FORT WORTH, Texas – With his team still appealing $200,000 in fines and charges from NASCAR that Stewart-Haas Racing manipulated the ending of the most recent NASCAR playoff race, co-owner Tony Stewart chose not to discuss that Wednesday.
“I’m not going to talk about it,” Stewart said. “I’m so mad at NASCAR right now, I’m not talking about it.”
NASCAR said Tuesday that a review of the group’s data and communications showed that Stewart-Haas manipulate the results of the knockout race in Charlotte.
While continuing to appeal in that case, Stewart-Haas on Wednesday declined to appeal previous penalties, including $100,000 in fines, against Kevin Harvic and his crew chief behind his Ford check after failed race at Talladega.
That move was announced after Stewart spoke to reporters at Texas Motor Speedway. He was in Texas for his 13th Smoke Show fantasy racing camp, an event that in its history has raised more than $1.5 million for Children’s Charity. Speedway in Texas, but hasn’t been held for the past two years because of the pandemic. He will then travel about 75 miles for the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals this weekend in Ennis, Texas.
“So glad I’m going to be in drag racing this weekend,” said Stewart, who has a car in two of the NHRA’s top divisions. “If it weren’t for the fact that I have to show up a few times, I wouldn’t be in another NASCAR race for the rest of the year. Wouldn’t have wasted my time.”
When asked if he was still having fun with the NHRA, Stewart replied: “Very good. The atmosphere is very, very different. And I like the atmosphere there, I’ve had it all year.”
On Sunday, Cole Custer seems to intentionally keep a line of traffic on Charlotte’s road as a teammate Chase Briscoe overcame the past in a desperate attempt to advance to the third round of the knockout round.
“There’s nothing to contradict that was done intentionally,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller said on Tuesday.
Briscoe finished ninth, good enough to overtake the defending champion NASCAR Kyle Larson from the knockout round as field is cut from 12 drivers to eight. Briscoe took eighth and final place in the next playoffs by two points ahead of Larson.
NASCAR fined Custer $100,000 and lost 50 driver points, as well as 50 owner points to SHR. Captain Mike Shiplett was also fined $100,000 and suspended indefinitely.
Stewart sent a tweet Tuesday night reads, “Looking for a new weekend hobby (something that’s not in the Southeast) if anyone has any ideas.
This week, that includes catching some drag races.
