(Everyone in packed courtroom stands, including Tony Stewart and his team of defense lawyers).
Judge: Be seated. Ladies and gentleman, I am prepared to rule on the charges facing Mr. Stewart, which are as follows (reads from paper): Multiple counts of violating Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rulebook - Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing, specifically, rampant rudeness, flagrant exaggeration, excessive temper tantrums, speaking without thinking, giving advice that you don't follow yourself, and numerous examples of behavior unbecoming a postmodern NASCAR superstar.
(Murmurs from the gallery).
Judge: During the trial phase of this hearing, I heard some very compelling arguments from the defense team as well as the prosecuting attorneys (Stewart shoots an if-looks-could-kill glance at the lead prosecutor, Mr. Francelton). However, in deciding the defendant's fate, I felt it was important to consider not just the lawyers' arguments, but those of NASCAR fans, without whom the sport itself could not exist - a fact that both sides in this case would be wise to remember.
(Stewart runs fingers through long hair nervously).
(The judge continues, looking directly at Stewart): Mr. Stewart, you are clearly a very polarizing figure in NASCAR. Given that fact, I correctly assumed that a majority of the responses I received would fall into one of two categories: NASCAR fans who love you, and those who, frankly, despise you.
(Gasps from the courtroom gallery).
Judge (striking gavel): The nearly 100 fans who contacted me on this issue during the past week were primarily either avid supporters or detractors - though the former outweighed the latter by about a 10 to 1 ratio.
(Stewart smirks).
Judge: However, there was a third category of responses which carried more weight with me than either of those two classes. I will discuss that category a bit later.
(Stewart's defense attorneys look puzzled and whisper amongst themselves).
Judge: Prior to rendering my verdict, I would like to share with all of you a sample of the replies I received from the two main categories of respondents, Stewart's staunch defenders and opponents. Following that, I will present the third category of responses - those which I found most elucidating, and will then issue my verdict. Bailiff, if you please.
(The Bailiff unveils a large billboard-style poster with a list of fan comments printed on it).
Judge: For the benefit of those unable to see the poster, I will read the comments aloud. Again, these are simply a representative sample of the many responses I received in support of the defendant:
Fans clamor for "the old days" and then turn around and rip Stewart to shreds. I don't get that at all. He's the portal to "the old days," when the biggest names were the biggest names because they raced (and won) in anything and everything and made no bones about what they thought, and would get in fistfights with one another after a race and then help load each other's haulers and go eat dinner.
NASCAR loves Tony. He sells tickets! It is funny how things change after he speaks his mind. Goodyear is admitting they need to do better with the tires. We have seen a dramatic reduction in debris cautions since he spoke up. Tony is the everyday working man, not the Men's Vogue or whatever model. Most guys going into Home Depot are working men, sometimes not shaven, hair may be longer, etc. Hurray for Tony! NASCAR loves him.
Tony Stewart is a valuable asset to NASCAR. He's entertaining, has a great sense of humor and a quick wit, he's always honest and is the best all-around racecar driver I've every seen. Even with his long hair, unshaven face, and belly paunch, a lot of us women find him very attractive.
If all there was to Tony is a good driver with a big mouth that makes him look like a grumpy old man, I would punish him. But Tony is, in fact, a very big-hearted individual that gives more than any other driver to various charities and individuals. He is a 'nice guy' in real life, which I think points to his outbursts as being delivered to help his friends in the sport. PC or not, his statements are on the mark. How do you punish a guy for being concerned?
His after-race comments keep our televisions tuned in to NASCAR just as much as the race itself. Perhaps the networks would be happy to think about that one!
NASCAR likes to brag about how they are at the forefront of safety as it applies to racing, but they are nowhere near what they claim. Dale Earnhardt would be alive today if they would have made the HANS device mandatory. They are always reacting to something, rather that planning for something. Tony Stewart and any others like him are very tired of waiting for NASCAR to figure something out for themselves, especially if there is no spotlight on the subject. Tony Stewart IS that spotlight.
This all started in late '02, when Stewart was heading for his first championship, and Richard Petty openly stated that Stewart 'wouldn't be a good representative for the sport if he wins the Championship' … Stewart correctly fired-back, "Gee ... I didn't think I was running for public office … I thought I was trying to earn a driving championship."
If NASCAR's only concern is protecting its public image then, fine, throw the book at him -- but if the real interest of the sport is the quality of racing and the quality of the material suppliers, then Tony should not only be acquitted, but he should be given a commendation! Come to think of it, when was the last time we saw a 'phantom caution'?
If we cared what the NASCAR drivers looked like, personally, I think they would all be in trouble.
I can't wait for the post race interviews just to hear what is on Tony's mind, especially if something went down that involved him. And you know whatever has been on his mind is going to roll right off his tongue as soon as a microphone is shoved in his face. We can always count on Tony to tell it like it is … You never have to read his mind or wonder what he is thinking.
Seems to me if NASCAR had heard this from Dale Sr., assuming he was still with us, there would be no problem. NASCAR states they want more personality to show -- are they trying to control that also?
So what if he said Goodyear had the worst tire he had raced on? He has just finished a 500 mile race and everyone is asking questions before he can get out of the car. I personally think that if they take people like Tony out of NASCAR, there will be no excitement left in the sport.
As a 75-year-old female, I sometimes get so ticked with the NASCAR rules I swear I am not going to watch any more. But drivers like Tony keep drawing me back.
I don't think Tony would be so 'over the top' at times if NASCAR and Goodyear had listened to the drivers before they reached this point. Goodyear is never wrong and never brings a bad tire to the track - it's always too much camber, over-inflation, the Crew Chief's fault for any failure. That's wrong-headed and exceedingly arrogant. I'm glad Tony ripped 'em for it.
(Judge pauses for a moment, then continues): In addition to those statements and many others like them, the court would like to extend special thanks to Melody Foreman of Pleasanton, California, who voluntarily submitted a pre-sentence report for the court's consideration. Portions of that report are shown on the next display. Bailiff?
(The bailiff takes down the sign with the previous statements and puts up a new one which reads):
Any article that purports to discuss the 'state' of NASCAR vs. Tony Tiger would be remiss if it didn't include some of the positive stuff: Those little kids who come to the race on a Make-a-Wish or other charity ticket who get to meet Tony on race day when he typically has not a minute to spare, but he makes time for these kids as a special wish fulfillment because they might not live to see next year's Cup races; the gentle and charitable way he was able to get Pattie Petty to finally come back to the track where her son died so tragically - talk about compassionate! The fund he set up for his 'copter pilot who died in that horrendous crash that also killed so many of the Hendrick people a few years ago and how he continues to take care of that man's widow and kids. Not to mention the millions he gives to Victory Junction Gang Camp. Not just the initial millions, but every year since, and now everybody else has jumped on board, but Tony was the first. The work he's done to help retired greyhound race dogs, the gazillion other quiet things he does in this world to help people that don't get press, because he chooses not to let his PR people publicize it.
Everybody loves to kick Tony around because he's good copy. But … I have to say there have been a couple of times when he's been in a particularly grizzly wreck when he didn't get out of that car very fast, when my heart stopped, and I wondered what 'everybody' who loves to kick him around would have to say if he was no longer here, if some tragedy took him from us. Bet you my next year's salary that those same writers would be canonizing him for his individuality, spirit, passion, wit, intelligence and heart. His 25+ years of winning races in any and every category of the sport, comparisons to legendary racers of the past, it would fill the air! We'll see that same stuff when he retires someday, you wait and see. Tony is a huge part of the core of NASCAR, and, without him, look around and see just how shallow the pool of personality is.
(The crowd erupts - some jump to their feet and applaud, while others cry out in dismay).
Judge (bangs gavel several times): Order! Order! Now, as I said, this is simply a portion of the evidence I considered in arriving at my verdict. However, I see that it is late, so the court will adjourn until this time next week, when the remaining fan feedback will be presented and, following that, my verdict.
Bailiff: All rise. (The judge leaves the courtroom). This court stands adjourned until April 4th.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
