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October 24, 2005
open mic
By Krista Voda
Live TV is a wonderful thing. With it, comes honest words. And with honest words, sometimes come hard feelings and regret.
But that's what a true moment is about. Uninhibited thoughts and un-sterilized comments.
And nobody does it better than Tony Stewart.
As soon as the question was posed, "What about the incident with Greg Biffle?", I knew we were in for a treat. As a fan, you sit on your couch in eager anticipation to hear exactly how Stewart will phrase, describe, define the "moment" this time.
He's an idiot.
No wonder, all those times, Kevin Harvick wanted to kill him.
They name streets after guys like him...One Way and Dead End.
I play poker with him. I like the guy, but if he was here right now I'd have to strangle him.
I'm not here to place blame, to tell you the truth, I don't really care which driver was at fault.
I just appreciate the honest entertainment.
And I'm not saying I always agree with the way Tony Stewart expresses himself. (I thought his bad-mouthing of Darrell Waltrip last year was out of line).
But he has a right to say whatever he wants. Especially in this sport where instant TV access, with immediate interviews of the athletes, is a part of the game.
========================================
Of course, live TV also means the chance to screw up royally!
Tony's teammate, rookie driver Denny Hamlin, found that out during an interview on "NASCAR This Morning." Hamlin, a Busch series regular, was driving the third Gibbs car at Martinsville. He'd been fast all weekend in practice, and was eager to start the race. So eager, perhaps, that when thanking those who gave him the opportunity, he mentioned the hard-working employees at UPS. Too bad his sponsor is Fed Ex.
Hamlin immediately recognized his mistake and recovered as best he could. Remember, it's not a sponsor he's used to carrying. I say don't sweat it, Denny. Keep putting your car up front and the executives will surely go easy on you.
And take it from someone who has had her share of flubs on live TV, there will always be a better interview...and a worse one...down the road.
October 24, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
But that's why we love Tony! He tells it like it is as opposed to the honey-dripped drivel that comes from most of the drivers.
And why are you sitting on the fence when it comes to judging those incidents on Sunday. If you look at the replays, Biffle clearly gave the other cars that passed him plenty of room but twice he tried to re-arrange Tony's sheet metal. He should have been penalized just like his teammate. If you are a lap down and not racing someone for position you move over, period!
Posted by: Peter Zanutto | Oct 24, 2005 9:48:05 AM
I don't blame Greg Biffle but instead I blame NASCAR for the way that they handle lapped traffic. Other series penalize the lapped cars if they don't immediately move out of the way of the leaders. NASCAR, on the other hand, doesn't care one way or the other how the lapped cars race the leaders. This isn't the first time that a lapped car has potentially messed up the race for one of the leaders(well in this case two, Stewart and Johnson), and it won't be the last unless NASCAR decides to do something about it. Biffle had no business holding up Johnson and Stewart but if NASCAR isn't going to tell him to move out of the way then he and other lapped cars are just going to keep racing the leaders that way. NASCAR needs to start penalizing the lapped cars if they continue to hold up the leaders during races.
Posted by: Ken | Oct 24, 2005 10:01:17 AM
have you ever been driving down the road and someone is riding your rear end and it seems like they are trying to push you out of the way? You know they are bitching up a storm in their car, prolly late for something, or in a hurry for no reason as most people are. What'ya do? I'm always Greg Biffle. I stay in their way and sometimes drive slow intentionally just to make them more mad. Yeah, I'm that "idiot". I have every right as much as they do to be on the road. And I feel that if I am at least going the speed limit, I am doing nothing wrong. Greg Biffle has every right to race as fast as he can. If it happens to prevent Tony Stewart from passing him, that's Tony's problem, not Greg's.
Posted by: jondeer78 | Oct 24, 2005 12:26:38 PM
Jondeer...feel free to drive that way if you like. Don't mind me if I spin you out. You asked for it.
Posted by: Allison | Oct 24, 2005 3:20:08 PM
I'm gettin' sick of watching Tony play nice. He should've put his ass in the wall.
And what the hell forces NASCAR to penalize ANYBODY for rough driving - when they won't do anything about Carl Edwards?
Posted by: the6and9 | Oct 24, 2005 3:21:04 PM
From: JonDeer78" I'm always Greg Biffle. I stay in their way and sometimes drive slow intentionally just to make them more mad. Yeah, I'm that "idiot". I have every right as much as they do to be on the road. And I feel that if I am at least going the speed limit, I am doing nothing wrong."
Yep...only an idiot would think that they are doing nothing wrong in that situation! Idiots like you cause bottle necks on the road that result in crashes. Too bad you have no respect for the rules of the road. No wonder it figures that you are a Sniffle fan.
Posted by: Rusty'sLastCall | Oct 24, 2005 3:35:53 PM
I thought the whole point of racing was to beat the person in front of you. I don't care if they are 1 or 20 laps down, it's up to you to pass that person and continue moving forward. Why is it that lapped cars have to move out of their racing groove just to let one of the leaders go by. I fully agree if that person "wants" to let them by, but they shouldn't be forced to do so. Let'm all race, it might make it a little more exciting.
Posted by: jg24dpchevy | Oct 24, 2005 4:20:39 PM
I thought the whole point of racing was to beat the person in front of you. I don't care if they are 1 or 20 laps down, it's up to you to pass that person and continue moving forward. Why is it that lapped cars have to move out of their racing groove just to let one of the leaders go by. I fully agree if that person "wants" to let them by, but they shouldn't be forced to do so. Let'm all race, it might make it a little more exciting.
Posted by: jg24dpchevy | Oct 24, 2005 4:22:24 PM
Does this mean that Tony and Mojo won't be in Biffle's calendar next year?
I darned near wrecked on the interstate today, thinking about the "One-Way and Dead End" remarks! What a sense of humor!
Posted by: Laurabeth | Oct 24, 2005 5:47:56 PM
I think that before NASCAR penalizes drivers they need to do something about commentators. They couldn't wait to get to Biffle and tell him what Stewart had said.We all know how far Tony has come from the " Bad Boy " image of a couple of years ago,but the media has to get it stirred up again!!! If drivers don't like what's said or done on the track then let them settle it in a demolition derby at the end of the year,but keep the media out of it !!!
Posted by: S.B. Myers | Oct 24, 2005 8:56:21 PM
Krista, you say you're not here to place blame, well maybe you and the rest of the racing media need to start placing blame. I am sick and tired of this phony "balance" where the media won't come out and say "(such and such driver) caused that wreck." The media needs to come out and start blaming drivers for causing wrecks.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Oct 24, 2005 11:55:17 PM
I don't blame Tony one bit for being irritated with Biffle. I think cars that are a lap(or more)down should be given the 'move over'(passing flag), if the drivers on the lead lap are trying to get by. The Flag man ALWAYS used to use that flag years ago...I believe they should start using it again. The 'Chase' competitors shouldn't have to worry about getting by the lapped cars...Rusty got shafted because of Mears, and Burton.. they almost took him out...luckily he was able to finish..albeit NOT where he SHOULD have (or COULD have).
I also have to agree... Tony's remarks about'One-way' and 'Dead end' were hilarious
.. he is quite funny at times.
Posted by: Audrey | Oct 25, 2005 12:03:05 AM
Ya gotta love Smoke. I can't help but wish he would throw a little bit of an old school mad-fit every now and then, just for old times sake. HAHA
The reason Tony dogged DW out was because DW was grinding on him during the broadcasts, week after week. As Mr. Spencer would say, "you mess with the bull, you get the horns."
POOR DENNY! Sounds like something I would do.
Posted by: Christa | Oct 26, 2005 2:36:50 PM
jondeer78,
LMAO! I'm not a Biffle fan but I agree with you!
Posted by: Donna | Oct 27, 2005 2:23:46 PM
Greg Sniffle's a tool. Ever notice how he's always whining about how some other driver wronged him and it's never his fault. I think Sterlin' said it best, "Bug Eyed idiot."
Posted by: cliff wahl | Oct 27, 2005 3:56:25 PM
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