This much is clear: Tony Stewart is not in a racing frame of mind.
At least it's clear to everyone except, perhaps, his handlers.
Tony Stewart's racing career in jeopardy?
Stewart will miss his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup event this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
The Washington Post now his speculating that Stewart could miss the rest of the current Sprint Cup season as he continues to try to come to grips with the death of fellow race-car driver Kevin Ward Jr., who was killed Aug. 9 after climbing out his race car, angrily approaching Stewart's car on the track and getting hit by Stewart and thrown - killing him instantly.
Despite racing community support, Tony Stewart still faces tough questions
Stewart-Haas Racing Executive Vice President Brett Frood said Stewart is dealing with considerable grief over the tragic event, and that competition is the furthest thing from his mind right now.
"I'll be honest, the Chase is of the lowest priority as it relates to Tony right now," Frood told The Sporting News. "Right now it's about getting Tony in a better place than he is. When he's ready to do that, he'll get back in the car. Don't care about the Chase."
The Post added that an investigation into Ward's death by the Ontario County (N.Y.) police department could take another week to complete.
"Clearly, Stewart isn't going to drive until that is concluded and some are questioning whether he should drive again at all this season, even though fans and his fellow drivers have been supportive," the Post assessed.
The questioned to be asked, then, is why hasn't Frood or anyone else at Stewart-Haas Racing come out and said as such?
By announcing on a race-by-race basis that Stewart will not compete, his handlers are inadvertently keeping the tragedy alive because it's keeping everyone guessing as to whether the next race might be the race he returns.
Stewart currently isn't able to escape the media scrutiny because the issue is fresh on everyone's minds, thanks to the fact that each time Stewart decides not to race, NASCAR fans are reminded of the event that is forcing Stewart to consider whether to return to racing.
The racing world wants to hear the 43-year-old Stewart's account of the incident, and is hanging on each week to the soap opera as Stewart's handlers keep putting the question of his return as an episode cliff-hanger.
"Tony is surrounded right now by his closest friends and family," Frood told The Sporting News. "We're obviously in contact with him. His location is of a private (matter) right now.
"It's been an emotional week for him. He's grieving. Anytime someone is lost, especially at a racetrack, it's tragic. It was a tragic accident, and he's dealing with quite a bit of grief."
Frood's comments also have contributed to the speculation that it may be best for Stewart to stay away at least for the rest of the year.
If and when Stewart does return, his emotional state has to be considered, and NASCAR officials would be wise to recommend that Stewart check with doctors before returning to racing. The issue of driver safety - for Stewart and for his fellow competitors - should come to the forefront.
In hindsight, it was almost comical for the media to report that Stewart decided not to race at Watkins Glen immediate after the tragedy. Had Stewart raced, he could have been perceived as completely devoid of feeling.
The fact that he wasn't racing that weekend was a given.
The racing world probably is more than relieved at Stewart's prolonged delay in returning because it shows enormous compassion. But that brings us back to the issue of why no one in his immediate circle has come out and stated that Stewart is going to take a predetermined amount of time off.
Even if Stewart is unsure about how he might feel from day to day, surely someone in his camp has to have the common sense to tell Stewart to take a month, two months off and then make a determination. If Stewart found that returning to racing would've helped him in his grieving process, then he'd be able to cut the layoff short.
But by going from week to week, Stewart's handlers have put him under an unnecessary watch as fans check back on a consistent basis whether he is coming back from the tragic accident.
Should Tony Stewart wait until at least 2015 to return to racing? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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