Tony Stewart Versus Goodyear
Nascar has been hoping for a heated rivalry in recent years. Last year it was supposed to be Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, or Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr., or Jimmy Johnson and Carl Edwards. Unfortunately for Nascar the most heated rivalry in Nascar continues to be between Tony Stewart and Goodyear, the exclusive tire supplier of Nascar.
After the first Atlanta Sprint Cup Race last year Tony Stewart complained that Goodyear could not make a suitable tire for Nascar and that they have been run out of every series from the Indy Racing League to Formula One. In the Atlanta race the tire was too hard. It did not wear well and since it was so hard the drivers could not get much grip and thus the racing suffered. The reverse of that problem occurred last year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Brickyard 400 when tires were blowing up after 10 or 12 laps and Nascar had to call mandatory cautions every 10 to 20 laps in order to allow teams to change tires. That was really the most ridiculous race I have ever seen and for Nascar’s sake they had better make sure that does not happen again.
The latest spat between Tony Stewart and Goodyear took place during today’s final practice for the Daytona 500. Stewart, who is now co-owner of his own Stewart-Haas Racing, drives for the team as does last year’s Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman. During practice Newman blew a right front tire and collected Stewart after his car spun out as a result of the tire blowing. When Stewart was asked about what happened. He said it was the same problem as usual. He said that he thought Goodyear might think that any publicity was good publicity and that they were glad to constantly be mentioned for their tire problems as it was free advertisement. He was being sarcastic of course. Stewart and Newman will both have to start from the rear of the field. It will be an inconvenience for sure, but the race is five hundred miles and Stewart should be able to race his way through the field.
I picked Stewart to win the Daytona 500 the other day although I mentioned at the time that I thought maybe I should substitute my pick for the Budweiser Shootout, Jeff Gordon, with my pick for the 500. Gordon won one of the preliminary races on Thursday and appears to be focused on proving last year was an aberration. Gordon did not win a single race. Neither of these drivers are my favorite driver, but I have come to enjoy Stewart’s penchant for shooting off at the mouth and saying whatever is on his mind. Some thought when he became an owner he would hold back, but today he showed he is just as likely to open his mouth as he was before. Stewart is great for Nascar. People complain that the drivers are too vanilla these days with Gordon and Jimmy Johnson mentioned as the two prime examples of boring drivers who think of how corporate America will react before they speak. Stewart says whatever is on his mind regardless of the consequences. He will drive his car from the back of the pack to victory in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. He may not be Nascar’s ideal spokesman, but he is the sport’s most interesting character and a hell of a driver too.
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