When the Sprint Cup driver's council decided to pick up Tony Stewart's $35,000 fine last week, it wasn't about safety or overturning a 2-year-old lug nut rule. It was a matter of principle. Council-member Denny Hamlin said last week at Richmond that the nine-member unit believes drivers have a certain obligation to express their opinions. Stewart maintains he should receive a refund, especially considering NASCAR heeded his warning and will begin to enforce all five lug nuts this weekend at Talladega. When it comes to the matter of honest drivers and their opinions, a balance must be struck when speaking in public. On one hand, NASCAR prefers all serious matters to be handled privately and behind closed doors. On the other, the Sanctioning Body also recognizes that it's important for drivers to look and sound like authentic human beings. But Danica Patrick doesn't even know where the line is after the Stewart penalty. "I feel like my answer should be I have no idea what I can say that’s not going to get me fined, other than nothing," Patrick said this week. "That’s my answer. That’s actually how mad I am about it, too. "It’s very hard to know what you can do or say anymore that’s not going to get you in trouble -- depending on the day or time or whatever." NASCAR has a brand to protect and in the case of Stewart, the Sanctioning Body believed the three-time champion was questioning the league's commitment to safety. But was NASCAR not guilty of the infraction, especially given that Stewart wasn't the first driver to bring up valid concerns of a potential loose wheel? Stewart said going through the media is sometimes the only way to get NASCAR's attention. "We do have (private) conversations, but sometimes I think the sense of urgency and the sense that this is really is an issue sometimes gets numbed with everything else that's going on," Stewart said. "With the lug nuts, there was proof that it was getting worse and not better. Sometimes you've got to shake them."Apparently, I shook too hard." Carl Edwards believes NASCAR wants its competitors to be outspoken while also not saying anything that damages the credibility or integrity of the sport -- and that's where the front office has to step in. "I guess that’s where we have to be careful," Edwards said. "I’m not exactly sure where the line is either, but I’ll tell you this -- everybody in the garage whether they’re in a fire suit or a suit and tie or whatever ... all of us want the sport to be the best it can be. "I guess we’ll just go do the best we can to promote the sport the best we can, but also I hope we’re able to just speak our minds. I haven’t had a fine yet, so I’m not exactly sure where the line is. I’ve been talked to a couple times, but nothing too bad." NASCAR has a recent history of thin skin, and Stewart probably does deserve a refund. For the sport to continue growing into the next generation, drivers must continue to connect with fans as real people with real emotions. At the same time, competitors can't unfairly lambaste the powers that be. It's a delicate balance and it's only become more complicated with the increased number of private meetings between the drivers, teams and NASCAR. All told, both drivers and the Sanctioning Body simply need to be fair and understanding of each other and this problem won't come up again.