Stewart Backpedals on WWE Comment

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Before he was allowed in the racetrack, NASCAR made sure Tony Stewart knew the rules. Summoned to a 6 a.m. meeting Friday morning with top series officials, the two-time champion retracted every bit of the sharp rant he launched against NASCAR while admitting he damaged the sport's credibility by likening it to professional wrestling.

"I'm sure I did hurt the integrity of it, and unfairly," he said.

Although Stewart wasn't punished for the comments he made on his weekly Sirius Satellite Radio show, NASCAR did fine him $10,000 for skipping a postrace news conference in Phoenix last week. He also was placed on probation through the end of the year. "I can assure you, Tony Stewart knows where he stands with NASCAR right now," spokesman Jim Hunter said.

That was obvious as a humbled Stewart issued several mea culpas after his hour-long meeting with NASCAR. His team was forbidden from unloading Stewart's car until the meeting concluded, forcing his crew to wait at Talladega Superspeedway while the driver met with president Mike Helton, competition director Robin Pemberton and series director John Darby. "It's a little tender for me to sit down right now," Stewart deadpanned after the meeting.

But Stewart otherwise was serious about the controversy he started by accusing NASCAR of using bogus debris cautions to orchestrate the races. The comments were made on his Tuesday night radio show, and in comparing NASCAR to wrestling, Stewart perpetuated every stereotype that NASCAR battles in mainstream America.

For that, some believed Stewart should have been punished severely....More?

source: nbcsports.com