From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:52 pm EDT

Tony Stewart thinks second place is the first loser

By Jay Busbee

In life, you lose more often than you win. Sometimes you get whipped, and you've just got to take it. And sometimes you miss out on a win by a tenth of a second, and darn it, you just don't feel like being a good loser. Such was the case Sunday with Tony Stewart, just barely edged out by Jimmie Johnson for a win at Richmond. Afterward, Smoke threw his equipment every which way, and took the curious motivational tactic of lambasting his own crew (mildly salty language here):


A transcript of the conversation between Smoke and crew chief Greg Zipadelli:

Tony (sarcasm dripping into the microphone): Good job there, guys, we gave another one away today. Great job.

Zip: 10-4. Great attitude there, Smoke. We stalled it a couple times on pit road there and gave up a spot. We win and lose as a team. It was a great effort, okay? Enough of that [garbage, for the under-12s in the house].

Tony: The difference is, I got [the places I lost] back.

Announcers: [Dead, uncomfortable silence.]

Yeesh. Think Darian Grubb, Smoke's 2009 crew chief, might be rethinking his job choice right about now?

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202 Comments

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  1. howboutdemSaints-mp
    1. Posted by howboutdemSaints-mp Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    lets see how he reacts next year when he is the owner and a driver does this
  2. art_tidesco
    2. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Bad day at the office ?
  3. howboutdemSaints-mp
    3. Posted by howboutdemSaints-mp Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    well not that i can see newman doing that but maybe in a couple of years if he last that long as a owner.
  4. packerd_00
    4. Posted by packerd_00 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    Why wasnt the race on tv, this would have been a fun race to see.
  5. MarKn
    5. Posted by MarKn Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    nice way to back your team tony now you look like the biggest idiot.
  6. Carol
    6. Posted by Carol Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Packerd do you not have cable?
  7. bill9
    7. Posted by bill9 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    big fat loser.
  8. Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments
    8. Posted by Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    This here' muh role model!
  9. Kim
    9. Posted by Kim Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Tony can be a jerk; yesterday was not the first time. Each time he left the pits late, he apologized to his crew. Yes, he is sarcastic in interviews when he has lost.; always has been, and I don't see a change in the future. One of the reasons he is my favorite driver is he reminds me of me. I can be very sarcastic and have a bad temper. The difference is that I have an opportunity to go for a walk and try to cool off...Tony doesn't. At least the reporters mostly stayed away from him right after the race and gave him a few minutes to calm down. Nascar mandates that the top finishers be at a press conference after the race, the drivers don't have a choice or they get fined. I can't imagine having to talk to reporters and having it broadcast to thousand upon thousands of homes and businesses when I'm upset because I made a couple of mistakes and my team made a couple of mistakes. Does anyone remember Jeff's whining last year when Jimmy barely bumped him and got by for the win? Again earlier this year whining about Jr not being a team player? Not all drivers are willing to say "Oh, well" and let it go; Tony is one of the most passionate drivers out there and is probably putting an immense amount of pressure on himself to go out with one more win for JGR.
  10. DFB1962
    10. Posted by DFB1962 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Granted not the best comments to make, esspecially on mics that get broadcast all over, but look at the track record of his crew over the past 3 or 4 races. Tony's pit entering position and his exiting position. His crew has not been performing like a Chase Pit Crew.
  11. Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments
    11. Posted by Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    I love the guy but it's times like these whether I can't decide to laugh or shake my head in disappointment.
    I know he was close, but so has everyone else on many occasions. And I know he has a temper but I think I'd rather watch someone actually cry in disappointment than throw a hissy fit like this. It's [garbage, for the under-12s in the house]
  12. urbangrl
    12. Posted by urbangrl Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    man i hate him! what a sore LOSER! Never liked him always has a poor attitude to his crew and other drivers. Just wait dude, Karma is a b**ch! Wait til you put yourself in Zip's shoes and your driver pulls the same crap, then maybe you'll become a better person and athlete! Jackass!
  13. jorge p
    13. Posted by jorge p Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    y is he mad about not winning? i thought he didt want to give toyota a win of his own? i guess thats just his way of saying " thanx for everything zip"
  14. Jim
    14. Posted by Jim Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Why are any of you suprised?? He is the biggest baby in Nascar followed by Hamlin.....Good luck next year Tony!
  15. brad s
    15. Posted by brad s Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    yeah yeah he's a spoiled brat cry baby (fill in the blank) but you can't knock his generocity, he is in the top 20 of all celebrity philanthropist. so he really is a good person, just really really frustrated right now
  16. Lainey
    16. Posted by Lainey Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Ah Tony has a temper? Who knew? I like the fact he can show emotions, which most drivers lack. But he does make the D00D's attitude look good. Kyle always thanks his crew!
  17. The Pest
    17. Posted by The Pest Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    These are the reasons why I call him Tony the Crybaby.
  18. pop79364
    18. Posted by pop79364 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Add poor Jr to the list of whiners, always blaming his crew for his problems.
  19. CARGUY
    19. Posted by CARGUY Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Tony is a winner and winners don't like coming in second. i could understand his frustration but that conversation should have taken place in the hauler after the race was over and the camaras were off.
  20. CARGUY
    20. Posted by CARGUY Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Why don't the pictures in this column ever show up on my computer? anyone else have this problem?
  21. DF
    21. Posted by DF Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    zippy handled it like a good dad does - put the bratty kid in his place. i understand tony's competitive side and his desire to win, but his temper tantrums are getting old.
  22. kinggeorge
    22. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Tony.....that was a bit over the top for a professional of anything. It's ok to be angry and upset about not winning but respectable people know where the line is lashing out at others. Save the crew flaming for the privacy of your own shop. Dale Jr. did the same thing yesterday cussing about the inadequacy of the team and equipment. Rick got on the radio and calmed him down by using humor saying; and we pay you an awful lot of money to do what your doing.
    Jay--Try and get the audio of Jr. yesterday, but you won't be able to post half the transcript because it was NC-17 all through out. Surprised nobody is talking about it. Jr. commented to the media that he assumed that was a private conversation. yeah right Dale.
  23. BMT
    23. Posted by BMT Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Does any buy that his team lost him the race? Ever since he announced he was leaving Gibbs, he hasn't been worth a darn.
  24. Kelly R
    24. Posted by Kelly R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    I'm not a Tony Stewart fan but give the guy his own...he is a two time Cup Champion and has built his own racing stable of teams in several different racing leagues. The truth is his team did give the lead away in the pits and he was RIGHT for calling them on it. I bet J.D. Gibbs did the same thing ( perhaps with a little more class); but hey thats Smoke. Thanks Tony for telling it like it is even when it's not popular, with the media, nascar, or the sponsors. Finally a race car driver to look up to........
  25. Kelly R
    25. Posted by Kelly R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    I'm not a Tony Stewart fan but give the guy his own...he is a two time Cup Champion and has built his own racing stable of teams in several different racing leagues. The truth is his team did give the lead away in the pits and he was RIGHT for calling them on it. I bet J.D. Gibbs did the same thing ( perhaps with a little more class); but hey thats Smoke. Thanks Tony for telling it like it is even when it's not popular, with the media, nascar, or the sponsors. Finally a race car driver to look up to........

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