Motor Sports
Stewart gets the blame for recent pileups in NASCAR

By Neal Sims
Newhouse News Service

Tony Stewart

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The rap is on, fury is in the NASCAR garage and Tony Stewart needs a Mother's Day break. This idle weekend can do nothing but soothe a season that is unraveling, with fellow drivers blasting the spirited racer who was their champion only two seasons ago.

Just a week after Stewart's driving triggered a massive pileup at Talladega Superspeedway, he found trouble again at California Speedway. Five laps into last Sunday's Nextel Cup race, Stewart was racing Rusty Wallace for a spot in the top 10 when the two slammed together and Wallace's car went spinning into the outside wall.

Wallace unloaded, and his words carried as much impact as the crash.

"It's Stewart," Wallace said. "I don't know what's wrong with the guy. He caused a huge wreck at Talladega, and then he runs me right through the fence this time."

Wallace's anger increased on the restart.

"He pulls up beside me and starts flipping me off," Wallace said. "I wanted to get out of the car and whip his rear end. The kid needs to calm down a little bit. I don't know what's wrong with him.

"I am about sick of his childish actions," Wallace added. "The boy needs to grow up. He needs a good talking to by somebody. I'm not respecting him at all, and half of the garage is not."

Stewart's viewpoint was different, and he shared some venom, too.

"I remember a day when drivers were a little more cordial than they are today," he said. "When a faster driver came up, guys ... would let them go. Rusty is not that way. He's out for Rusty. He's not going to move over for anybody. It's all about Rusty right now."
 
Just before the crash, Stewart said, "He drove right down into the left side of us like we weren't even there. I don't know why he's pointing the finger at somebody else.

"The deal was an accident," Stewart added. "I got real loose all of a sudden for no reason. I got into him and then pulled off as soon as I could. I didn't stay on him. I tugged on the wheel. I could have pinned him against the fence, and I didn't."