04/25/24
February 19, 2006
Stewart's aggressive side resurfaces at Daytona: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- After drawing praise all week for acting as NASCAR's calming voice of reason, Tony Stewart took out three top contenders in the Daytona 500 -- Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and perhaps himself.
posted by wingnut4life to auto racing at 06:46 PM - 33 comments
Tony didn't "take out" anyone. Jeff Gordon said he would share fault with Tony on what happened with him. The thing with Matt was a payback for what Matt did to him very early in the race. The in car camera showed Matt right on the side of Tony's car at a time where things like that were very unnecessary. It was way too early for that kind of racing. Tony had a great car but was stuck in traffic the last 50 laps of the race. He really didn't get out of traffic until the very end. By then it was too late to get to the front. Remember, he came from the back and got to the front once. There was no reason why he wasn't going to do it again except for being hung up in traffic. I don't think a 5th place finish is too bad.
posted by dbt302 at 07:10 PM on February 19, 2006
if stewart wasn't racing hard during this race, the race would have been boring as hell. personally, i like tony stewart and his aggressive driving style. he committed a foul, and he was penalized for it. unfortunately fouls at 190 mph can seriously injure someone, or even worse, cost someone his lie
posted by erkno11 at 07:33 PM on February 19, 2006
Tony didn't "take out" anyone You must be a Stewart fan. I agree about the Gordon wreck, but not the others. Nascar needs a bad boy and Stewart is their boy. Nascar will do nothing to their big names, especially Jr., Stewart, and Gordon. Big business plays big in nascar. Remember 2 years ago when Spencer and Busch got tangled. Spencer got suspended for 2 races. When he came back, Busch went after Spencer. Busch got fined but did not get any race suspensions. Why? Because the next race was the Sharpie race and Busch was sponsored by Sharpie.
posted by dandy491 at 07:35 PM on February 19, 2006
The in car camera showed Matt right on the side of Tony's car at a time where things like that were very unnecessary. After the race, Tony did say that Matt started it, and he was just finishing it. Paybacks are a bitch, ain't it? These guys just love each other to death, don't they? Heh, heh...
posted by wingnut4life at 07:38 PM on February 19, 2006
I'm a Stewart fan. Look back a few days ago and you'll see me defending him on here. Praising him to the hilts. However, in all forms of racing (I'm a racing nut) I'm not biased toward drivers I like. I'll freely admit when they mess up. I hate people who do otherwise. Can't defend Tony today. The incident with Gordon, as Gordon himself said, was both of them, but the Kenseth incident was just fucking ridiculous. Tony drove like an idiot, which really pisses me off, as he's better than that. Watching his post race comments right now (had the race taped)... Two wrongs don't make a right, Tony.
posted by Drood at 07:40 PM on February 19, 2006
Well, I think that in the Gordon/Stewart incident, Gordon pulled back in front of Stewart thinking that he had plenty of room and think that Tony would give him some quarter. I guess Tony wouldn't give him any quarter. The Kenseth/Stewart incident. What was Stewart thinking? Of course NASCAR won't do anything to Stewart since he is the current champion and it is the Daytona 500. How come Kenseth didn't pull a "Days of Thunder" pay back? On another note Jimmie Johnson had this to say after winning the Daytona 500: "This is dedicated to all the haters." Fine, he won, but does he have to shove his self-righteous attitude in the faces of those who don't really like him? Does JJ think his stuff "don't stink"? Hello, Jimmy, wake up and smell the coffee. When you get to be as good as The Intimidator then maybe you can say what you did. Until then, shut your trap up and learn to be more humble.
posted by usroute17 at 08:25 PM on February 19, 2006
"This is dedicated to all the haters." Duh, your crew chief is too stupid to not get caught. Now you have to pass the impound, beeeyatch!
posted by wingnut4life at 08:35 PM on February 19, 2006
I think what Jimmy did was just fine. Nobody had him as one of the favorites to win such a prestigious race. Even with the whole Knaus situation, Jimmy has flown a little under the radar leading up to this, and nobody thought he had a shot at winning this, but he did. And doesn't he deserve to brag a little bit? This is like winning the Master's in golf or winning Wimbledon in tennis. Let him celebrate. Tonight, he is the best driver in NASCAR.
posted by zachaweenus at 08:39 PM on February 19, 2006
Stewart's an ASS end of story and if you listened to his post race comments it was vintage Stewart saying that it was every bodies fault but his, I guess according to Stewart the whole world was seeing things.
posted by sonicdog at 08:43 PM on February 19, 2006
What a crock! Tony Stewart was a total shitball for doing what he did. J.J. calmly took his time and drove a good race. Give credit where credit is due.These people are pro's some just don't act it
posted by gordonha at 09:35 PM on February 19, 2006
usroute17... won't be NO ONE as good as the Intimidator...He could bump allllll day... he just did it with some subtlety(sp?) and didn't get caught. As far as Jimmy winning... I say "anybody but Gordon(jeff, that is)!!!
posted by steelergirl at 10:26 PM on February 19, 2006
What's it like rooting against a driver instead of for one? Probably makes it easier to take when your favorite doesn't win huh? :o)
posted by Steeler_Fan at 10:35 PM on February 19, 2006
Steeler_Fan, was that comment for me? Don't like JG...never have, never will, I will say he is a hell of a driver, he's paid his dues and deserves the props he does get. but it is my choice to like/not like someone. And... I like to see some one "new" win once in awhile, instead of the same few week after week. And that includes "E"
posted by steelergirl at 10:47 PM on February 19, 2006
It's one thing to bump or to drive agressively. Perhaps squeezing somebody into the apron is taking it a bit further. But by diving several car lengths into the infield just for good measure - kind of makes it clear to everyone who the asshole is. After all his talk pre-race, "somebody is going to get killed" he seemed hell bent on making his prediction come true. What a hypocrite.
posted by endorfin at 11:02 PM on February 19, 2006
steelergirl, I have to respect your logic, sorry if I labeled you. Back on topic, after last season I was starting to think Tony had cleaned up his act, guess I was wrong there. :o)
posted by Steeler_Fan at 11:08 PM on February 19, 2006
No offense taken, Steeler_Fan I agree with you about Tony Stewart. I have seen him really do some stupid stuff...HE could possibly contribute to someone getting killed. And that would be tragic for the sport.
posted by steelergirl at 11:20 PM on February 19, 2006
Well you have good taste in NASCAR steelergirl, the Intimidator was the man! and you couldn't be any more on target than you are with your comments on Jeff Gordon.....Not sure I go with your football team pick though..... Rusty also said Jeff came up the hill into Stewart...obvious to me...
posted by brothersgrim at 11:58 PM on February 19, 2006
Tony Stewart is little Son of a Bitch he was crying about someone getting killed if bump drafting and aggresive driving didnt stop and Tony Stewart is there wrecking Matt Kenseth then at the end of the race hes blaming Kenseth for all that thats like a driver complaining avout the dangers of all the drunk drivers than less than a week killing a few people in a drunk driving accident
posted by houston9388 at 12:34 AM on February 20, 2006
*shakes her head at Tony* He's becoming as big of a hypocrite as the heads of NASCAR. Don't get me wrong, I love the boy (he's my favorite racer), but I just wonder exactly what was up his butt today. The first one...I'd say it was 50 percent Jeff Gordon's fault and 50 percent Tony's fault. But the Kenseth incident? 195 percent Tony's fault. Yet, he says that Kyle Busch is a bad driver? o.O While I'm not happy Jimmie Johnson won (kinda funny he drove through the infield after the race...), I'm glad he won for his pit crew's sake, cuz it's not TOTALLY their fault their boss is a putz. Oh, and just one other thing? Mr. Johnson's name is Jimmie. Jimmy Johnson is an ex football coach.
posted by Lissa at 01:34 AM on February 20, 2006
200 wins, 27 in on season, 10 in a row, 7 Daytona 500 wins, 7 Championships(not races for the Championship), and still one of the most respected people in NASCAR. Please, we all know who is the best!!
posted by coach at 07:23 AM on February 20, 2006
I'm sure people will immediately throw out about 25 examples to the contrary, but I still think drivers today are too high-strung. "Back in the day," drivers knew there was going to be bumping, contact, etc., and, while there would be anger, arguments, and sometimes fights, it seems today's drivers want to fight for every single bump. Maybe it's just the fact that now there's so many cameras in each and every square inch of the tracks that you can automatically interview and follow a driver after each incident. It just seems drivers several years back understood the nature of the business a lot better. There's so much money involved these days, drivers are younger and younger (and much less experienced in many cases). Just my opinion. Also, on another topic with regards to the race, is it necessary to have to listen to Bon Jovi at every single sporting event? I wish the race would have started an our or two earlier, skip the stupid concert crap, and get the race finished before dark. I'm sure Bon Jovi will be performing prior to the NCAA basketball final, as well as prior to the first pitch of the Major League baseball season. Even if I liked them, I'd still be getting sick of them.
posted by dyams at 09:26 AM on February 20, 2006
"I just wonder exactly what was up his butt today" Probably Knaus and/or Gordon. Oh, you said "what", not "who". My mistake.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:53 PM on February 20, 2006
After Tony Stewart mouthed off about the fact that somebody was going to die, then seeing what he did in the 500, I can only surmise that maybe the " somebody's gonna die" bullshit talking was no less than a threat. Oh, but I still have opinions. (1) The 48 should never have raced - the cheating was flagrant (no Hendricks car will sit), (2) Tony Stewart should be told by Home Depot that he will never race with their colors again (I should be the one with the missing lottery ticket from Nebraska), (3) NASCAR should tell Tony Stewart that he will never race another NASCAR event (Paul Tracy's opinion does not matter here), (4) "Bump Drafting" my ass, there should be a mandatory sensor in ever car front bumper that shuts the engine down when another car is bumped from the rear (Here comes the big one, 'Lizabeth,"and I can see that megamillion dollar crybaby cussing NASCAR from his motor home and trying to blame the other guy for checking up), (5) Benny Parsons should be thrown over the fence half way between turn four and the start/finish line the first time he says anything about "being hung out to dry, gittin' no help atall, ain't got no friends," or anything that may be in reference to drafting for the benefit of either the draftee or draftor ("That's what it's all about" should get him spread-eagle at the end of pit row during a green-stop), (6) No six (my wife says I didn't spell that last word right).
posted by Bud Lang at 03:42 PM on February 20, 2006
Bud, I agree with all of what you said, and double for (5), with the caveat that Benny should be thrown over the fence, period.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 05:25 PM on February 20, 2006
Bud: 1) Get cheating, get booted from the race. No appeal, no nothing. The BAR team in F1 was caught "cheating" (and this was actually a grey area of the rules, not an actual all out cheat), had their previous result binned and were banned for the next two races. 2) All publicity is good publicity. Say what you will, Home Depot got their moneys worth yesterday. 3) Don't be ridiculous. If they did that, then they'd have to look closely at every other wreck this season. By seasons end, they'd be lucky to have 10 drivers left. He should, however, be put on probation. Paul Tracy is an arse. I don't know what he said, if anything, but Tracy has always been, and will always be a complete dick. 4) That's the most insane thing I've ever heard. Yes, shut the engine down, meaning the 20 cars behind now check up and plough straight into it. Stupid. Plus the fact all the time NASCAR insists on restrictor plates, bumpdrafting is the only way to pass. You saw what happened (assuming you saw the race) the instant anyone went to the outside, they immediately lost ground. 5) All commentators need to be duct taped. A good number of them need to shot too. Why the fuck was Bestwick in the pitlane when he's the best they've got? Benny was right though. You had Jnr. and other guys going up top and getting nowhere. I think we saw maybe a couple of passes up high yesterday. You needed help. At least 3 or 4 cars up high to get a big enough draft to bump past the cars below.
posted by Drood at 05:50 PM on February 20, 2006
Probably Knaus and/or Gordon. Oh, you said "what", not "who". My mistake. No, that's who WASN'T up his butt the night before. (But we're assuming Gordon HAS something here and Brooke didn't claim those in the divorce, too) (And yes, I did just make fun of my driver...) I wish I could mute the commentators during the race and listen to the radio broadcast, because the TV commentators are nothing more than mouthpieces for the "brains" behind NASCAR. I'd say about 95 percent of the stuff they said last year either was stuff that the heads were trying to pass or ended up agreeing with. (I'm STILL trying to figure out how a four letter words affects someone's driving...) And yes, there WAS no passing up top, but that probably had to do with the "no bump drafting" rule. Without bumpdrafting, they might as well give the cup to the first guy off of pit road on the last pitstop of the race, because that's who is going to win the race. Thank GOD we only have 4 restrictor plate races.
posted by Lissa at 12:32 AM on February 21, 2006
tony stewart was his classic self. he went too far. who cares if kenseth gave him a love tap? did he go into the wall and knock him back to the end of the pack? no. he stayed up front till stewart went and did yet another retarded move and didnt give jeff gordon enough room. then he takes all those frustrations out on kenseth who just tapped him, and sends him to the back! thats not right. and nascar only sending him to the back was not enough. a lap down something more, what they are telling their drivers is go ahead and wreck each other we dont care. youll just go to the back work your way back up and everythings ok. thats nice i cant wait till when someone does die from this stupidity come on there going 200 mph almost. this isnt very safe as it is now were gunna go out there and try and kill each other intentionally? i dont think this is right no matter what the circumstances. tony stewart is a black eye on nascar. now i like the accidents in nascar as much as the next person. but i like them when they are actually "accidents". tony stewart and racers like him need to go. when your in a sport where patience is key and you cant control your anger, your in the wrong profession. also was it just me or did anyone else notice junior got away with crossing the line while making that pass? he had two tires over. now not trying to sound paranoid but i feel nascar is protecting junior, hes there most famous driver. guys are afraid to touch him in fear of nascars wrath. no one wants to touch "the golden boy". well i for one and sick and tired of it. ill tell you though, i wont try and hide it, I HATE DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR AND TONY STEWART. as much as this is, they are the icons of the sport and for that i respect them for. i just want to see fair racing out there week in week out. i dont like walking away from watching the race and sayin eh that may have been fixed, eh that was cheap, eh eh. no. i should know that was some race and rightfully earned like jimmie johnsons win this week. thats my nascar.
posted by buffalo will never win at 02:51 AM on February 21, 2006
I can't call myself a NASCAR fan yet, but I am coming around. I must say it's very interesting to see the different personalities and driving characteristics come into play. One can't help but tell that there is some pretty amazing driving going on here, even if they are just turning left really fast. If I could just get past the accents and redneck "brotherhood" I would pay full fledged attention. What we need is a yankee (I'm a Philly boy) driver. Ever been in crazy traffic on Lincoln Drive during rush-hour or after an Eagles game? Balls to the wall indeed. p.s. Houston9388, it's called a period. Use it.
posted by GoBirds at 05:44 AM on February 21, 2006
Stewart is a titty baby. I have watched the replay of the initial incident where "he got me sideways in 2", and at no point, ever, not even a little, did Kenseth come within less than 2 feet of the ass clowns car. Point 2, All of the chiefs in the cup cheat. Bar none. Every single one of them. Knaus got the exact same penalty for his window device that another repeat offender, Harvick's crew chief Todd Berrier got for modifying his fuel system last year to carry 75% less fuel during a qualifying run. Less fuel weight, faster times... That said, and you obviously know my affiliation reading my screen name, I'm not real sure I understand why you cheat to qualify at Daytona. You can go from the back to the front in 15 laps if you have a good car. Tony's crybaby bitch ass did it several times this year, and Gordon and Junior (over-rated) do it continuously every year. Doesn't make much sense to me.
posted by trey48fan at 07:04 PM on February 21, 2006
Cheating? I like to call it "Pushing the rules envelope". P.S. Dale Sr. is dead...Please let him rest.
posted by ayankeefan at 09:50 PM on February 21, 2006
Tony, next time don't make it so obvious.
posted by dpt372 at 10:00 PM on February 21, 2006
dudes all worried adout periods.....................................
posted by kckurtbusch at 10:20 AM on February 26, 2006
The one with Gordon was a little of both, Gordon's car slid up the track and Stewart didn't let up on the gas. The other ones were vintage Tony. The confrontation with Kyle Busch was a mess, the replay showed Tony was the aggressor not Kyle, Tony checked up and was hit by Harvick (not Kevin's fault) and I think that is why NASCAR black-flagged Kyle (thinking Kyle was at fault) instead of Tony.