Tony Stewart, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, recently spoke out against the sport’s penalties and appeal process. Notably, with new changes, there is frustration among fans and active drivers about these changes. Stewart has been vocal about his frustrations with NASCAR in the past as well, but this time, his comments came after a combined total of $750,000 worth of penalties that caused him to join veteran Clint Bowyer and turn against the governing body.

Like many other elite sports, NASCAR enjoys a passionate and loyal fanbase. Millions tune in week after week to watch their favorite drivers battle it out on the track. But these changes are not sitting well with the NASCAR community. Discussing the same, even the 3x Cup Series champion Tony Stewart could not control but comment on the same.

Tony Stewart subtly expresses his frustration with NASCAR

Stewart’s comments were made at the Bristol Motor Speedway, where he expressed his frustration with the penalties and appeals that have plagued NASCAR in recent weeks. He stated that while he had an opinion on the matter; he felt that as a team owner; he has the right to remain silent and refrained from expressing his thoughts. In an apparent dig at NASCAR, Tony said, “I have the right to remain silent, and I think I’m better off exercising that right,” implying that NASCAR might come after his team if he expresses his thoughts.

The enforcement of NASCAR’s rules can sometimes result in unintended consequences due to poorly written regulations. This was demonstrated in the case of Hendrick Motorsports‘ appeal, where the Appeals Panel found their hood louvers modifications to be illegal but still restored the team’s championship and Playoff points. To prevent future confusion, NASCAR revised its rules to ensure that the Appeals Panel cannot reject the points penalty component completely if it concedes that a rule has been violated.