More Stewart stuff...

MountaineerTom · July 9, 2001

From thatsracin.com

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Winston Cup driver Tony Stewart faces disciplinary action from NASCAR this week as a result of his confrontations with a member of the motorsports media and Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson following Saturday night's Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

With four laps of 160 laps remaining, Stewart drove his No. 20 below the yellow line that outlines the start of the racing surface. Drivers were warned before the race by NASCAR President Mike Helton any driver who drove below the line to advance a position would be black-flagged.

When the incident happened, NASCAR officials signaled for Stewart to be penalized. However, disagreeing with the call, Stewart failed to report to pit road to answer the black flag and finished the race, crossing the finish line in sixth position.

Angry at NASCAR's decision, Stewart responded to a question about the incident from Winston-Salem motorsports writer Mike Mulhern by slapping Mulhern's tape recorder out of his hand. When Mulhern went to pick it up, Stewart kicked it under one of the haulers.

Stewart then went to the NASCAR hauler to complain about the call. He and his team believe Stewart's Pontiac was forced below the yellow line by driver Johnny Benson.

Stewart found Nelson near the side entrance of the NASCAR hauler and angrily confronted him. He had to be held away from Nelson by his car owner, Joe Gibbs, and crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

Stewart then left the area and the track.

Gibbs and Zipadelli met with Nelson in an effort to explain their position. NASCAR spokesman John Griffin said NASCAR officials reviewed film of the incident and stand behind their original call.

Griffin also said Stewart, who remains under probation for spinning Jeff Gordon's Chevrolet on pit road following the race at Bristol in March, will face additional penalties for his actions after Saturday's race.

As a result of his failure to answer the black flag, Stewart was moved from sixth to 26th in the finishing order, the last car on the lead lap.

"He didn't intentionally go down there to pass (Benson), but we did go below the line and that's what the rule says. It doesn't say, 'Depends how you get there,' " said Zipadelli. "It just says, 'If you do go below the line' If you look at it that way, we're getting the penalty that is coming to us."

Asked why Stewart was so upset, Zipadelli responded: "He is a fierce competitor, no different than myself. To us, we didn't think it was fair on the way we were looking at it. That's the important thing. … We just went in to debate our side. A decision is a decision."

NewbieZ71 · July 9, 2001

Well, I guess that helps answer my earlier post on why he's referred to as 'nasty"....

Bill89 · July 9, 2001

If i'm not mistaken, didn't I see Bobby Labonte go below the line as well. His wasn't as bad as Stewart so maybe that's why he didn't get black flagged.

bowtiefan · July 9, 2001

Yes bobby labonte did go below the yellow line but did not get black flagged for some reason if there going to black flag one driver then why not the other.Im not a stewert but i think he had no choice benson went down on him and stewert had no place to go or he could have let off a little and caused another big wreck. But what stewert did after the race was not right what a azzhole he is. What he did saturday night after the race makes me hate him even more know and alot of people feel the same way.

MountaineerTom · July 9, 2001

Update from Jayski's

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UPDATE: hearing Stewart is facing a suspension of as little as one race to as many as three races, yikes. Remember, Stewart was fined ?,000 and put on probation until 8/29 for bumping Jeff Gordon on pit road after the Bristol race in March. AND NASCAR officials weren't the only ones upset with Stewart. So was #93- Dave Blaney. "I was right down on the bottom of the race track, and he must have run across the apron and smashed into the side of me," Blaney said. "It turned my car clear sideways. It was the stupidest thing I've seen on his part. I don't know what he was thinking."(Winston Salem Journal)(7-9-2001)

The Beav · July 9, 2001

A quote (not necessarily verbatim) from Cool Hand Luke: "Some men you just can't reach...so you get what we had here...which is the way he wants it...well, he gets it!"

Live and race like a spoiled brat, suffer the punishment for your actions like a brat.

bowtiefan · July 9, 2001

I hope they throw stewart's azz out for the rest of the year that guy is just a idiot go back to open wheel racing were you belong.

Kansas Kid · July 10, 2001

Wonder if hot head Stewart will learn a lesson from this? If he gets suspended, he will cost his whole team a shot for the championship. Thats not good at all.....