43
Stewart reaches out to Busch after last-lap collision
Photo
7.7.2009 Tony Stewart races past bleachers full of fans during an early heat race at Sharon Speedway on Tuesday evening. Geoffrey Hauschild
Photo
Tony Stewart signs autographs for fans at Sharon Speedway on Tuesday evening.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Stewart called his last-lap dust up with Kyle Busch at Daytona International Speedway last weekend “just a part of racing,” and Busch apparently agrees.
Stewart said he spoke to Busch on Tuesday and that the two NASCAR stars were on the “same page” following the accident that sent Busch to the infield care center and Stewart to Victory Lane in the final moments of the 400-mile race on Saturday night.
Busch took the lead on the next-to-last lap and tried to fend off a hard-charging Stewart. He successfully blocked Stewart once, but when he tried to do it again Stewart hooked Busch’s right rear fender instead, sending Busch into the wall a few hundred yards from the finish.
Stewart, the points leader heading into this week’s race in Chicago, said it was important to clear the air with Busch as quickly as possible.
“When something like that happens, you want to make sure that both guys are on the same page with what happened and we definitely were,” Stewart said. “I mean, there was no question on either one of our parts of what happened.”
Busch, who skidded across the finish line in 14th, has not spoken publicly since the wreck.
Stewart downplayed the significance of the crash, saying endings like that have been a part of racing at superspeedways for decades.
Stewart also said he is confident Goodyear has solved the tire problems that plagued last year’s race at the Brickyard.
Stewart is among the drivers who have participated in Goodyear’s seven test sessions at the track since last year, when severe tire wear turned the race into a series of 10- to 12-lap sprints.
“I can promise you they put on a full-court press on making sure we don’t have the issues we had last year,” Stewart said.
NASCAR seeks Mayfield ban
NASCAR on Wednesday asked an appeals court to ban Jeremy Mayfield from racing, alleging the participation of “a proven methamphetamine user” could lead to fatal consequences for other competitors and fans.
NASCAR wants the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen’s decision last week to lift Mayfield’s indefinite suspension following a positive drug test.
Mayfield attorney John Buric scoffed at the idea Mayfield is a potential danger and revealed the driver was tested twice Monday — once at an independent laboratory and once at his home by NASCAR.
“He’s not a danger, and they have the right to test him anytime to find that out,” Buric said. “In fact, they did test him on Monday night at his home. A group of people went to his home and watched him pee in a cup. It was humiliating.”
Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test eight days earlier. NASCAR has said he tested positive for methamphetamine, but Mayfield has denied using the illegal drug.
NASCAR’s appeal did not mention the most recent random test, but NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed Mayfield was tested Monday evening.