Rolling Stone does Smoke

For all of you who quit reading Rolling Stone after Hunter Thompson stopped writing for them/died, you should give the rag another chance and pick up the latest edition. If nothing else, check out the Mike Guy article on Tony Stewart. It pretty much confirms our suspicions that Smoke is the incarnate of motor racing's old guard, loves Schlitz, and eats doughnuts at a heroic pace.

The best quote of the article comes from Smoke putting life into perspective:

"Pussy, money and race cars. That's pretty much all I care about." Then he winks at me.

Full text below.

Where There's Smoke... (Rolling Stone)

The $10K push

Tony Stewart has been fined $10,000 for his actions at a USAC midget race at O’Reilly Raceway Park last week. Those "actions" included knocking an officials' radio to the ground and pushing another USAC employee. See the video. In addition to the fine, Tony Stewart Racing has been placed on probation for the rest of the 2008 USAC season.

The "push heard 'round Indy" happened when Smoke's driver, Tracy Hines, pitted for a tire change, but his car was deemed not ready to re-enter the race of the restart. This angered Stewart. Greatly.

USAC officials fine Stewart for altercation

Stewart can get rather agitated

Tony Stewart had a pretty eventful weekend in Indy. Aside from competing in Sunday's Brickyard, Smoke announced the sponsors and number for next season's Stewart-Haas Racing entry (Home Depot, Old Spice, #14), he also made time to pitch a fit at a USAC-race and push an official. WTHR has obtained video of the incident. Fine forthcoming.

Check it out.




Tony Stewart USAC Shoving Video Emerges

Up in Smoke

Being wrong is awesome. We indicated in last weekend's NASCAR-preview that Tony Stewart would return to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2009. "Tony Stewart will stay with Joe Gibbs Racing for his final contract year" was the exact wordage used. Turns out, this is not entirely true. Stewart is holding a press conference this afternoon where he will announce his move to owner/driver with (presumably) a renamed HAAS outfit.

Well, you can't win 'em all.

CUP: Stewart Leaving JGR For New HAAS Team


**UPDATE**

It's officially official. Now we were officially wrong.

Stewart granted release from JGR

2009: A year to quit

ESPN's Marty Smith has reported that Tony Stewart is trying to opt out of the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. His current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2009 season, but Stew reportedly wants released after the conclusion of this year.

Stewart Joins Nazi fetish-enthusiast Max Mosley, who recently said he plans to leave his FIA post after his term expires in 2009.

So... Mosley wants to stick around until his deal expires. And Stewart wants to cut out early, but both have 2009 marked as when they want to enact their respective changes.

Maybe Joe Gibbs and the FIA should just arrange a trade. Mosley to the Home Depot Toyota, Stewart to La Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. We're not sure how Mosley's car would look painted in Home Depot Orange.

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Um...Sick

Tony Stewart got his back waxed on his radio show. Pretty self-explanatory. Grundle next? Good God.

Stewart... More of a Michelin guy?

As it turns out, Tony Stewart doesn't think too highly of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. After Sunday's Atlanta race he let this tirade rip:



It's safe to say Smoke will not be getting an invite to ride in the blimp anytime soon. Also, what's the deal with Fox's Matt Yocum and the odd non-response? He is either really caught off guard, or just plain refuses to acknowledge Stewart's lashing. God only knows what Smoke would have done if he finished outside the top-three.