Sunday, August 11, 2002
Stewart almost too competitive
Other stars just hide it better
Tony Stewart might be the best all-around driver in the United States. Some also believe him the most boorish. Having seen him up close, I'll say there certainly is no one more competitive.
NASCAR fined Stewart $10,000 and placed him on probation last week, after Stewart punched a photographer at the Brickyard 400. Home Depot, Stewart's sponsor, announced it was fining Stewart an additional $50,000 and also placing him on probation.
It was just the latest blow-up for Stewart, who accepts nothing short of victory in every race he enters. His talent and desire have carried him to multiple national championships in USAC (United States Auto Club) and also the Indy Racing League. He was Winston Cup rookie of the year in 1999, and many believe he someday will win the Winston Cup championship.
If he wins, great. If he loses, look out.
Four years ago, the Indy Racing League had a media tour. Reporters were invited to race alongside IRL drivers -- including Stewart -- at an indoor go-kart facility in Indianapolis. IRL drivers each captained a team of media types, with individual scoring and timing posted on a video board.
Guess whose team won. And guess who consistently ran fastest among IRL drivers.
Stewart, T.
Later, we learned Stewart had his own key to the karting center.
“He comes here so much, they finally just told him to let himself in,” an IRL publicist said. “All hours, he comes in here.”
If I've told that story once, I've told it 50 times. Even in karting, even against a slow field of reporters, Stewart had to be the best.
That's how most of “the best” are. Some, like Jeff Gordon, hide it better than others.
Stewart, to his credit, has apologized for hitting the photgrapher. He also apologized last year for slapping a tape recorder out of a reporter's hand, then kicking the recorder under a nearby truck.
Putting yourself in Stewart's place, you too would tire of a constant stream of reporters, photographers and autograph seekers. But it's something movie stars and famous athletes deal with every day.
An occasional fit of rage? Fine. We're all human.
But next time, we're guessing Home Depot will take its good name elsewhere.
THAT'S JUST FINE: FOX TV analyst Darrell Waltrip believes NASCAR should be more consistent with its penalties. While everyone was talking about the Stewart incident, Waltrip wondered about Jimmy Spencer putting Kurt Busch into the wall at last week's Brickyard 400.
Spencer and Busch have a feud going, and TV cameras caught Busch gesturing angrily at Spencer after their Indy wreck.
Waltrip, on his Web site allwaltrip.com, noted Stewart's $10,000 fine and wondered why the Spencer-Busch incident merited just a warning from NASCAR.
“There's something wrong with that picture,” Waltrip said.
TRI-STATE DRAGWAY: The eighth annual Brandie Browder Junior Dragster Memorial Race is scheduled for Saturday at Tri-State Dragway, Hamilton.
More than 100 junior drivers (ages 8-16) are expected, with prizes including $5,000 in Savings Bond awards plus plaques, trophies and electronic prizes. For information call 513-863-0562.
The race is named for Brandie Browder of Beavercreek, Ohio, who was 13 years old when she died in a school bus accident in early 1995. Brandie was an active junior dragster at the time of her death.
GO-KARTS: Steve Sprovach of Cincinnati said go-kart fans should consider visiting the Ohio Valley Karting Association home track in Camden, Ohio, about 18 miles north of Hamilton.
The track, G&J Kartway, is hosting a national meet this weekend. Racing concludes today, with practices beginning at 8 a.m., qualifying at 11 a.m. and the races to follow.
“It's become extremely popular, yet very few people are even aware of it,” Sprovach said. “You'll find about 14 different classes racing almost every weekend. Every once in a while you'll even find someone like (CART driver) Memo Gidley running his shifter kart, just to keep the rust off.”
For information about the local karting races, visit www.OVKA.com.
HIATUS: This is the last auto racing column until next season. In the meantime, please e-mail racing news to tgroeschen@enquirer.com.
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Stewart almost too competitive
