Tony Stewart's reaction to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s win at the Quicken Loans 400 has been spreading online. During his press conference on June 17, Stewart was asked about Earnhardt ending his winless streak after four years. Stewart's response has angered some fans who have turned to his Facebook page and the team's Twitter account.
Stewart's Reaction
Tony Stewart finished in second place at the Quicken Loans 400 on June 17. A video from the press conference after the race reveals that he decided to take a blunt approach to questions about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s win. Stewart said, "No different than anybody else that does it. It's not a national holiday guys." He went on to add that everyone was "in a state of mourning" because the winless streak was over for Earnhardt. Tony Stewart is known for his general hatred of the media and frequent use of sarcasm during interviews, so the interview on June 17 was not an exception.
Fan Reactions
Stewart was one of the only drivers at the Michigan International Speedway who did not congratulate Earnhardt, so his reaction has garnered the most attention. Fans quickly turned to his team's Twitter account and Stewart's Facebook page to share their feelings.
Since neither the team nor Stewart had issued an additional statement after the press conference, many of the responses from fans have been negative. On Twitter, Tony Stewart has been accused of being jealous of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first place finish. The hashtag #DaleJr became one of the trending topics as fans congratulated the driver while admonishing Stewart.
On Facebook, Tony Stewart's page has been split between fans who still support him and fans who think he should apologize to Dale Earnhardt Jr. In addition to accusations of jealousy, many fans have added that they believe his behavior was not professional. Some expressed their disappointment in a driver who is supposed to be friends with Dale.
This is not the first time that Tony Stewart has had a negative reaction to Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2009, he called Dale a "no talent [expletive]" because he caused a wreck. However, they seemed to move on quickly from this incident and have even formed business partnerships. This year, they are sharing Danica Patrick who drives for both Stewart-Haas Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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Growing up in Indiana, Lana developed a love for motorsports at an early age. She follows NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.
