DALLAS – A refresher course in anger management might be in order for Tony Stewart.

His volatile temper used to cause him problems off the track. Now it seems the outbursts of rage have taken over on the track.

And other drivers have noticed. They’re wondering what in the world is going on with the 2002 Winston Cup champion.

Stewart has been involved in bumping incidents during five of the last six Nextel Cup events. Rubbing is racing in NASCAR, but Stewart’s overly aggressive driving of late is leading to a lot of angry reactions.

Rusty Wallace tops the list. After bending sheet metal with Stewart last weekend at California, he saw Stewart give him an unfriendly hand gesture on a caution lap.

“He’s really screwing up a lot lately,” Wallace said after the race. “He got me in the back really hard at Bristol. He got me in the back at Martinsville. He caused a huge wreck last week at Talladega, and then he runs me right through the fence this time.

“I’m sick of his childish actions. The boy needs to grow up. He’s frustrated, I guess, but he’s got to keep his emotions in check.”

Stewart claims he just got loose last weekend after Wallace hit him first. But Stewart has hit too many cars over the last month for all the bumps to be someone else’s fault.

CBS SportsLine.com asked Web site visitors about Stewart this week, and 66 percent of respondents said he fell under the heading of “spoiled brat.” Only 11 percent thought he was a victim, and 23 percent said he was a frustrated driver.

Fox broadcaster and three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip said Stewart might need a one-week suspension. That would be a huge penalty for man in contention for a coveted top-10 spot in the Chase for the Championship.

NASCAR officials met with Stewart last Friday at the California Speedway to discuss his behavior, but no penalty was assessed. Even after the incidents two days later, Nextel Cup director John Darby said no additional action was needed.

Stewart always has been an aggressive driver. So was Dale Earnhardt, for that matter. But when does it become too aggressive?

“You can be aggressive with respect, and you can be aggressive without respect,” said Tommy Baldwin, crew chief for rookie Kasey Kahne. “Some guys out there don’t have any respect.

“That’s the biggest thing I preach to Kasey. You have to earn respect, but some people that had respect are using it up. They better take a look at what they’re doing.”

Veteran drivers often complain about young, inexperienced drivers being dangerous and out of control. At 32 and in his sixth Cup season, Stewart doesn’t fit in the young or inexperienced category. So what’s really going on with Stewart? For someone as fiercely competitive as he is, not winning could be the answer.

Stewart hasn’t won a race this season in the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet. He has dropped from second to eighth over the last six weeks.

He finished 14th or lower in five of the last six races. His only top-10 finish in that stretch was an eighth-place showing at Texas Motor Speedway, which happened to be the one race in which he didn’t have an on-track incident.

Stewart is accustomed to winning and running up front. When it doesn’t happen, his frustrations get the best of him.

Wallace has been there. In 20 years as a Cup driver, he’s had some moments he regrets. So despite his anger, Wallace said he would like to talk to Stewart about what’s troubling him.

“He’s in a ditch right now,” Wallace said. “He needs some help. He’s a good driver, but he’s trying to make the car do things it can’t do. He needs to stop driving like an idiot.”

A BUMPY SIX WEEKS FOR STEWART AND HIS PEERS

Tony Stewart has been part of controversial on-track incidents in five of the last six Nextel Cup races:

Darlington, March 21

– Stewart, rushing to get by the slower car of Andy Hillenburg, hit Hillenburg’s car and caused Hillenburg to spin before he was T-boned by Jeff Gordon. Stewart also had a bumping incident with rookie Kasey Kahne later in the race, an apparent retaliation move for an earlier incident.

Bristol, March 28

– Stewart smacked into rookie Scott Wimmer. He also made contact with Rusty Wallace.

Martinsville, April 18

– Stewart had two bumping incidents with Ryan Newman’s car and one with Rusty Wallace’s.

Talladega, April 25

– Stewart punted Kurt Busch, starting an eight-car pileup. But Stewart also was bumped and spun by Jimmie Johnson. After the race, Stewart abruptly turned left beyond pit road, causing Terry Labonte to hit him from behind and leaving both cars with major damage. Then Stewart drove backward down pit road, a rule violation.

California, May 2

– Stewart met with NASCAR officials before the race, but no penalties were assessed. Then he was involved in three racing incidents. First, he bumped with Jeff Gordon. A few laps later, Rusty Wallace bumped into Stewart before Stewart banged into Wallace, forcing him against the wall. Stewart later ran into the back of Ricky Rudd’s car.

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AP-NY-05-07-04 2020EDT