Tony Stewart says NASCAR’s decision to fine teams for public criticism of the sport is OK

Smoke says NASCAR’s clampdown is OK

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Count two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart among those who think NASCAR’s decision to clamp down on public criticism of the sport is OK.

NASCAR warned teams during the offseason that critical comments would no longer be tolerated, and in an appearance Wednesday with Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Stewart said he didn’t think the policy was necessarily a bad thing.

Stewart says in the heat of the moment drivers say a lot of things, and it transfers to the media and the people.

At least two star drivers have been fined for comments that were deemed destructive to the industry. Stewart, who once compared NASCAR’s officiating to professional wrestling, says he doesn’t know who was fined, but says he wasn’t.