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Stewart struggles with new persona

The volatile driver has promised to become a kinder, gentler Tony Stewart.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 3, 2001

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Stewart was disgusted.

Contempt crept into his voice as he explained why he no longer will be telling the truth all the time, why it will be easier to say what people want to hear.

Yeah, sure it will.

Winston Cup racing's most volatile star, Stewart clearly cannot help himself. Often criticized for his emotional outbursts and strong opinions, he vowed this week to become a model of diplomacy, but in doing so, already broke his new set of rules.

"I'm learning how to be a politician," said Stewart, who returns to his central Indiana home this weekend for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'll say the politically correct things instead of the honest things. ... You don't always get the accurate story, but sometimes everybody can't handle the truth."

Have a nice day.

If Stewart had truly wanted to play nice with his critics, he might have said he was out of line all those times his temper got the best of him. That it was wrong to disobey NASCAR officials. That it was improper to vent his anger on Jeff Gordon's quarter panel.

But that's not how he feels. So, instead, he explained how changing times are forcing him to change his public persona.

"Expressing my personality doesn't seem to be a popular thing anymore, like it used to be in the old days," said Stewart, 30, who is fourth in the points standings with two victories in the No. 20 Pontiac. "It's just a different era. I'm not sure my personality is a popular personality in this sport anymore."

Never mind that NASCAR counts among its most proud moments the 1979 Daytona 500, after which Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison treated the sport's first national television audience to a rock 'em, sock 'em fistfight. Or that Darrell Waltrip's barbed tongue helped make him a legend. Or that Dale Earnhardt never backed down from anyone.

Years ago, such drivers were "characters."

Today, they are fined and put on probation.

In the March race at Bristol, Stewart intentionally rammed Gordon's car, drawing a $10,000 fine and a six-month probation from NASCAR.

In the closing laps at Daytona in July, Stewart executed a pass below the yellow out-of-bounds line, then ignored a black flag from race officials. Penalized one lap, he dropped from sixth to 26th.

Stewart knocked a tape recorder from a reporter's hand and shouted at Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson, insisting Johnny Benson forced him below the line.

All Stewart got for his fury was another $10,000 fine and an extension of his probation through the end of the season.

"We've been trying to work with him and get him to focus all that energy in a positive way," said crew chief Greg Zipadelli, whose calm demeanor provides race-day balance. "I stand by him. Most of the things that he has said or done are the truth or it's his opinion. I think it's hard for him to understand. ... It may be his opinion, but sometimes you're better off keeping it to yourself."

A.J. Foyt, the combative former open-wheel champion from Texas, thinks NASCAR needs more of Stewart, not less, and will be disappointed if Stewart shackles his personality.

"I don't want people to be phony," said Foyt, who owns the No. 14 Pontiac driven by Ron Hornaday. "That's what's wrong with the world today. And that's not Tony. As long as you're telling the truth, there's nothing to cover up.

"If this sport is getting like that, it's changed. That's not what made racing what it is today. If somebody talks dirty to you, you ought to fire back."

Perhaps, but NASCAR's evolving fan base includes doctors, lawyers, bankers and business executives -- professionals who cannot solve workplace disputes by smacking the employee in the next cubicle. Decorum, it seems, now is demanded of stock car drivers, as well.

But the biggest change in Winston Cup racing from its rebel days is the presence of big-money sponsors who expect a marketable driver in exchange for their multimillion-dollar investments. When fans -- also known as customers -- complain, sponsors react.

"You may be a driver who is a threat to a fan's driver," Stewart said. "If they don't agree with something you did or something you say, they pick up a piece of paper and a pen and they write a letter to your sponsor and express their discontent. The next thing you know, your sponsors are calling your car owners. ... All it takes is 10 or 15 people to write into a sponsor and it creates a lot of havoc for us as drivers."

Stewart's primary sponsor, The Home Depot, and team owner Joe Gibbs have expressed support for Stewart, the 1999 rookie of the year and clearly one of the most talented drivers in Winston Cup. But Stewart said he is tired of always being portrayed negatively. He claims he is giving up the fight.

"You're just getting a Tony Stewart that is like, "This is what you want, this is what you got, now,' " he said. "But the fans have to make a choice somewhere along the line. They have to decide whether they want honesty."

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