NASCAR stars say no disrespect for Obama

AP via Google ^ | Paul Newberry

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HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — NASCAR star Tony Stewart scoffed at the notion he turned down an invitation from the White House as some sort of political statement.

Stewart is among four Sprint Cup drivers who say they can't attend next week's meeting with President Obama because of scheduling conflicts. Eight others who made last year's Cup playoff, including five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, plan to be there along with NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France.

"Trust me, if we could be there, we'd definitely be there," Stewart said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I've always viewed it as an honor just to get an invitation to go. I've enjoyed every trip every time I've gone there. I've learned more and more about it. And it's pretty cool feeling to be with most powerful man in the world. That's not an invitation we take lightly."

When word got out that Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards wouldn't be going to the White House next Wednesday, it sparked plenty of chatter on talk shows and social media networks. There was speculation the four were making some sort of protest about Obama's policies on behalf of a generally conservative sport.

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I had the same opinion until someone posted that obama owns the Federal Agencies that have the ability to cause them a lot of trouble and hurt thousands of innocents, [to wit] the FBI, the IRS, and their case, the EPA. And as the Gibson Guitar incident illustrates, he hi not bashful about using them to get his point across.