NASCAR champion Tony Stewart tangled in a Twitter war Monday evening. The three-time Cup champion waded into the controversy over NFL player Colin Kaepernick and the player’s refusal to stand for the National Anthem during a preseason game.
“I’m sorry but @Kaepernick7 needs to learn the fact about police before running his dumbass mouth,” Stewart said on Twitter.
“He has no clue what they go thru! #idiot.”
Kaepernick who was born to a white mother and African-American father, was raised by foster parents who were white. Friday night after the preseason game, Kaepernick explained his actions.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
I’m sorry but @Kaepernick7 needs to learn the fact about police before running his dumbass mouth! He has no clue what they go thru! #idiot
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) August 29, 2016
His refusal started a storm of controversy on both sides, both from supporters and detractors. As of Monday evening, his last from Kaepernick Tweet was dated August 27, Saturday.
Stewart, who is retiring from full time Cup competition this year, has also been a subject of controversy throughout his career. He was most recently involved in an accident at a dirt track in 2014 that left another driver Kevin Ward Jr. dead. A Grand Jury in New York declined to indict Stewart for any criminal wrongdoing, but a civil case on behalf of the family is still in court.
Stewart missed the first eight races of the season after a pre-season off roading accident.
After his Tweet Monday, many people, who can only be assumed are Kaepernick supporters, called out Stewart for the Ward incident.
“didn’t you kill a guy?” User @Philatticus tweeted. Stewart responded by tweeting back “you’re an idiot”
.@TonyStewart @Kaepernick7 didn’t you kill a guy?
— captain beefheart (@Philatticus) August 29, 2016
Dolphins running back Arian Foster saw Tony’s tweet and responded –tweeting, “How about attempting to educate him via your views instead of fueling hatred.”
He added, “You can get ahold of him if you want.”
There were also Tweets in support of the driver.
@TonyStewart @Kaepernick7 love you tony! 👍🏻👍🏻
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) August 29, 2016
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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