Of course, Tony Stewart is going out swinging.
The Stewart-Haas Racing team owner and driver put NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France on notice that a disconnect between NASCAR's racers and its management is growing, and it's France's fault, according to a radio interview on Sirius/SM Radio via USA Today Sports.
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In an interview with radio host Dave Moody, Stewart complained that drivers "never see Brian France" and don't believe he understands their concerns about the challenges facing their circuit.
"I want to see Brian France at the track more," Stewart said. "I want to see him walking through the garage more. I want to see him being more active than just showing up and patting the sponsors on the back and going up in the suite. I want to see him down there in the trenches with everybody and understanding what's truly going on. I think that's where he needs to be for awhile."
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France is the third-generation family member to run NASCAR. His grandfather, who founded NASCAR, and father governed the sport until they died, USA Today Sports reported.
Whereas they frequently visited the garages at the track and talked to drivers, Brian France acts like a CEO. He does not attend the driver council meetings, citing the desire for the meetings to have more honest dialog that he says would occur in his absence.
Stewart's not buying France's argument.
"I would like for him to be there because the stuff I'm talking about, I want to know before I leave that room that he understands," Stewart said. "I want to see he cares enough to be there, not sit there and get a report from somebody.
"I know Brian France cares. But I think there's a lot of things that get lost in translation between a driver going to talk to somebody in the (NASCAR office) trailer to the time it gets to him. Who knows what it sounds like by the time it gets up there -- or if it even gets up there. ... He doesn't have to say anything. We just want to know that he's hearing what we're saying."
The two were at odds last year when France wanted to implement a high-drag package to help lackuster races -- at the suggestion of his vice president of racing development, Gene Stefanyshyn. Stewart wanted a low downforce package and was upset France sided against him despite all his years of experience as a driver.
None of which Stefanyshyn has, according to Stewart.
Stewart, who already had a tumultuous week last week at the Chili Bowl, which involved an altercation with a fan, said he felt the need to speak out on France, even if he gets in trouble for it.z
"I don't care what the repercussions are," he said. "I'm saying it because I care. I'm not trying to pick a fight with him. Nobody wants to disrupt the apple cart, nobody wants to make Brian mad. But we're all in it together. If it doesn't work for one, it doesn't work for all of us."
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