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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 25: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 25: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Tony Stewart has never been one to shy away from using words to express his feelings, however blunt or rude they may be. But in his retirement now, the Stewart Haas Racing owner has perhaps learned to finesse his words.
Just consider his recent jibe at NASCAR during his NHRA debut weekend.
“I’m definitely having more fun than I’ve had in a long time, definitely not anywhere that has fenders on it. So I’m lovin’ this sport,” Stewart said.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 17: Team owner Tony Stewart stands on the grid during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Smoke also reflected on his own performance in his debut as he reminded everyone that his primary goal heading into the weekend was “to get experience.”
“It wasn’t to focus on performance. It was about learning procedures and learning how to do them correctly and just get the experience of the weekend,” he continued.
“So far, we’re happy with that experience.”
The hard work is paying off and I’m racing on Sunday! Won my first two rounds of eliminations to get to the semifinals here at the #VegasNats! #NHRA@Mobil1 @mobil1racing pic.twitter.com/d8221guiHG
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) October 30, 2022
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Why is Tony Stewart mad at NASCAR?
For some context, the former NASCAR driver has been pretty mad at the sport lately, especially after the penalty handed to his team in the whole Cole Custer episode when the #41 team was found guilty of intentionally manipulating the race’s outcome to aid their own driver, Chase Briscoe.
Custer had slowed down during the final laps in the ROVAL, helping Briscoe advance through the playoffs and eliminating Hendrick Motorsports driver and 2021 Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson.
If your memory serves you right, this was more or less what happened last year when Chase Elliott helped Kyle Larson win the race by blocking Kevin Harvick.
The only difference between the two? What followed next.
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Custer’s block to help Briscoe led to a $100,000 fine each for Custer and his crew chief, along with docking of 50 driver points and 50 owner points. For Elliott and HMS last year?
Nothing.
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Although SHR appealed this decision, as they’d have hoped to get the same result as Hendrick Motorsports did with William Byron, it didn’t turn out to be the case, as the penalty was upheld.
