To my friend Steve...

Dear Steve:

I write this letter to hoping that we have many years - decades - of friendship ahead of us. I know you're fighting the fight of your life, and that it's tough - not only on you but your wife Karen and your son Bryson. I can't imagine the fortitude it takes to deal with what your family is dealing with right now. And I can't imagine the fortitude that your lovely wife and incredible son have to be there by your side. You are all exhibiting a strength and dignity that should set an example for everyone in all walks of life when facing difficult circumstances.

I have a confession to make. One that I am very ashamed of but one that through the wonders of social media and introspection on my own weaknesses I am proud to say it's something I was so very wrong about.

I wasn't always a Steve Byrnes fan.

There were times I would sit and watch and listen to you work, and you had too much fun. I thought you laughed too much. You obviously didn't take yourself too seriously. And I didn't like it.

I mean, you were on national TV! How could you not take yourself seriously? This is NASCAR man! It's serious stuff. We need facts! We need analysis! What's with all the corny jokes and laughter in the booth?

But through this wonderful thing called Twitter, I realized why you goofed off and had fun when you were broadcasting races. It's because, as I said above, you didn't take yourself seriously. Because racing is supposed to be fun. And you were having fun!!

There was a time when I was on the outside looking in. And I was envious of those who were doing everything I wanted to do. I wanted to be talking. I wanted to be laughing. I wanted to be making others laugh. I wanted my voice to be heard. I mean, I had important things to say and no one to say them to! I was jealous, pure and simple. And jealousy is a very ugly thing.

But then Twitter came around. I'd see what you posted. I'd see how you interacted with people. And oh by the way, you interacted with a smart-ass cone from time to time too. Eventually I saw that it wasn't "buffoonery". It was you being you. And you taught me that none of us should take ourselves so seriously that we can't laugh at ourselves.

Racing is not rocket science. It's not brain surgery. It's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to take us away from the stresses of real life. It's a buncha good ol' boys driving around in circles at a high rate of speed. And it's supposed to be fun! I came to the realization that you're one of the people who have made it fun.

There are some people in NASCAR right now this very moment that, at least to me, don't look to be having a lot of fun. Sure, there is a lot of pressure involved. But when the pressure is off, people need to step back and smile. No, they need to step back and laugh! No one, I repeat NO ONE, should go through life not being able to laugh - even at themselves - and enjoy their surroundings. That's what you have taught me. I am ashamed that it took me a while to get to that point, but I am so happy that it was you that made me see it.

I love that we've had the chance to talk, not only via Twitter but the several times we've crossed paths this year. I could talk racing with you for whatever amount of time you'd give me, especially those old Busch Series drivers and cars from the glory days of the 1980s. Most of that history you brought to me when I was a much younger cone when I'd anxiously tune to TNN to watch "Inside Winston Cup Racing". Your voice is synonymous with NASCAR for millions of us, and we're all hoping it's back again when you kick cancer's ass.

I don't like speaking for others, but I think it's safe to say when I say I speak for the entire NASCAR community - it's drivers, teams, sponsors, officials and fans - when I tell you that we love you. We think about you every day, and we're here for you. Stay strong, and keep fighting. And please, let us know if there's anything we can do for you, Karen and Bryson.

You friend,

The Orange Cone

It's close to Halloween - let the witch hunt begin! Tony Stewart and the mainstream media

We're halfway through the month of October, so you know what that means right? Lots of little ghosts and goblins and witches and zombies running through the neighborhood, and many children drifting off into a diabetic coma after ingesting too many Skittles, M&Ms and Starburst.

But since we're so close to Halloween, why not continue the tradition started in Salem, Mass. back in the 1600s? Let's go on an old-fashioned witch hunt with the mainstream media! The target? That should be obvious! None other than three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart.

No wait.

According to the mainstream media, it's not "three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart." It's "Tony Stewart, who back in August struck and killed Kevin Ward at Canandaigua Speedway in New York State."

Never mind that a thorough investigation found ZERO criminal liability. Nope, none of that matters.

What does matter is there are plenty of video clips of Stewart losing his temper, and on Saturday night they added another one when he backed his car into Brad Keselowski after contact at the entrance of pit road following the race. Those video clips lead to the opportunity to sensationalize! Why let the facts get in the way of a good story, right?

We've seen Good Morning America and now ABC World News Tonight both present abysmally poor reports on the so-called "NASCAR Brawl" following the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both reports made it seem like Stewart backed into Keselowski with the intent to do physical harm, which, after all wouldn't be a surprise because hey look at this video of Kevin Ward running down the track after Tony crashed him!

Yes, the incident on pit road and the following rumble in the garage isn't quite the image NASCAR wants to present to sponsors. But you know what? It's exactly that image that NASCAR fans crave.

Emotions! Anger at your follow competitors. The frustration of being on the brink of Chase elimination. It all boiled over and the result was great theater for those of us watching at the track and at home. By the way, none of that anger and frustration involved Tony Stewart until the drivers feeling those emotions involved him in their fracas. Then and only then did Tony deliver his message.

And that message was as minor as it could possibly be.

So Tony rumpled Brad's fenders. Big deal. How is that worse than throwing a brushback pitch at a batter's head? Or an illegal chop block aimed at injuring a football player? Or an enforcer dropping a shoulder and breaking a hockey player's ribs? Here's the answer: it's not worse. In fact, it doesn't even rate. Very simply, it's not news.

And while we're at it, let's put an end to the "well, Tony should have known better after all he's been through" crap that's floating around out there. Tony did nothing wrong at Canandaigua, and his participation in the incident at Charlotte was tangential at best. As soon as he starts thinking that way, he's done as a competitive racecar driver.

The story isn't so much that Tony "lost his temper and backed into another driver's car". No. The story is, finally, "Tony Stewart is back."

It's a real shame some major mainstream news agencies chose not to report it that way.