Being themselves has cost drivers plenty in the wallet (cont'd)

Mike Helton, president of NASCAR's competition, is the enforcer responsible for keeping things in check.

"If we've seen things that seem to be moving in a direction that's not good for the sport, not unlike it might be on a street in a neighborhood you live in, if the traffic got real out of control, the local law enforcement may come in there and work on it to get it back under control then give it some breathing room," he said.

Like effective parenting, NASCAR tightens and loosens the reigns.

"I think you can point to several situations in 2007 where NASCAR did that," Helton said. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to in 2005 and 2006, and I think in 2007 we were able to give up a little bit and let the breathing room take its place."

First and foremost, NASCAR wants the drivers to be themselves.

"Our sport has done very well on the character ...," Helton said. "The character of the sport is built by all the drivers that participate, as well as owners."

J.J. Yeley, former Gibbs teammate now racing for Hall of Fame, said he's noticed more personalities with every passing season; some have become bigger and others smaller.

One thing is certain in Yeley's mind.

"The fines have gotten a lot bigger," he said. "NASCAR is still a family sport and drivers must be careful of what we say on TV, children are watching."

Although, bottom line: Yeley's said you'll never see him alter his personality.

And just because you haven't seen his temper flair much in NASCAR land doesn't mean he doesn't have one.

Interesting enough, his biggest, most memorable altercation was with Stewart. Yeley was 15 years old and the pair raced against each other at New Paris Speedway in Indiana.

"This is something that will always stick out in my mind," Yeley said. "He tried to crash me before the race even started because he wanted the position I was starting in. After the race I went up to him, grabbed him by the uniform, spun him around and said, 'what were you doing, we hadn't even started the race?' Tony said he was playing with me, he was just another guy from Indiana trying to show guys in California how it was done."

Stewart's most memorable, on-track altercation, came in 1999 at Martinsville Speedway when he tried to nearly climb inside Kenny Irwin's window under a caution after the two took turns spinning each other out.

"That was my most memorable moment because it was with someone that was a huge rival but ended up being a good friend and mentor; Kenny Irwin at Martinsville."

Denny Hamlin, who right now appears to be a visage of tranquility amongst the testosterone-heavy trio at Gibbs, remembers the first time racing caused him to get indignant with a fellow competitor.

"I could because I had big crew guys," laughed Hamlin. "But anyway at South Hampton Motor Speedway, during a four-race series of 250 lappers you could win $25,000 if you won them all. We won the first three and then my complete rival and enemy from a different track decided to come into the fourth race just to spoil my chances. So, he passed me with 15 to go, but as soon as I could get to him I put my bumper to him and let him have it. I spun him out but spun myself out too so that was no good to me but I proved a point."

Hamlin said the fans loved it and came back for more the following week.

"This sport was raised on personalities," Hamlin said. "Maybe [NASCAR] is seeing the light now. Our personalities fuel the fans to watch every weekend. Maybe a few fist fights wouldn't hurt so bad ... let drivers be themselves."

Drivers in NASCAR will continue to be known for their track battles and chest-beating brawls and sharp tongues. Fans will always be fueled by drama and remember their favorite fight, but ARCA likely still has the sport beat with its flying drop kick to the windshield move perfected by Simko last fall.

Drivers, the drama bar has been set.