His history is way overplayed..
It’s part of the Nascar mystique, but it does not extend to striking someone with a car.
He has wrecked plenty of drivers on purpose. Only TS knows for sure right now but I would bet the house that Tony was trying to be clever and scare the kid.
Too bad he did not apply all his skills and knowledge from all those years racing with the pros sat night when the caution came out.