Nov 10 2007
Mouthing off to the media
When it comes to “spins” in NASCAR – the media has it ALL over the drivers and their cars. Reporters have more “power” than the COT engine will ever have. And, depending upon the way a story is covered, a commentator can make a driver come out smelling like a rose…or like something off the bottom of your shoe.
Case in point: Kyle Petty said the “F” word on TV – clear as day – while serving as an in-car commentator for TNT Sports during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. The incident was pretty much ignored, with little or no mention anywhere in the media. I thought that was probably a wise choice on the part of the media. Mistakes happen. What’s done is done. No sense harping on it, right?
WRONG! Just a few weeks later, Tony Stewart said the “F” word on-air to a reporter who shoved a camera in his face, knowing full-well there was no delay on either the tape or Tony’s mouth. It was ALL you read or heard about. As a matter of fact, that incident is seldom left out of any Stewart-related article since. What’s with that?
