Home Depot May Dump Stewart? UPDATE – NO: For the second year in a row, Tony Stewart is on probation. Following an incident after the Brickyard 400 last weekend NASCAR officials fined Stewart $10,000 and placed him on probation through the end of the year. NASCAR also is requiring Stewart issue a formal apology. Stewart feels lucky to get off so easy with the sanctioning body. His concern now is that sponsor Home Depot and car owner Joe Gibbs might not be so forgiving. “I’m worried,” Stewart said. “The people at Home Depot are not happy.” The next 48 hours are crucial to his career in Winston Cup racing. Should executives at Home Depot decide Stewart is more liability than asset, the ax could fall before practice starts for the Sirius Satellite Radio at Watkins Glen on Friday. Stewart has expressed regret that the incident occurred and is taking steps to help him avoid similar outcomes in the future. For his part, Mook says the media has blown the incident out of proportion. Mook says Stewart hit him only once, not the two, three or even four times claimed by others.(full story and other notes at the Tampa Tribune) UPDATE: The Home Depot is concerned with Tony Stewart’s behavior, but the home improvement chain has voiced no intentions of replacing him as driver or leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, JGR president J.D. Gibbs told NASCAR.com on Wednesday. Recent reports said that Home Depot was so disgruntled with Stewart’s latest tirade — in which he shoved and attempted to kick Gary Mook, and Indianapolis Star freelance photographer, following the Brickyard 400 last Sunday — that they were contemplating the possibility of removing Stewart from the seat of the #20 Pontiac.(NASCAR.com)(8-7-2002)
