Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: After fender-bender in LV, Stewart crashes in S.C.

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 | 8:50 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Tony Stewart was released from a Florence, S.C., hospital Monday after being held overnight for observation following an 11-car wreck in Sunday's Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Darlington Raceway.

Stewart, who was knocked unconscious in the pileup, complained of lower back pain and numbness and tingling in his left foot. He was airlifted to Carolinas Hospital System, where he was X-rayed and given CT scans of the head, chest, back and pelvic area on Sunday. Stewart underwent an MRI Monday morning before he was released. All tests were negative, according to a team spokesman.

The accident was not the first one in which Stewart was involved this month -- but it certainly was the most serious.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, Stewart was involved in a minor fender-bender in Las Vegas the day before he finished fifth in the March 3 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Stewart was cited at about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, after the rental car he was driving changed lanes and sideswiped another car on I-15 near Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas. Stewart was cited for making an unsafe lane change, which carries a $95 fine according to an NHP spokesman.

"As you are probably well aware, Brooke has filed for divorce. Being a personal matter, I hope that everybody will respect our privacy as we work through this difficult time. I also hope everybody will understand that it would be improper for me to discuss or comment on this matter publicly.

"I appreciate the support I've received from my family, friends and those in the racing community."

Legends Cars drivers Spencer Clark, T.J. Clark and Justin Johnson have been suspended from LVMS points events as a result of "rough driving" during Saturday's Legends Cars main event at The Bullring, according to LVMS officials. The Clarks are suspended until May 4; Johnson's suspension will run until March 30.

Also, engine builder Rick Keller is prohibited from attending all LVMS points races until June 22 for his actions during the Late Model post-race technical inspection.