Tony just being Tony, but Bristol has not been Bristol

1. Is Tony Stewart right to be spouting off at Goodyear like this? Sure, NASCAR wants its drivers to better express themselves, but isn't this taking it a little too far?

Raygan Swan: Tony is being Tony, no more no less, and his frustration is warranted. If you're the tire monopoly in the sport, you have to meet high expectations.

David Caraviello: Drivers are right to complain about anything that bothers them or makes them feel unsafe. Tony has as much a right to hammer Goodyear as Jeff Gordon does to criticize Las Vegas for not having a SAFER barrier on the backstretch.

Dave Rodman: After being on edge, going that fast for 500 miles -- yes, he has a right. But man, he took it to a personal level -- without all the facts he needed to back his case.

Raygan Swan: Put a tire maker in the car for 500 miles on tires with no grip and see how they like it or see how long they go without wrecking. I appreciated Stewart's comments, especially about bringing in a new tire company.

David Caraviello: I think you're right, Dave. Aren't there some limits? Didn't he push it a little too far? Don't you risk blowing your whole argument by getting personal or overstating things?

Dave Rodman: Wait a minute -- he's a driver, not a journalist. Him going off played right into our hands, so more power to him.

David Caraviello: Maybe that's part of the issue. Maybe we shouldn't print inflammatory statements that aren't necessarily correct, like why Goodyear got out of certain racing series.

Raygan Swan: Tony has been complaining about Goodyear for years. He tried to be nice and "PC" and eventually if nothing is being done then you're gonna get personal so someone will hear you!

Dave Rodman: The journalists actually needed to take his case apart -- wait, not apart -- but do better analysis. I would have pressed him harder on how in God's name he finished second, if it was that bad.

Raygan Swan: Because he's a damn good driver, that's how. He made chicken salad out of chicken ... (you know the phrase).

David Caraviello: That may be the case when you bring a 15th-place car home in 10th. But when you're a runner-up after 500 miles? That's some incredible high-quality damn chicken salad.

Dave Rodman: Obviously. Maybe he needs to ride over to Akron and have a meeting with Stu Grant. He has that kind of pull. Though I think Goodyear isn't putting itself in this position exactly by choice.

Raygan Swan: It's Tony being Tony.

David Caraviello: Tony's handling this the only way he knows how, which is to be completely blunt and honest and let it fly in public. That's not a bad thing. But you wonder how effective a few back-channel telephone calls might have been. Drivers have more sway than they think. You're right, Dave, a call to Akron might have gotten their attention as effectively as his tirade on Sunday. Of course, he may have done that as well. We'll never know.

Raygan Swan: Without competition within the series, why would Goodyear go above and beyond with new tires for the new chassis?

David Caraviello: The last time there was tire competition, there was a real safety issue. This might be the rare case for a necessary monopoly.

Dave Rodman: I told someone on radio the other night that it's a good thing Stewart drives for Joe Gibbs and not Richard Childress. That was your guys' cue to say "and why is that?"

David Caraviello: Dave, why is that?

Raygan Swan: Yeah, Dave, why?

David Caraviello: Tell us, Uncle Dave!

Dave Rodman: Them sour grapes don't make good wine.

Raygan Swan: Oh Lord, Dave, that was about a two out of 10.

David Caraviello: Tip your bartenders and waitresses. He'll be here all week.

• Also: Stewart leads opposition to Goodyear (Continued)