We are already 14 races into the 2009 season, and one of the most outspoken drivers in the sport today has been awfully silent as of late. But at the same time he has also been making noise, but in a more positive way. During the season opening Daytona 500, Tony Stewart acted like his usual self when he blasted Goodyear for the tire that blew on Ryan Newman's car, which resulted in both he and Newman having to start the race in their back-up cars. Stewart's fiery personality is exactly what NASCAR needed at a time when the sport had just lost there biggest star. But did Stewart take it a little too far, especially after Home Depot stepped in and threatened Stewart to either slow his roll, or they would pull their sponsorship?

Stewart started drawing bad press for his on track incidents early on in his career. The best known of these came at Watkins Glen in his sophomore season back in 2000, when he and Jeff Gordon tangled and crashed. Stewart made his displeasure toward Gordon known in an obscenity-laden tirade. And it didn't stop there but instead continued the following year in 2001 when Jeff Gordon pulled a "bump and run" on Stewart to gain a better finishing position in a race in Bristol, and it resulted in Stewart retaliating in a post-race incident by spinning Gordon out on pit road. Stewart was fined and placed on probation by NASCAR. He got into further trouble at Daytona, when he confronted a Winston Cup official after ignoring a black flag. At the same race, he also got into an incident with a reporter, kicking away a tape recorder.

Stewart confronted the same NASCAR official at the race in Talladega after refusing to wear a mandated head-and-neck restraint. Stewart was not allowed to practice until wearing one and only managed to practice after his crew chief, Greg Zipadelli intervened. His fines and probation periods resulting from these incidents have earned Stewart a reputation of having a hot-temper, and he became NASCAR's "bad boy". In 2002, Stewart continued his "bad boy" image when during the second half of his season was plagued by an altercation with a photographer after the Brickyard 400. NASCAR put Stewart on probation for the rest of the season. On August 16 2005, Stewart was fined $5,000 for hitting the car of Brian Vickers, after the completion of the Busch Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Stewart was driving a Busch series car owned by Kevin Harvick Incorporated at the time. Stewart also was placed on probation until December 31.

2006 had to be one of Stewart's roughest seasons. Stewart expressed concern to the media about the possibility of aggressive driving resulting in the serious injury or death of a driver. It came during a week in which the racing world remembered the fifth anniversary of the death of legend Dale Earnhardt, who died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Just a few days after Stewart's comments to the media, during the 48th running of the Daytona 500, he was involved in a number of incidents with Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, who he chased halfway across the track to run into the grass. "He has no room to complain," Stewart said of his brush with Kenseth. "He started it, and I finished it".

On July 23, Stewart once again was at the center of a media storm. On lap 31 of the Pennsylvania 500, Stewart was accidentally squeezed against the wall by fellow driver Clint Bowyer. Stewart responded by waving his hand in anger, then purposely hitting Bowyer's car. This contact sent Bowyer spinning down the front stretch where he collided with Carl Edwards. Stewart was promptly held one lap by NASCAR for rough driving. He did however pass leader Ryan Newman to get back on the lead lap and eventually rallied to finish 7th and get back in the top 10 in the point standings. After initially refusing to take responsibility for the incident he apologized the next day.

On June 4, 2007, Stewart and Kurt Busch had an incident on pit road in the Autism Speaks 400at Dover International Speedway. Busch passed Stewart on the inside, and Stewart smacked Busch into the wall, knocking out Busch, but with Stewart staying in the race. Under the caution, Stewart was on pit road in his pit box when Kurt Busch pulled along side to express his feelings over the incident. One of Stewart's crewmen had to jump out of the way of Kurt's car to avoid being hit.

But what has happened to NASCAR's "bad boy," ever since his last blow-up back in February? Has he finally decided that its time to shed that image now that he is part owner of his own team? So far this season, Stewart has shown us a different side, a side that some probably never thought existed. Instead of lashing out at the media because he got beat and had to settle for second or third, Stewart graciously speaks words of wisdom that are not only different, but also a breath of fresh air. Stewart has always been consistent whenever it came to his over zealous on track antics, and he has never been one to hide his true feelings. Either way he is still one of the most energetic drivers out on the track today, and you never know when that fuse will get lit and vintage Tony will magically explode right before our very eyes. But until then, it's nice to see another side of Stewart, a side that hopefully can continue even if things don't go his way. Im Out