Tony Stewart appreciates NASCAR changing its lug nut policy following his comments that vehemently encouraged the sanctioning body to do just that, a measure supported by several drivers.
What makes Stewart less happy is why he was fined $35,000 at all and how he can go about getting his money back considering NASCAR ultimately heeded Stewart’s advice and mandated teams apply the maximum number of lug nuts to fasten a wheel.
“You hate to have to pay $35,000 to get somebody’s attention to do something but apparently that’s what it took,” Stewart said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. “I’ve got questions that I’d like to have answers to — I’m still wondering why I’m paying a $35,000 fine for something that got changed three days later. But, it is what it is.”
NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France told SiriusXM Radio on Monday that drivers are permitted to voice their opinions, but cannot denigrate or question the integrity of the sport or its officials. But France has yet to specifically state what Stewart said that warranted a fine, nor has he even informed Stewart himself, who would like to know.
“The crazy part was I wasn’t the first person that brought it up,” Stewart said. “…Obviously, it was the way that I talked about it, the way that I talked about it, which I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I said or what the word or the phrase was that got me in trouble.
“When it comes to something like that that is a safety issue, fine or not I think you’ve got to speak your mind and you’ve got to be honest about it. I hope this doesn’t discourage drivers for standing up for what they believe and what they think is right for everybody, not just their selves.”
The application of lug nuts and the proliferation of loose wheels prompted Stewart, who had missed the opening eight races of the season with a serious back injury, to air his concerns when he spoke with reporters April 20.
Some have wondered why Stewart didn’t work behind the scenes or via the Sprint Cup Drivers Council, of which he is a member, instead of through the media. He contends that when other drivers said similar comments nothing happened and he couldn’t reach out to France directly because he didn’t have the NASCAR CEO’s phone number until April 28.
“Sometimes I think the sense of urgency and the sense of this really is an issue sometimes gets numbed with everything else that is going on topic wise,” Stewart said. “That was something with the lug nuts that it was proof that it was getting worse not better. Sometimes you’ve got to shake them.
“Apparently, I shook too hard.”
Two days after Stewart’s remarks pertaining to how NASCAR was putting drivers and fans at risk by allowing wheels not secured with five lug nuts on the track, and a day following NASCAR fining Stewart, NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said the sanctioning body was reevaluating the issue.
Three days later NASCAR issued a rules bulletin requiring the maximum five lug nuts, but did not rescind Stewart’s fine. Stewart credits Miller, a former crew chief who was hired prior to the season, for enacting the policy change.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how many more $35,000 rules changes I want to make,” Stewart joked. “I’m glad that something has been done.”
