31 replies to this topic

[Lee Nicolle]

Tony Stewart was arrested last Saturday night [15/1] following a dispute with one of the track promoters , Brett Morris at Parramatta City Raceway. Stewart reputedly assaulted Morris with a helmet after an argument about track conditions and in turn ened up with a black eye. He was taken to the station and it seems released without charge but pending further investigation. He has returned to the US. And did not take part in the meeting where he was a headliner.
From what I gather this is not the first time he has got into trouble.

[Louis Siefert]

hopefully they will revoke his visa and not let him back in the country

[Risil]

Sounds like he was standing up for himself though.

[BRG]

A good thing he didn't spin his wheels - that is the real crime in Oz apparently, not assaulting someone.

[Don_Humpador]

not assaulting someone.

That's the Russell Crowe rule.

The more you do it, the more socially acceptable it becomes. In Australia.

[OfficeLinebacker]

A good thing he didn't spin his wheels - that is the real crime in Oz apparently, not assaulting someone.

LMAO!

Break traction in a Mercedes: be detained, lose your car, major legal troubles, paparazzi, etc.

Smash a track promoter in the face with your helmet: short conversation with police, free to go!

Australia is a wonderful place!

You don't think race is a factor do you?

Also note: Tony Stewart is a track owner and promoter himself. In addition to being a team owner.

[OfficeLinebacker]

He's sorry:

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=6041430

[P123]

Sounds like his infamous short temper got the better of him yet again.

[primer]

You don't think race is a factor do you?

Perhaps nationality is a bigger factor.

[OfficeLinebacker]

In the comments of that article it says the track promoter blacked Stewart's eye either before or after Stewart clocked him with a helmet.

[Muz Bee]

A good thing he didn't spin his wheels - that is the real crime in Oz apparently, not assaulting someone.

Precisely.

[Lee Nicolle]

Stewart hit Morris with his helmet and Morris retaliated.
The Americans[And some of the Aussies who race in the US regularly] seem to love to race on dry slick dusty tracks so are very 'allergic' to watering the track. Australian tracks are prepared wetter and tackier. And most Aussie crowds[and localitys] would not cop the dust the dry tracks produce. Some of the 'internationals' do not shine at all in Aussie conditions hence they want the tracks prepared for them. Which is not very professional at all.
Though eastern Australia has had that much rain recently to get a show in you take what you get. A lot of shows have been rained out.
Stewart in particular should appreciate this and cop it like everyone else instead of bitching about it. He has raced here before so knows what he will get.

[wiligates]

Precisely.

Precisely what ?

[whitewaterMkII]

The Americans[And some of the Aussies who race in the US regularly] seem to love to race on dry slick dusty tracks so are very 'allergic' to watering the track. Australian tracks are prepared wetter and tackier.

hmmm....
Compare and contrast.
I admit these are just snippets, but Sydney Speedway, if this is representative looks in pretty bad condition here, rutted and bumpy, compared to Tony's track at Eldora.
TBH I don't see any difference in muddy vs dry in either vid.

[OfficeLinebacker]

The Americans[And some of the Aussies who race in the US regularly] seem to love to race on dry slick dusty tracks so are very 'allergic' to watering the track.

Hmm? I don't know much about dirt track racing but I've definitely heard and read that the practice of watering down tracks to get them tacky is SOP in the USA.

Dust is never preferred.

Glad Morris retaliated.

I'd call it a good old Aussie dustup but it wasn't dry enough, apparently.

[wiligates]

At this time of year in Sydney you only have to whisper the word speedway and it rains.So the track is rarely a dust bowl.Tony Stewart has been out here quite a few times so knows what to expect.I'm guessing there has been a personality clash and its been blown out of proportion.
I have a friend who races out there so hopefully in the next week or so i'll catch up with him and see if he knows what set this thing off.

[Lee Nicolle]

hmmm....
Compare and contrast.
I admit these are just snippets, but Sydney Speedway, if this is representative looks in pretty bad condition here, rutted and bumpy, compared to Tony's track at Eldora.
TBH I don't see any difference in muddy vs dry in either vid.

Eldora is quite dry and starting to be dusty there, whereas PCR has no dust. It has a few ruts but is hardly bumpy.
PCR is still not a 'proper' speedway though in a lot of peoples eyes as the fence is way over the other side of the trotting track which is outside of the speedway.
Most Aussie tracks start off wet and tend to go slick later in the night. Even after being graded before the feature races and watered during the program. But if it is hot they crust and tear tyres to shreds. I have seen meetings where a pair of rears a heat is in order.
Even in my old Classic I have burnt up a pair of rear tyres in 8 laps, with 230hp!!

[Ross Stonefeld]

Perhaps nationality is a bigger factor.

I'd say location and level of fame has more to do with it.

[wiligates]

Funnily enough even though it sounds like the classic "Don't you know who i am " situation, Stewart has been here a few times and i'm guessing comes here because of the lack of fame he has to deal with , he isn't really noticed.There is next to zero media coverage of speedway.Away from the track NO one and i mean no one would know him.Comes here for a week or two grabs some easy appearance money wins a round or two has some fun with no pressure to do much and jets back home, everyone's happy.

[Jim Thurman]

Stewart hit Morris with his helmet and Morris retaliated.
The Americans[And some of the Aussies who race in the US regularly] seem to love to race on dry slick dusty tracks so are very 'allergic' to watering the track. Australian tracks are prepared wetter and tackier. And most Aussie crowds[and localitys] would not cop the dust the dry tracks produce. Some of the 'internationals' do not shine at all in Aussie conditions hence they want the tracks prepared for them. Which is not very professional at all.

Not all Lee. It's more a Midwestern thing (at least in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio). California tracks often are traditionally "heavy", to the point that World of Outlaws founder Ted Johnson once got into a heated argument with the promoter and track prep man at Baylands Raceway. He insisted they have a dry track. After a lengthy delay, Johnson himself got on the grader and worked it until he got the surface he wanted.

The WoO in Johnson's day insisted on that type of track. It's more their thing than an American thing. Johnson wanted "consistency". Others pointed to the fact that the Outlaw regulars were often beaten by locals when they ran heavy tracks as being the real reason.

Edited by Jim Thurman, 23 January 2011 - 00:58.

[V8 Fireworks]

hopefully they will revoke his visa and not let him back in the country

Where was Fernando Alonso competing in an Australia sprint car race then?

Surely T-stew should get top marks for being a racing nut.

Of course, if the track is crap and not up to standard - then an argument may break out.

[stevewf1]

Hell, when I was in high school (USA, 1960s), this sort of thing went on all the time....

[teejay]

LMAO!

Break traction in a Mercedes: be detained, lose your car, major legal troubles, paparazzi, etc.

Smash a track promoter in the face with your helmet: short conversation with police, free to go!

Australia is a wonderful place!

You don't think race is a factor do you?

Also note: Tony Stewart is a track owner and promoter himself. In addition to being a team owner.

OLB, I can assure you it has NOTHING to do with race.

"silly" driving has been the in thing to nail people for in the last few years, Hamilton was the poster boy getting done doing a burnout.

[ArtShelley]

hmmm....
Compare and contrast.
I admit these are just snippets, but Sydney Speedway, if this is representative looks in pretty bad condition here, rutted and bumpy, compared to Tony's track at Eldora.
TBH I don't see any difference in muddy vs dry in either vid.

Still not reason to belt someone with a helmet. Maybe he thought it's WWF, but the black eye he received in turn demonstrated that things are just that more tougher down under.

I'm an Aussie and yes I fully confirm that assault is treated like nothing over here. You will get into far more trouble with some spirited driving, especially in the state of Victoria, than punching someone in the head and apologising afterwards.

[ArtShelley]

OLB, I can assure you it has NOTHING to do with race.

"silly" driving has been the in thing to nail people for in the last few years, Hamilton was the poster boy getting done doing a burnout.

Exactly, it was nothing to do with race.

Actually I was trackside on the day and actually saw Lewis driving out of the track and he had the rears stepping out with a small drift as he entered the slip road out (this is not where he was caught, which was the corner from the slip road out to the main road). We didn't know it was Lewis at the time but all the lads that were on the stands cheered the driver for a bit of fun. Now I did not see what he did later and what the police got him for, but if it was anything remotely like what he did out to the slip road then it was a horrendous overreaction not just by the Vic police but also by the world's media. When he entered the slip road it was at very low speed and he merely stepped on the gas as he turned just to spin the wheels up and slide the rears. Policing in the state of Victoria has become a joke, so much overreaction for driving related offences whilst serious crimes such as assault, drugs, underworld including hit crimes continue on with little interference from (and sometimes aided by) the police.

[Jim Thurman]

...and yet another reason why, despite an agressive PR campaign, Tony Stewart is not "just like A.J. Foyt":

A.J. won his fights

And I don't recall Foyt needing a weapon (Stewart is such a poor fighter, he has to resort to them).

Hmmm, should make a list "Reasons Tony Stewart isn't A.J. Foyt"

Edited by Jim Thurman, 23 January 2011 - 23:10.

[Alfisti]

Nothing to do with race, fame etc. You are FAR more likely to have the book thrown at you for doing 52 in a 50 zone than if you got involved in a skirmish at the local drinking hole.

Absolute nazi's patrolling the roads at home.

[Rubens Hakkamacher]

Nothing to do with race, fame etc. You are FAR more likely to have the book thrown at you for doing 52 in a 50 zone than if you got involved in a skirmish at the local drinking hole.

Not unlike small towns in the U.S.. The "role of the police" is a multifaceted one, in which "tax collecting" is an unwritten part of the job description.

[Sausage]

Yeah it's the same everywhere. Police are encouraged to write fines so they can pay their own salary I guess. Got my share of traffic fines myself for driving like 2 miles too fast.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Well I think it's dumb what Lewis got popped for, but I do respect that a little mano-a-mano can be settled without any charges being brought.

At least Oz got the first part right.

I imagine if T-Stew returns he and the other guy would sit for a pint of bitter together if the opportunity arose.

[Louis Siefert]

Well I think it's dumb what Lewis got popped for, but I do respect that a little mano-a-mano can be settled without any charges being brought.

At least Oz got the first part right.

I imagine if T-Stew returns he and the other guy would sit for a pint of bitter together if the opportunity arose.

mano-a-mano??

more like cara-a-casco

[OfficeLinebacker]

mano-a-mano??

more like cara-a-casco

haha good one.