Tony Stewart confronts heckler at Chili Bowl Nationals

During the confrontation, other fans in the area yelled, “Tony, Tony, Tony”. The incident was captured on video on multiple smartphones. Stewart, accompanied by a security guard, climbed into the grandstands to confront the fan. However, three-time NASCAR champion was involved in some fireworks of his own at the Chili Bowl when he had words with a belligerent fan in the stands. Stewart had a smile on his face as he confronted the middle-aged man, but the smile disappeared when the man grabbed Stewart’s arms.

This should also be a warning to fans that NASCAR drivers and all athletes for that matter are people just like the rest of us.

The man reportedly flipped off Stewart who then entered the stands to grapple with the man. Stewart appears to be smiling at times as he tells off the fan.

Stewart went into the grandstands to show his displeasure with man who had been heckling him. Just because they have a job in a public forum like sports doesn’t mean that you have the right to say to them whatever you want.

Stewart killed sprint-car racer Kevin Ward Jr.in August 2014 in an on-track incident at a short track in NY.

Stewart was not charged criminally regarding the incident and the Ward family filed a civil lawsuit in August. The incident happened when Ward got out of his vehicle to confront Stewart after hitting the wall while the two were racing together.

Stewart isn’t driving in the indoor midget auto race in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stewart, a two-time Chili Bowl victor, is not competing in the weeklong event but is assisting with track preparations.