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Tony Stewart – NASCAR bad boy or just a jerk?

Some people have suggested that NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is simply a misunderstanding. Others have openly excused his behavior. And still others have admirably referred to him as “NASCAR’s bad boy.” Finally, some have suggested that there is nothing admirable in his behavior. He’s just acting like an idiot. Tell me as one of the latter.

I judge people by their behaviors and actions. In this case, Stewart’s actions include his antics on the track, his incidents off the track, and his reactions to questions about these behaviors. After careful review, I think there’s only one conclusion a reasonable person can come to: he’s acting like a complete jerk.

Stewart seems to believe that he is the only one who is down on his luck, feeling frustrated, disconnected, broke, beaten, etc. Other drivers in similar circumstances regularly appear in post-race interviews with their frustrations written all over their faces, but they generally handle their interviews with dignity and class.

Stewart comes across in his interviews as a smug kid in dire need of a spanking. You can imagine him as the spoiled kid from the neighborhood whose parents always backed down and let him get away with it after he had a seizure.

As evidence of Stewart’s rude behavior, please allow me to enter the following items into the record. There are so many incidents and such limited space, so I’ll just mention a few highlights.

In 2000 at Watkins Glen, Stewart blocked and hit Jeff Gordon, putting Gordon one lap behind after Gordon sought redress for the incident. After the race, Stewart engaged in a shoving match with Gordon, where threats and obscenities were exchanged.

In 2001, Stewart and Gordon were at it again. Gordon crashed and ran over Stewart at Bristol. After the race, Stewart spun Gordon on pit road. NASCAR fined Stewart and placed him on probation.

In 2001 at Daytona, Stewart was black-flagged by a NASCAR official, but ignored it and kept racing. He later confronted a NASCAR official over the incident and incurred further action from NASCAR. He also got in trouble for throwing a recorder out of a reporter’s hand, after the reporter questioned him about the incident.

In 2001 at Talladega, Stewart confronted the same NASCAR official after Stewart refused to wear the mandatory head and neck restraint system.

In 2002, after a disappointing finish at the Brickyard 400, Stewart punched a photographer and was placed on probation for the remainder of the year.

In 2004, at the Tropicana 400, Stewart slammed Kasey Kahne into the wall, wrecking him. Kahne was leading at the time. Kahne owner Ray Everham said of Stewart after the race: “…I should have hit the rear end of him. That’s his problem. No one has grabbed him or given him a good beating.”

In 2005 at Watkins Glen, Stewart was fined and placed on probation again for ramming Brian Vickers after the Busch race.

In 2005 at Phoenix, Stewart came in second after a series of cautions. After the race, Stewart suggests that the warnings were a fraud and that professional wrestling was more legitimate than NASCAR.

In 2006 in Daytona, Stewart was complaining to the media about how reckless driving by other drivers was going to get someone killed. During the race, Stewart was involved in altercations with Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch. But he finished it off by messing with Matt Kenseth. Stewart clipped the nose of Kenseth’s car, forcing Kenseth into the grass, where he lost control and ran back up the wall. Amazingly, after the race, Stewart said, “Kyle Busch, he’s the guy that’s probably going to get someone hurt.” Later, Stewart had this to say about Kenseth: “He started it all and I finished it.”

In 2006, at the All Star Race, Stewart got into it again and Kenseth ended up with both of them wrecked.

At the 2006 Pennsylvania 500, Stewart retaliated against Clint Bowyer after Bowyer accidentally ran into the side of Stewart’s car. Stewart waved his hand off and then crashed into Bowyer’s car, who then crashed into Carl Edwards. NASCAR immediately held Stewart for one lap for reckless driving.

In 2006 in Martinsville, Stewart got into a shouting match with Greg Biffle after he thought Biffle blocked him.

In 2006, Stewart sought counseling for anger issues.

In 2007 at Daytona, Stewart ran into the back of teammate Denny Hamlin and later blamed Hamlin for not getting out of the way.

In 2008 at Daytona, Stewart and Kurt Busch traded blows during a shootout. Busch collided with Stewart again on pit road. During a conference with NASCAR officials, it was reported that Stewart hit Busch.

I could go on and on about incident after incident where Stewart was rude, sarcastic, offensive, etc. He has said incredibly childish things in post-race interviews with him and on his radio show. He has complained and whined and spouted. But I think Ray Everham said it best. To paraphrase: this guy needs a good kick in the ass to get his mind right.

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