Despite what you think of Tony, ya just gotta love his way of telling it like it is.

Check out his recent quote. Hilarious, but oh so true.

Chris

Article Excerpt:

NASCAR has already addressed the constantly complaining drivers, who seemingly gripe about everything under the sun these days. From the difficulty in driving NASCAR’s new car, the heat inside the cockpit on a 90 degree day, long races, an even longer schedule and little to no time off, someone has found something to whine about every single week.

NASCAR finally said “Enough!” and pulled every driver in Michigan together Friday for a hastily called lecture in which president Mike Helton reminded the millionaires in the room just how lucky they’ve got it.

At first, the message seemed to have been clearly delivered based on the nonchalant attitude most drivers had about the meeting. But leave it to Tony Stewart to insinuate what everyone already knew: The real message Helton sent was one of “shut up and drive.”

“Ask Mike Helton. I don’t know what we’re allowed to say and what we’re not,” Stewart said during his post-race radio interview on Motor Racing Network. “I’m just thankful we’re allowed to be here. It’s just a privilege for us to be here, and according to Friday, we’ve all got it a lot better than a lot of us think.

“We’re not allowed to have opinions now. We’ve all got it made here. We’ve all got it great. At least that is what we’ve all been told.”

Both NASCAR and Stewart are right on this issue.

NASCAR can’t censor the drivers—well, officials technically can, and many believe they do through questionable calls and thorough inspections—but it defeats the season-opening message of allowing personalities to shine this year. In silencing the stars, NASCAR is dumbing down the passion and emotions that the fans yearn to see.

I think every cup team should immediately quit and go to ARCA.

It would instantly make ARCA the big dog... Might be the only way to save the sport.

Mike

Ive always wondered what would happen if the drivers took it on thier own to get a series started what would happen? NASCAR is really doing some damage to itself. From getting rid of its southern roots, and fan friendliness to taking any seventeen year old kid who can drive a little and calling him the next great thing. There were so many drivers whos personalities made the sport who have been shunned by NASCAR, and replaced them with zero personality marketing clones. Tony, Kyle, and JR are the only ones who I enjoy seeing interviewed. Even if you dont like them they are what is good for the sport. I wish NASCR would remember what got them here.

The fans watch NASCAR because they know all the drivers. If they all left NASCAR, the Heltons would be left with nothing.

Mike

See 2006 season for WoO Sprints and NST Sprints.

NASCAR is not going to be the same anymore. They are pricing themselves out of the game. When I first started going to the August race at Michigan the tickets we arount $30 something and that was 13 or 14 years ago. Now the tickets are $97. Every track is having a hard time selling out. NASCAR is starting to control way to much. There is no sport that will do an interview right after leading a race and getting crashed at 190mph. I would like to see what the other sports leagues would do if you could interview a quarterback after throwing an interception and losing the game seconds after it happens. I would like to see an uncensored channel where they can say what they want and then you can watch an censored channel where there are bleeps. I bet before to long they will sensor the scanners too.

Did anyone else notice Sunday how empty the stands were? Watching the TV coverage was amazing seeing all those empty seats in the background of the cars coming off from turn 4 onto the front stretch.

There was a forecast for rain. I'm sure that played a big factor.

Stopped me from going. I couldnt risk getting rained out, there was no way I could make it Monday (or Tuesday lol)

The drivers do get talked to for using fowl languge on the scanners.

I am sure the economy here is the biggest reason for empty seats. I was still receiving email from MIS that cup tickets were still available on Thursday last week. Two years ago you had to buy in the early spring or sooner.
How many people do you know that can afford nearly a grand for a family outing? Seats for 6-$600.00. Camping fee $200.00. Gas $200.00 Food and beverages $200.00 or more. Watching in the comfort of your home priceless!

Attendance was down an estimated 30,000 fans. I think some of that can be attributed to weather, a lot to the economy and even more to the over priced tickets to a race that is controlled By ( Little Hitler ) France and his boy wonder Helton ( Little Stalin ).

Just disgusts me to see the destruction of what was once an awesome race series.

Chris

Aaahh Chris,

You long for the old day's of 70's and 80's Nascar, just like I do, don't ya.

have a good day,

schinde

Harry Gant baby! Life begins at 51 Mr September!

And......not to mention when the race gets a little boring, you can take a snooze and wake up and still not have missed much!

Right were they down 30,000 in ticket sales? Attendence is counted by tickets sold right, not how many people actually walked through the gate. Or is it? A person that bought a ticket, yet did not go, is still counted I would think.

OH Boy...do I ever.

I attended the first qualifying session / race at MIS. I believe it was the Yankee 400 in 1969. I was 11 years old at the time. I can remember walking up to that fence as a kid and seeing / hearing the cars scream by. One of my all time favorites, Yarborough, won that race.

I know I sound pretty bitter when I mention NASCAR. That's because I am. I was there years ago as a fan, I worked in NASCAR when we all had fun and enjoyed what we did and now I am flat out pissed off over the way NASCAR has left a trail of destruction behind them.

They have destroyed small tracks such as Wilkseboro in favor of cookie cutter tracks like Texas and Kansas. They turned their back on the saturday night promoters and destroyed many of them. They have taken the good old boys out of the sport and replaced them with polished, spit shined prima donnas who had their careers purchased. And they control everything, from the media to the politicians to the drivers, crew members and owners.

They took one of the greatest sporting events a fan could ever watch ( a Cup race ) and turned it into a mockery and controlled circus event.

Yup...your right Matt. I do long for the old days and while I am all for change, they took change to far.

Mr Helton and Mr. France.........you can both kiss my white, Yankee born butt.

Chris

When I heard Tony make that comment my only thought was that I would vote for him for president of the U.S.!!