What began on pit road at Dover as a war of bumpers between two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart and rookie Paul Menard has turned into a war of words on the road from Charlotte to Martinsville.Stewart says money can't buy talent. On his radio show this week, he had some harsh words for the son of his 1997 IRL Championship team owner:
"You can have your father buy your ride and write DEI a big check, but you can't buy talent. And that's what John Menard's been good at his whole life, is just buying success. He's bought his son a Nextel Cup ride and he's just got enough talent to just be in the way most of the time."Ooooh. That stings. But I can't say I disagree.
Paul Menard says age doesn't imply maturity:
"I've known Tony for 10 years. He's not a very mature person. Yeah, I wouldn't be here if my family didn't support me. I don't think he would be either if his family didn't support him. You can't get too wrapped up in it. I know him well enough to know he's a 50-year-old kid in a six-year-old's body. He's got the platform to say that stuff. Good for him. I hope he feels better about it."I'll go with him on the maturity thing. But show me a six-year-old with a body that looks like Stewart's and I'll show you parents that need to be locked up for child abuse.
I gotta give Menard this one, too:
Menard said it was the responsibility of Stewart and his spotter to make sure he was clear leaving the pit box, not his. "If he doesn't want to take the blame for it, there is nothing you can do about that."And this one:
"[Stewart] better get used to it, because there are always going to be 43 cars out there, not 12."Except for NASCAR, the Chase teams and their fans, no one expects the non-Chasers to park their balls in the garage for 10 weeks.
But this sounds like a threat:
"He can say what he wants. But when push comes to shove, I'll be ready for him."These two better plan this pushing and shoving to take place away from the track ... 'cause if they bring this BS on to the track and let this affect the 12 Chase drivers, then we've got a problem.
NASCAR Ringside, anyone?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 14)
10-20-2007 @ 9:59AM
Ken in Va said...
I'm not a Tony Stewart fan but at least he is not a generic pc corporate talking head that most of the drivers are. If you take the name of the driver and th enames of the sponsors out of what their statements, most of their statements would fit any of the others--Except Tony.
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10-20-2007 @ 10:28AM
MichaelMotorcycle said...
*** What the H__L ! , White Trash T.S. , the s__th__d needs to leave NASCAR and go on the Demolition-Derby circuit somewhere in Indiana/Illinois for a year , Then someone from ESPN should ask him to be a guest Commentator in the booth with that woman ,and oh yeah ,the ex-basketball player who thinks he knows all , and let them go at it for a couple of hours , AND then ,maybe , T.S. would calm down . ....NAW , just put three or four Valiums in his Coca-Colas before any race ,and he can run in the back of the pack with Kyle Petty . . . . . . .and boune off of the walls .......
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10-20-2007 @ 10:45AM
DD said...
Stewart is supose to be the more experienced one and the more mature one but if you ask me hes yet to show it. Hes the biggest complainer and whiner I have seen. What does he want? The none chase drivers to just roll over and play dead? Gordon all the way.
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10-20-2007 @ 10:45AM
Larry said...
Why is it that more often than not, the 20 car is involved? Does it follow Smoke Screen or does he cause it? Inquiring minds want to know.
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10-20-2007 @ 11:42AM
Stefanie T said...
After those comments, I think I am no longer a Stewart fan. He has done(mostly said) somethings this year that have pushed my buttons but I think this has to be the worst.
It was Tony's fault not Pauls so Paul is completely right in this situation. Tony needs to GROW UP!
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10-20-2007 @ 12:05PM
Don Emerson said...
Stewart is not the bad boy of Nascar, he is the spoiled brat. And to think, at one time he wanted to be the spokesman for his fellow drivers. Not their idea, his. Stewart would make a good spokesman for a portable toilet company because he is so full of crap. Menard may not be the best driver out there, but I haven't seen him go out of his way to hit Stewart. On the other hand, Tony seems to hunt him every race. So it's not really a feud, just another tantrum from Tony the paper tiger.
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10-20-2007 @ 1:52PM
Tanner said...
Tony is right about Menard's ride being bought. Menard's comments don't even make sense. It's amazing how many people make the statement...I was a Tony Stewart fan but this was it. Everybody has known Tony for years. I admire that Tony speaks the truth. I also want to say thanks to Tony for acknowledging that his fans have to put up with this b.s. all of the time.
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10-20-2007 @ 3:17PM
Meaghan said...
Being from Indianapolis area you hear about alot of things in racing. But having a brothernlaw that worked with Tony Stewart when he was in the IRL and drove for John Menard Im sure alot of this is the feud that started with Scott Braytons' death and when Tony left Menard to start racing in Nascar. Menard lost a considerable amount of money when Stewart left and since hasnt been able to field such a competitive driver like Stewart. Maybe Paul isnt the quality of driver that Stewart is used to driving against but how does one learn....by being in races and competing. The blame falls in my opinion on both Zippy and on Paul Menards crewcheifs'. They both are the ones' that tell the driver when to leave , too get out of the way or whatever. Yes Stewart is in the chase, but Menard also has to remember that when you are 2 to 4 laps behind the leader that the leader cars should have the right of way and not to hold them up. I know he has held up Junior and others'. Maybe they both just need an attitude adjustment.
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10-20-2007 @ 3:59PM
Kelly Jo said...
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ya now tony will feel better!! lmao
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10-20-2007 @ 4:50PM
Doug said...
Everybody chill!! It's just racin' and tempers! Always did happen, always happens now, and will always happen in the future!!
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10-20-2007 @ 5:21PM
Kim said...
Why would anyone be surprised by Tony Stewart's comments? The guy clearly speaks his mind or better yet speaks out of his ass whenever he sees fit. I guess it might be entertaining, but it sure aint going to win you any friends!
Kim
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10-20-2007 @ 6:10PM
Amy said...
Nothing wrong with stating and speaking your opinion. No matter who you are. Thank God for people like Tony Stwewart who keep things interesting.
Go Smoke!
*grins*
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10-20-2007 @ 6:53PM
Beast said...
Tony is plain and simple an a-hole. He thinks he's the only one out there racing. No matter what Tony is always right and always bitching about someone or something even his own team mates. Grow up. Better yet retire
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10-20-2007 @ 7:32PM
Jeremy said...
"I don't like Tony...waaahhh waaaahhh" "He's a cry baby...waaahhh waaaah". Ya'll Tony haters are as predictable as a broken clock. If it weren't for Tony brining life into NASCAR ya'll would be arguing about who has better hair, Gordon or Johnson. Come on and give it a rest will ya?! Someone actually speaks their mind in NASCAR and doesn't give filter every thought through an image filter, you all should be thanking Tony for not giving us yet another cookie cutter boring cardboard cutout of a driver.
BTW, ya'll who say "I'm no longer a Tony fan" because of what he says, well, there are plenty of us who would probably question whether you were really a fan or whether you just caught the bandwaggon as it passed by.
Oh, and to Tony...if you're listening...if Menard follows through with his "I'm a rookie and my daddy bought my ride" thread to wreck you...then you have mine and everyone else's permission in the Smoke-nation to send him into the wall. We'll even take up a donation to help in case NASCAR fines you for it.
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10-20-2007 @ 7:34PM
Beast said...
Anna dear, you are the one that needs to take the "chill pill" We are all entitled to our opinions. As you can see, most agree, that Tony is a little whinny baby!
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10-20-2007 @ 7:37PM
Jeremy said...
Hey Beast, remind us again why us Tony fans should care...
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10-20-2007 @ 7:37PM
Jeremy said...
glaring typos in the previous post should be ignored. ;-)
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10-20-2007 @ 7:40PM
Jeremy said...
Hey Beast, remind us again why we should care what you think about Tony.....ahhh yeah that's right...we don't.
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10-20-2007 @ 8:03PM
Beast said...
Jeremy, Your as whinny as your thrill a minute idol Stewart. LOL
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10-20-2007 @ 8:34PM
Rob said...
Stewart is always preaching about give and take . . some day he should listen to himself, and give a little. Nothing saying Menard had to give Tony the exit in pit lane, but heck, nothing saying Tony had to take it. He's a baby (awesome driving baby - but a sore loser none the less). And oh yeah, NASCAR should change the points for the chasers because Tony isn't winning. again - BABY - when he won the championship a few years back, the point system was great. Tony speaks his mind at all the wrong stuff. Great driver (probably one of the best NASCAR has ever seen), but a baby. Sorry to say baby soooo much, but it just fits.
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