May17

May 17, 2004

Smoke and Mirrors
By Allison Wagda

Image is everything, or so it is said. These days, Tony
Stewart is facing one of the biggest image crises of
his career. He’s engaged in a very public feud with the
beloved Darrell Waltrip, he’s repeatedly chastised in
public by his fellow drivers, and smelling a controversy,
the members of the media haven’t hesitated to weigh
in with their own opinions.

If you believe what’s being said, Stewart is totally out of control. His history of
aggression both on and off the track, including punching a photographer in 2002,
lends credence to the story.

There are a variety of factors contributing to Stewart’s current problems. At Talladega,
his bizarre crash into Terry Labonte post race, and reported fly-by down pit lane,
raised eyebrows. Two weeks ago at Fontana, Rusty placed the blame for his own
troubles squarely on Stewart’s shoulders. Saturday night at Richmond, Stewart and
Jeff Gordon got together and the finger-pointing resumed.

But what exactly is Stewart guilty of? Aggressive driving? Surely. Has he crossed the
line? No. Smoke has always been one of NASCAR’s most bang ’em up drivers. His
hard-charging style won him the 2002 Cup championship. But the current vilification
of Stewart is being amplified by drivers frustrated with their own failures, and by
reporters looking for any type of controversy to exploit.

Stewart is helping to fuel the fire with his outspoken nature, image be damned. But
while his comments may be shocking, he’s providing fans a look at the truth behind
NASCAR’s wall of silence.

His candor is refreshing in racing today. As part of the nationalization and rebranding
of the sport, drivers are encouraged to maintain a certain level of decorum so as not
to offend fans or sponsors. For example, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. was named one of
People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, he said if it wasn’t for the clean-cut
look expected of him, he’d sport several tattoos.

Would Junior lose fans if he got a little ink? Maybe a handful of uptight
bandwagoners, but he can easily afford the loss. Would Budweiser split? Not a
chance. Personally, I’d rather know Junior’s public face mirrors his off-camera
persona. One of the most engaging things about NASCAR is the fact that fans get to
know drivers from the myriad interviews and behind-the-scene looks they get during
pre-race shows. Fans would rather root for the “real” Junior than some polished
version deemed suitable for public viewing.

Recently, many driver interviews seem somewhat scripted. Both drivers and
commentators stick to key messages and rarely veer into topics of contention…such
as the championship changes or the schedule realignment. When they do, it’s clear
that genuine opinions are being tempered and restrained. The only glimpses of true
personalities are during race delays when PR people aren’t nearby, or when a driver
has a bone to pick with another driver.

That’s why Stewart’s voice is so important to NASCAR. He’s honest, emotional and
exactly who he claims to be. As for his scuffles on the track, fans need only
remember another driver accused of much of the same during his career to gain
perspective…the driver of the black #3.

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