August 25, 2012: Tony Stewart was fuming as he got out of his car at Bristol. Matt Kenseth had sent him spinning on Lap 332, and just continued racing. Stewart—the defending champion that season and 10th in the standings at the time—got out of his car, calmly walked into oncoming traffic, threw his helmet on the hood of the No. 17, and went back to the field finishing 27th. After the organization didn’t fine him, the veteran had joked, “It may happen again – I’ve got a lot of helmets and a lot of races.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the NASCAR hothead’s controversial/entertaining outbursts…

Remember when he had gone after Joey Logano for blocking him, and crashing Denny Hamlin in 2013? After the race, the former SHR owner had made it a point to park next to Logano’s No. 22. He dashed to the then-Penske Racing driver, and lunged at him grabbing his hair, before crew members intervened. Logano didn’t hold back either. His retort? A shove, and throwing a water bottle in his opponent’s direction. And then followed a classic Stewart moment…“[Logano’s] a tough guy on pit road as soon as one of his crew guys is in the middle of it.’’

“Until then, he’s a scared little kid and wants to throw a water bottle at me. He’s going to learn a lesson. And he can run his mouth on Twitter all he wants tonight. I’ve got plenty of people that are going to watch for that. It’s time he learns a lesson. He’s nothing but a little rich kid that’s never had to work in his life, so he’s going to learn what it’s like for us working guys that had to work our way up. … He ruined our day and sent Denny (Hamlin) to the hospital,” Stewart said. However, days like these are long gone, it seems…

No, it’s not us saying this, but retired NASCAR veteran Mark Martin, who thinks drivers might be feeling the “corporate pressure” nowadays. Appearing in an interview with industry insider and podcaster Chase Holden, the 66-year-old expressed concern over drivers’ increasing reluctance to speak their minds. He feels that sport needs ‘bad boys’ to keep itself alive.

“I know you see it; the drivers have pretty much gone silent. I mean, even, you know, they don’t…say much on social media anymore. It seems to me like NASCAR Media or PR does. You know, you can tell those posts that they post on their stuff. They’re advertising when the race is, whatever. But, you know, I don’t know exactly why,” Martin told Holden.

These claims align with Martin’s concerns about the corporate influence of muting driver personalities. However, Martin not only pointed out the issue but also suggested a solution. He specifically mentioned Tony Stewart as an example of what the sport lacks today. Stewart’s willingness to speak his mind, regardless of the consequences, made him a fan favorite. Martin argued that NASCAR needs a generational talent with a similar approach to reignite passion among fans. “We need Tony Stewart. Tony Stewart did not give a damn. He was so good they could not crush him. It would have crushed me… But we need a guy that is so talented, a guy on the level of Kyle Larson, which is not Kyle’s style, but we need a guy with that level, generational talent to come in and just be real, you know,” Martin added.

Known as one of NASCAR’s biggest bad boys, Stewart left an indelible mark with his unfiltered approach. Stewart never held back, from spinning Jeff Gordon out on the pit road to blasting him in the media. Stewart didn’t limit his confrontational style to rival drivers, as he often tangled with the media. An infamous incident dates to 2001 when he knocked a tape recorder out of a reporter’s hand. A year later, he roughed up a photographer.

His rebellious streak extended to the international stage in 2023 when he struck a dirt track co-owner in Australia during an argument over safety precautions. This unpredictable nature made Stewart polarizing, but also electrifying. Fans either loved or loathed him, but they couldn’t ignore him.

Top Comment by JewelryDoc

Lost edge when went woke! Look at the stands. Back in the NASCAR days wouldn’t miss a race and knew...more

Share your take

Debate

As Stewart matured, his on-track dustups lessened, but his reputation as a bold and fearless competitor remained intact. His ability to speak his mind without worrying about consequences set him apart. For many fans, Stewart represented the raw, untamed spirit of NASCAR. However, in recent years, there have been discussions about the silent approach of drivers.

Stewart’s career serves as the blueprint for this unfiltered authenticity. His fiery demeanor often landed him in hot water, but it also made him relatable. Whether he was clashing with rivals or challenging officials, Stewart embodied the rebel spirit fans admired. However, recent comments from an ex-NASCAR drivers have also raised questions about sports’ authenticity.

Mayfield leveled similar accusations against NASCAR

Martin is not the only ex-NASCAR star to bring this point up. In 2024, former Cup Series driver Jeremy Mayfield alleged that NASCAR might compensate drivers to maintain a positive public image. According to Mayfield, marketing insiders suggested that drivers are rewarded for promoting the sport on social media.

Speaking with Chase Holden, he said, “And if you just listen to the way they talk and everyone everywhere, you know, the stuff they say and they’re doing, they’re doing all they know how to do because they’ve got show code. From the top… NASCAR’s going to start paying the drivers, I guess, to say good things about the sport. Some kind of marketing deal to reward drivers for doing great things on social media. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I’m right about that.”

Now, Mayfield’s allegations should be taken with a pinch of salt. He allegedly failed a drug test, causing him to be suspended from NASCAR. Following the event, he has been a vocal advocate against NASCAR, such as this instance of accusing them of paying drivers to speak positively.

Now that we know both sides of the story, do you also think that NASCAR’s corporate culture suppresses individuality?