leader TONY STEWART! Congress shall oppress and terminate all libertyes of speeches to the media for any athlete acting outspokenly in
their private own time outside of the related sport premises.
All media contacts shall first be verifyed and approved by nazcar.All team owners shall be forced by congress to a new imminent domain law in which the shepard regime and nazcar regime confiscates 75% of each racing co. stock and the regime shall be the major stock holder and property owner of each co. and nazcar regime shall act as an agent of the central bureau (the so called new shepard government of the
FLOCK OF SHEEPS). The former constitution shall be cancelled in iy's entirety and disintegrated by the congress and the NEW MANIFESTO SHALL DICTATE ALL GOVERNING LAWS.
I'm going to take a chill pill now. heil hitler! madiskeyv stalin!!!

7-30-2008 @ 4:05AM

HEY MIKE, relax, the chill pill has worked.
I NOW FOUND THE STEWART VIDEO about the usac incident on YAHOO , NOT aol yet. I VIEWED IT FEW TIMES
AND AS I SUSPECTED AND SAYED ABOVE, IT ONLY SHOWS tony flying towards the off. and knocking his radio headphones off and arguing than walking back to the pit he pushed a 2ND OFF. out of the way that was shouting at stewart. That is all i seen. Nothing on video about what caused the fury. I stand by every word i said in the above posts until evidence proves me wrong.
Have a nice day.

7-30-2008 @ 4:26AM

OH and i even watched ROBIN HOOD trying to explain the tire problem. What a commedy?pmbsht r.

7-30-2008 @ 7:22AM

Well, Anna, this time you and I are going to disagree on a few things but I will give you this. "When a governing body becomes so currupt as to not be acting in the best interest of the people it is the right of the fans to rise up and overthrow that entity".
I am sure you know where that came from, but do the rest of the readers? And if it were to be overthrown, can we form a new racing body formed of the fans, by the fans, and for the fans?

7-30-2008 @ 6:06PM

NO MIKE, most of the other readers are not going to know where the RISE UP idea comes from,but few will and do nothing about and besides there are only few hundreds of readers on these pages but, there are hundreds of thousands of " guided sheeps" that supports, elogyate, and promotes the
REGIME and are happy to be guided and believe.
What we may disagree about is not the action but the way the action should be taken.Well some luxuryes come the easy way
but the bill of rights was never obtained without a fight because such a fight was necessary and unavoidable.
To all driver i shall worn: learn your rIghts before you loose them. ( AND THAT SEEMS TO BE ALREADY HAPPENING, ASIDE TONY STEWART ,THE LAST MAN STANDING on the side of the FLOCK.