At present, Stewart not happy in NASCAR
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
October 28, 2001
1:06 PM EST (1806 GMT)
AVONDALE, Ariz. - Engaging in a casual conversation with Tony Stewart, it’s difficult to grasp the volatility for which he is so widely recognized. His smile shouts easy going, when in fact it hides a deep disappointment with the current state of NASCAR racing.
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Tony Stewart
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For more than a year, Stewart has been disturbed by the motive of the machine, forcing some to question how long his tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing -- and in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in general -- would last.
“I’m not happy. I’ve been unhappy for over a year now,” said Stewart, propped up on a stool Saturday morning at Phoenix International Raceway. “But I’ve talked with Joe (Gibbs, team owner) and I’m not doing anything drastic, I’m not quitting, I’m not leaving. I’m unhappy with NASCAR.”
Stewart’s displeasure with the sanctioning body is vast, apparently covers a wide range of topics and hasn’t been eased of late. If anything, it has worsened with NASCAR’s recent decision to mandate the use of head and neck restraints by drivers.
Stewart, who is outwardly claustrophobic, feels that the head and neck restraint has put him in an unsafe position, and subsequently has placed his competitors in an unsafe position.
“NASCAR made a mistake. They did it because of you guys, the pressure the media put on NASCAR,” Stewart said. “That’s my gut feeling. That’s where I feel like sometimes you guys need to give NASCAR a break and let technology take its course, instead of make the great story about what controversy we have in the sport.
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Tony Stewart (left) and car owner Joe Gibbs.
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“What it did is put me as a driver in a bad position in a race car. Put me out there with 42 guys last week that I’m comfortable running with anywhere in the country, but you made me put a device on that made me uncomfortable in a car. Not only did that put me in an awkward spot, but now it forced me to put the other 42 guys I was racing with in an uncomfortable and unsafe spot.
“I’m not saying either one of those devices are bad devices, they’re just not the right one for me. I think making a rule because one guy isn’t wearing a device is a bad idea. I am a believer in neck restraints. I think it’s a great idea, and something we all eventually need to be in. It’s not that I’m against it, I’m just not comfortable wearing either one right now.”
Stewart went on to explain that, due to that discomfort, the manner in which his Hutchens Device is adjusted renders it useless. He said the straps used to slow the head upon impact are so long that, regardless of which way he moves his head, no tension is created in the straps and his head moves as if he doesn’t even have it on.
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Stewart is currently third in the point standings.
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At the time on NASCAR’s decision to mandate restraints, Stewart was the lone driver on the circuit that had failed to institute one into his repertoire, and was adamantly against doing so. He even showed up at Talladega determined not to. NASCAR said use it or park it, so he complied.
“I didn’t think NASCAR was picking on me, I just think they made a bad decision because of undue pressure from the media in all honesty,” Stewart said. “I’m not saying (the media) are bad people, everybody wants our sport to be safer, but forcing the sanctioning body to make a decision as quick as they did was unfair, I thought.”
Despite the fact that he is on course to achieve a career-high finish in the championship standings, Stewart has had a tough year. From run-ins with the sanctioning body to run-ins with the media, his volatile nature has been scrutinized throughout the 2001 campaign.
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Stewart puts on his Hutchens device.
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“I don’t think I could pick any one thing (to change) to be honest, there’s been so many doggoned things that have happened this year,” Stewart said. “There’s probably a whole list of things I should have done differently, but you learn as you go. When you get your NASCAR license there’s no manual on how to live your life.”
One thing is for certain -- Stewart is committed to racing. With him it’s not about money or fame. It’s about teammates and winning.
“That’s what I appreciated about him, and still to this day when he gets in that car I know he’s gonna give us one of the greatest efforts anybody’s given that day,” Gibbs said. “There’s times he’s said or done things I didn’t want him to do, and he’ll have to speak for himself but he’d probably (agree). So we’ve got to find a way to deal with that.
“Hopefully that will make him happier as we go. That’s my goal, too, I want him to be happy with what he’s doing.”
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