Tony Stewart was fined $35,000 last week after calling out NASCAR for its stance on safety in regard to lug nuts. On Monday, the governing body announced a new lug-nut rule — while retaining Stewart's fine.
NASCAR's penalty to Stewart may appear duplicitous to some, but NASCAR chairman Brian France took to the airways on Tuesday for the second time in three days to discuss Stewart's fine.
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“He’s part of the driver’s council and he’s an owner as well, so he has a direct line to express those views, which he did not do,’’ France said Tuesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.