Believe that, and we have plenty
of land for your dream home down here in the everglades...
When I was just starting
my car-nut career (hey, I had the baddest Schwinn on the block, and for that matter, still do today) my immediate neighbor
had about a ‘56 Chrysler 300. It was big, really big. It made a ‘56 Chevy seem small and cheap.
One day, that Chrysler
pulled in next door and the front end, was simply a mess. Since it was a 1956 Chrysler the radiator and wheel alignment was
not damaged, but the bumper, grille, hood, etc were badly mangled. I tagged along when my Father inquired what had happened.
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"A guy backed into me"
the elderly owner replied. My eyes grew wide, and my dad asked the obvious question: "Gee, that’s a lot of damage, how
did he get going that fast?" The reply was incredible, "Well, I was following him down the road at about 50 mph, and all at
once he simply backed into me!" I cannot remember if my dad laughed, but I did!
Fast forward these many
years to July 7, 2007 and another guy (Terrible Tony Stewart) is trying to run the same ridiculous line by me again: "The
number 11 just stopped for no reason, right in the middle of turn four. [Denny Hamlin] tried to crash us in practice and didn’t
get it done so he finished it off."
This is coming from a
guy that was infuriated with Matt Kenseth because he supposedly took the air off of Stewart’s spoiler and got him loose–a
move which "made" Stewart intentionally knock Kenseth into the infield later in the race.
Back in the 1970's when
there was a huge disparity in speed from the front of the field to the back, Buddy Baker simply hit an independent carrying
approximately 20mph more that his hapless victim. A red-faced Baker emerged from the car and apologized to everyone involved.
Under the circumstances,
that was the classy way out of the situation.
Stewart, get a grip.
If you run into someone it is, um, your fault. You did, and it is. Period.
And the biggest shame
of it all is that two facts stand out.
1) Stewart is arguably
one of the best on the track right now (I know, so is Hamlin, Busch, fill your driver’s name in here).
2) Tony truly believes
what he says. He really does think that the world owes him, and truly is unhappy.
Tony, it doesn’t
have to be this way.
Jeff Gordon is a proud
new father, but was willing to let Mark Martin drive his car–and lose the points–to be with his wife for the birth
of their daughter if the situation required it. And when NASCAR docked him 100 points for a lump on a fender, he replied that
nothing was going to steal his joy that week.
Speaking of Martin, Mark
Martin is a man satisfied. He has stopped chasing the Championship ring, and even though NASCAR took a Championship away from
him with a bogus penalty, you never hear him complain of it.
And finally, Jamie McMurray
was simply overwhelmed at his victory–and it was a hard fought victory. McMurray has not complained about Stewart, or
any other competitor on his way back to victory lane for his second career win.
What do these three have
in common? Gordon has won four championships, Martin has 35 wins, and McMurray has just notched his second win. What they
have in common is that, although, some have more, some less, statistical success than Tony Stewart, all are happier with their
life.
No doubt Stewart believes
that he would be happy, if only others would behave as he would like them to, creating two absolute things to happen.
First, he simply cannot improve
as a driver. Certainly his car control is second to none, but his temper arguably cost him last years Championship, and very
well may cost him this one as well.
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Second, regardless of
success, Tony Stewart spends a great deal of his time truly unhappy, and has condemned himself to do so. Although Stewart
feels like a victim, it is his choice to continue to do so and to let his anger control him.
Hamlin did not wreck
Stewart any more than that ‘56 Chrysler was "backed into" back in the sixties.
Stewart fans, you have
the same choices that your hero does, as do we all.
Forward or reverse, it
is up to you. If there are realities to be faced, apologies to be made, humbleness to be realized, all are immediately in
front of you.
Fire it up! The caution
is over, pull out on the Superspeedway of life and hit that pedal with a clear and honest mind, taking responsibility for
both mistakes, and savoring victories as you earn them! Maybe, just maybe, someday Mr. Stewart will learn to do the same.
2006 StockCar Review.
