Tony Stewart recently sparked controversy with his comments about Kyle Busch's death, calling fans "a--holes" for judging him based on TV appearances.
What happened?
Stewart expressed frustration that people only want to talk about Busch's personality after his death, rather than taking the time to learn about him when he was alive.
He made these comments ahead of the NHRA race, leaving many to wonder why he's so angry.
Why it matters for Tony Stewart
Stewart's comments have been met with criticism, with many feeling that his rant was tone-deaf and misdirected.
He claimed that fans should have taken the time to learn about Busch as a person before judging him, but this argument has fallen flat with many.
What comes next?
The NASCAR community is still reeling from Busch's death on May 21, and Stewart's comments have only added to the controversy.
As the sport continues to mourn the loss of one of its biggest stars, Stewart's words have sparked a larger conversation about how fans interact with athletes.
Stewart's comments were made in response to the outpouring of tributes and condolences for Busch, which he feels are insincere.
He believes that fans are only paying attention to Busch's personality now because he's dead, rather than taking a genuine interest in him when he was alive.
This sentiment has been met with pushback from fans, who feel that they can only judge athletes based on what they see on TV.
And many are questioning why Stewart is so angry, and who exactly he's angry at.
But Stewart remains adamant that fans should have taken the time to learn about Busch as a person, rather than waiting until after his death.
So the controversy surrounding Stewart's comments continues to grow, with no end in sight.
The comments have sparked a heated debate about the relationship between fans and athletes, and how fans should interact with the sports they love.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Tony Stewart's comments have struck a nerve in the NASCAR community.