Local Look: Loudon

Events: New England 300, New England 200

Local papers contributing: Winston-Salem Journal, New Hampshire Union-Leader, New York Times

Stewart a different kind of outspoken these days

	Inside the Numbers Tony Stewart at Loudon Race Start Finish Fall '04 4 39 Summer '04 9 5 Fall '03 32 20 Summer '03 8 22 Fall '02 10 3 Summer '02 12 39 Fall '01 5 5 Summer '01 25 5 Fall '00 16 23 Summer '00 6 1 Fall '99 5 2 Summer '99 10 10 Average 11.8 14.5

The deal: Kevin Provencher of the New Hampshire Union-Leader says you can always count on Tony Stewart to add some twists and turns to an otherwise bland two-day test at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Pressed by the media this past Tuesday to discuss his life as a NASCAR star and bad boy, Stewart couldn't resist popping a few jabs at the media.

He enjoys the popularity that has come with a sizable measure of controversy. But he seriously blames the mainstream media who cover NASCAR for hound-dogging drivers like a renegade band of paparazzi. In the world according to Stewart it is the media that twist and turn the story making a driver's life "complicated."

In one breath, Stewart will tell you things just aren't the same anymore. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Bad Boy Aboveboard Boycott?

No, the competitor in him demands the last word so he candidly hooks and jabs his way through the interview. And voila! ? it's vintage Tony Tiger. Point blank, outspoken, the old fashioned way and very reminiscent of the oft irascible A.J. Foyt.

"It's just kind of been a lot easier this year," said Stewart. "We don't speak our minds as much. The thing that's sad is you guys ask us to speak our minds, but when we do then the same people that ask us to speak our minds are the same people that make it controversial because it sells papers for them and makes good news. But then it makes our lives miserable."

Why we care: Stewart believes drivers have retreated and are no longer forthcoming in interviews because of a media penchant for pugnacity.

"You guys form us into what we are. I mean that's why you got so many drivers with vanilla answers and cookie-cutter answers because that's the result of what happens if we do give you the honest answers," he said.

"That's the sad thing. Those people on the other side of that fence deserve to hear every honest answer that we have. The bad thing is they don't get that anymore and they probably will never get that again . . . it's always going to be somewhat tamed down and tainted because of it."

He chalks up his own maturity in pro racing for better dealing with life under the microscope of celebrity.

"When I go home on Monday and Tuesday I don't have to do 14 radio interviews . . . because of something I said or did," said Stewart. "It's a lot easier just to give you the stock answers that we got on a sheet and go home and have two days off and enjoy my days off.

"Of course you're trying to sell newspapers and I'm trying to have peace and quiet on Mondays and Tuesdays," he said.

'Interim' still in Hmiel's title

The deal: Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal says now that Steve Hmiel has shown that he still has what it takes as a crew chief, is Dale Earnhardt Jr. interested in keeping him on at that job? Or will Hmiel sooner or later return to his post as technical director for Dale Earnhardt Inc.?

Steve Hmiel's immediate future has yet to be determined. Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

It's unlikely that Hmiel, 48, who became Earnhardt's interim crew chief in late May, would stay as crew chief past the end of the season, and he's involved in keeping an eye open for the man for the job.

Hmiel realizes that crew chiefs, like football coaches and baseball managers, are easily dismissed, because it's easier to change the crew chief than the multi-million-dollar driver.

Why we care: Despite all of that, Hmiel said he's having a blast. And it's all about communication, which Hmiel has specialized in for many years. Hmiel, in short, is a very good cheerleader, and he has Earnhardt's confidence.

"We haven't really thought about it or talked about it," Earnhardt said of the possibility of Hmiel's taking a more permanent role atop the pit box. "I don't think that's even something we need to worry about right now.

"I don't know what Steve's true feelings are, and I'm afraid if we ever indulged in any real deep conversations about that, that it might take away from how we're progressing, and change attitudes and personalities.

"We are both in a position to give ourselves opportunities. If me and him start winning more races, we've seriously got to think about that."

It's race weekend in Loudon, and old friends reunite

The deal: Todd Morris of the New Hampshire Union-Leader says Kenny Cather and his wife have a spot about as close to New Hampshire International Speedway as you can get.

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Cather, a 68-year-old retired school maintenance worker from Winchester, Va., says over the hum of his camper's generator that he's been attending NASCAR events for more than 35 years. The last 20 have been with his wife, Geneva, who is now inside watching soap operas, but later comes to the door to say hello.

"It's a wonderful event," he says of the races. "I've loved it all my life."

Why we care: They are among the many early arrivals for this week's New England 300 weekend at the New Hampshire International Speedway, which runs from tomorrow through Sunday.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of campers now parked at the raceway, most of which are parked on Lot L, the most coveted lot due to it being close to the track and its designation as a family lot (Lot X is said to be more raucous).

Most have parked and vacated their campers only to return when the races begin. Many who are here today are sitting about, amicably chatting with friends despite the heat.

NASCAR unable to get the lead out

The deal: Viv Bernstein of the New York Times says Ryan Newman said he was not worried about the air he breathes at the racetrack. But others are concerned.

You won't find this at your local service station. Credit: Autostock

Since the Clean Air Act of 1970 required a switch from leaded to unleaded gasoline for automobiles, NASCAR has been one of the few industries -- along with airlines -- exempted from the regulation.

The fill-up station in the infield at each racetrack, which looks like any other gas station, continues to pump only leaded gas.

Why we care: The open-wheel Indy-style race cars switched to methanol in the 1960's, and the Indy Racing League is planning to move to ethanol, a cleaner fuel, completing the transition by 2007.

But NASCAR still uses a fuel that the Environmental Protection Agency says is linked to health problems.

Frank O'Donnell, the president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch, wrote a letter to the NASCAR chairman and chief executive, Brian France, in January to ask for change.

"By permitting the continued use of lead, your organization may be putting millions of spectators and nearby residents at unnecessary risk of suffering serious health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," O'Donnell wrote. "Because of the clear public health threat, lead is being eliminated from gasoline throughout most of the world.

"If Kazakhstan can eliminate lead from gasoline, why can't NASCAR?"

O'Donnell received a response from Gary Nelson, a vice president for research and development of NASCAR.

"NASCAR has been actively working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for several years and more recently with our new fuel supplier, Sunoco, to come up with possible alternatives to our current fuel formula," Nelson wrote.

When the EPA began working with NASCAR in 2000 toward a voluntary solution, there was a three- to five-year plan to make the changeover. It has been five years since those discussions.

"We've certainly been looking for alternatives to lead," Nelson said in a telephone interview last week. "We've been researching ways to transform to unleaded fuel."