According to reports by the Associated Press, three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is hopping mad over the $200,000 in fines that NASCAR has levied against Stewart-Haas Racing for allegedly manipulating the finish of last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
At Texas Motor Speedway for the 13th Smoke Show, a racing fantasy camp that raises money for Speedway Children’s Charities on Wednesday, Stewart opted not to discuss the issue.
“I’m not going to talk about it,” Stewart told the AP. “I’m so mad at NASCAR right now, I’m not talking about it.”
NASCAR fined Cole Custer, driver of the No. 41 SHR Chevrolet and his crew chief, Mike Shiplett, $100,000 each, while Custer and the team were each docked 50 points. The penalties were the results of NASCAR ruling that Custer attempted to manipulate the finish of the race to help teammate Chase Briscoe advance in the playoffs.
Stewart-Haas Racing is appealing the penalty and issued a statement in that regard on Wednesday.
Stewart told the AP he would not be attending this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and will instead support his NHRA drag racing team that will be in action at the Texas Motorplex.
“Super glad I’m going drag racing this weekend,” said Stewart. “If it weren’t for the fact that I’ve got a couple of appearances that I have to make, I wouldn’t be in another NASCAR race the rest of the year. Wouldn’t waste my time.”