Tony Stewart accidentally kills driver

[therapist]

http://www.freep.com/article/20140810/SPORTS16/308100124/tony-stewart

[therapist]

I sure hope he and his team come to their senses.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/if-tony-stewart-won-t-sit-out-watkins-glen--nascar-needs-to-park-him-123253719.html

[..]

I sure hope he and his team come to their senses.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/if-tony-stewart-won-t-sit-out-watkins-glen--nascar-needs-to-park-him-123253719.html

He will not be racing today.

[bigguy]

He will not be racing today.

He may not have a choice. I'm not a big NASCAR fan so am admittedly speaking out of my league, but I did hear an anchor mention that if he sits out this race, he no chance at the championship. (What ever that is.) Also, he may have financial and legal commitments to sponsors.

[..]

He will not be racing today.

He may not have a choice. I'm not a big NASCAR fan so am admittedly speaking out of my league, but I did hear an anchor mention that if he sits out this race, he no chance at the championship. (What ever that is.) Also, he may have financial and legal commitments to sponsors.

Your welcome
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/08/10/tony-stewart-watkins-glen-nascar-sprint-cup/13857187/

[bigguy]

He will not be racing today.

He may not have a choice. I'm not a big NASCAR fan so am admittedly speaking out of my league, but I did hear an anchor mention that if he sits out this race, he no chance at the championship. (What ever that is.) Also, he may have financial and legal commitments to sponsors.

Your welcome
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/08/10/tony-stewart-watkins-glen-nascar-sprint-cup/13857187/

I guess he won't be racing today. 

[Patrick]

Every year when at Watkins he goes to Canandaigua and makes a few laps.[Its only a few miles from here]. There are still several stories going around about what happened. Whatever took place, its tragic.

[hairyteeth]

These cars can turn and stop on a dime. Why when the caution comes out do they continue around the track? Don't they have to stop the race to collect the damaged car anyway? HT

[Patrick]

These cars can turn and stop on a dime. Why when the caution comes out do they continue around the track? Don't they have to stop the race to collect the damaged car anyway? HT

Its a dirt track. And the fellow killed got out of the car and was walking across the track. There are a couple rumors going around about what happened to cause the initial crash and the resulting accident.
Stewart is not running today.

[eric in md]

racing is racing and this is a tragic .. but really new rules will be out now to never get out of your cars.  if the young man would have stayed in car wouldnt of happened . it sure dont fix this but he was pissed off .. you mark my words there will be new rules next week.   racing is racing  still sucks honest

[musclehead]

I went to youtube and watched a crappy video of the event, I can't tell if Stewart intentionally hit the kid or the kid jumped in front of his car. bad angles and really bad resolution left me undecided.

[Jess Tolbirt]

These cars can turn and stop on a dime. Why when the caution comes out do they continue around the track? Don't they have to stop the race to collect the damaged car anyway? HT

no they cant stop and turn on a dime,,,, hit the gas to go left..let off and it goes right,, notice you have to turn right to go left? do not walk out on a dirt track during a race, yellow or not,,,these cars idle at 50 mph. they weigh about a third of a nascar and have more horsepower,, they are twichy and will jump out from under you in a heartbeat..

[Patrick]

I went to youtube and watched a crappy video of the event, I can't tell if Stewart intentionally hit the kid or the kid jumped in front of his car. bad angles and really bad resolution left me undecided.

There are some local videos floating around. Its said He and Stewart had a problem a couple laps prior and may have been trying to confront Stewart just prior to getting killed. I can't imagine Stewart hitting him intentionally, but, thats one rumor. Right now all I hear seems to be speculation. The Sheriff is investigating, we'll see what he has to say.

[CajunRider]

Would anyone in their right mind walk out in the middle of a busy interstate??? 
Would anyone in their right mind walk out in the middle of a busy race track??? 

Whether Stewart hit him intentionally is only ONE part of the incident...  Walking out onto a live race track full of cars is grounds for a Darwin award. 

If you can't hold your temper, stay out of sports (goes for both Stewart AND the other driver).

Truly a sad day in sports.    

[Bighead]

No criminal charges pending according to a report during the nascar race.

[cookiedough]

am sure stewart feels horrible as any one would.  That young driver should've stayed in his car and kept his cool.   A little bumping in racing is fairly common and the young Ward just lost his temper too quickly and overreacted.

Am sure there will be new rules stating MUST stay in car after accident or else be disqualified, fined, etc.

[Willow]

I find the use of the quotation marks disgusting.

I'm not a particular fan of Tony Stewart and I am very fond of my friend, Therapist, but I do not approve of this kind of jumping to an unwarranted conclusion and accusation.   

[..]

http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708

[Patrick]

The Ward boy was 20 years old, tragic. The word is that he and Stewart connected on the previous lap bringing out the yellow. It appears Ward got out of the car and was trying to confront Stewart as the traffic was going past. It appears Stewart didn't see him in time due to traffic and couldn't stop or get away from him.

[..]

The Ward boy was 20 years old, tragic. The word is that he and Stewart connected on the previous lap bringing out the yellow. It appears Ward got out of the car and was trying to confront Stewart as the traffic was going past. It appears Stewart didn't see him in time due to traffic and couldn't stop or get away from him.

Video in link above your post..

[Big Al of Tennessee]

My Blather on this.

Watched the video, amateur, 15 times.

Tony did get into the Driver Ward, in what looked to be turn 2. Ward's car hit the fence.

On the caution laps that followed, the drivers were doing about 35mph.

Ward exited his vehicle, to, I am sure, show displeasure, but was wagging his finger at the wrong

car it appears, #45. Stewart was directly behind in #14. The young man was hit and died at the

local hospital. Stewart's car is gunned, I think due to the weight of Ward's Body hitting the small

sprint car, twisting Tony to press the throttle, slightly, on impact.

Stewart immediately stopped on the track, the video stops there.

Hard to watch, but watch it if you will. No Charges being looked at, viewed, only as a on-track

accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERwHtuWmn2s

[doubletee]

No Charges being looked at, viewed, only as a on-track
accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERwHtuWmn2s

...so far. Investigation is ongoing.

[Bighead]

No Charges being looked at, viewed, only as a on-track
accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERwHtuWmn2s

...so far. Investigation is ongoing.

Sherif said no criminal intent or otherwise to file charges, and then said DA would investigate.

[scooperhsd]

I cannot imagine any driver being THAT calloused to deliberately run down a competitor. A tragic accident. I feel sorry for all parties involved.

[Pappy!]

Stewart is known as a "bad boy" in racing. That being said, the man has a good heart and a good head on his shoulders. No way would he intentionally run over a 20 year old kid. No way!
It's one thing to teach a youngster a lesson on a track and another to be able to intentionally take the life of a boy.

[wiggydotcom]

I grew up watching clay track racing at two speedways, Bob Jo in Sycamore and Santa Fe Speedway in Willow Springs, Illinois. I've seen the World of Outlaws and they are incredibly powerful cars.

If anyone has ever sat in the first few rows of one of these events, they are going to get pelted with clay kicked up from the tires.
Tony Stewart is the only one that really knew what his intentions were. Tony has been known to be confrontational in the past. While I don't believe in my mind that Tony hit Kevin Ward on purpose, I COULD see a scenario that would have contributed to the unfortunate accident.
Several witnesses claimed Tony gunned the car when he got close. Two things would happen. The car's rear end would slide to the right(towards Kevin) and the spinning rear tires would be throwing a hailstorm of clay at the man(possibly what Tony wanted). It's possible Tony misjudged being past him when he gunned it.

Of course, I don't believe anyone can prove a case where Tony is charged with a crime. But why would any driver gun the throttle while under caution? The question is brought up not only by me, but by trackside witnesses and other drivers?

It was also unfortunate that Ward got out of car and put himself in a dangerous situation. I think that was the #1 mistake. But I also think it was pretty poor driving by a Pro like Tony.

[therapist]

Willow, that story had just broken when I posted.  I only used the quotes because, at that time, it wasn't clear whether it was an accident, or not. The way the world is going, crazier things have happened.

[Willow]

Thank you, Ron.  You've always seemed unexpectedly nice for someone who goes by the tag The Rapist.   

I've read what was available.  I'm pretty sure the death was accidental.  I will hold open the possibility that Mr. Stewart may have intended to scare him and made unintended contact or contact with an unintended result.  Whether it could be proven or not under law that would make him a guilty man.  I personally hope that the contact was a complete shock to Tony Stewart.  It would be hard enough to live with as a complete accident but even worse if something he did he felt contributed to the death.

It is a tragedy for sure.  A twenty year old man's life ended for no good reason.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thank you, Ron.  You've always seemed unexpectedly nice for someone who goes by the tag The Rapist.   

I've read what was available.  I'm pretty sure the death was accidental.  I will hold open the possibility that Mr. Stewart may have intended to scare him and made unintended contact or contact with an unintended result.  Whether it could be proven or not under law that would make him a guilty man.  I personally hope that the contact was a complete shock to Tony Stewart.  It would be hard enough to live with as a complete accident but even worse if something he did he felt contributed to the death.

It is a tragedy for sure.  A twenty year old man's life ended for no good reason.

I think you quite accurately summed it up as best anyone can.  Only Mr Stewart knows what his intent was.  The only thing that can be known for sure is that if the young kid hadn't gotten out of his car and stepped onto an active race track, He would not have been run over by Tony Stewarts car the way he was.

BTW, the "" "" marks were accurate, although probably unnecessary and maybe even a bit cruel.  I understood them and was not offended nor thought anything negative about the OP's choice to use them.  Just wanted to say that

[Hooter]

Like or dislike Tony Stewart, he or no one else for that matter would intentionally run over anyone. He may find someone in the pits after the race and confront them there but to say he intentionally hit this kid is absurd. There are rules about exiting your vehicle. IF you feel you are in immediate danger such as fire, then you may exit. The kid went out on a dark track in a black suit to give Tony hell and was where he didn't belong. Tony was not the only car to go past this kid like Al said. It's a tragic ACCIDENT and nothing more. I feel for everyone involved.

[Clark]

anybody that knows anything about sprint cars knows that ya steer with the rear wheels and the throttle.. i saw the video.. I say he gassed it to try and avoid him

[The emperor has no clothes]

anybody that knows anything about sprint cars knows that ya steer with the rear wheels and the throttle.. i saw the video.. I say he gassed it to try and avoid him

I understand that, but it looked like he didn't gas it till he was right next to him. The video is not the greatest but when you hear the engine rev he is aside the car. That said I seriously doubt he intended to hurt him . I THINK he probably intended to spray him.

[Jess Tolbirt]

anybody that knows anything about sprint cars knows that ya steer with the rear wheels and the throttle.. i saw the video.. I say he gassed it to try and avoid him

I understand that, but it looked like he didn't gas it till he was right next to him. The video is not the greatest but when you hear the engine rev he is aside the car. That said I seriously doubt he intended to hurt him . I THINK he probably intended to spray him.

the video is from a fan on the front stretch,, the accident was on the back stretch,, how can anyone say they heard tonys car gas it with all the others out there doing the same? anyway further investigation reveals that the driver behind tony said that tony tried to avoid him..

[The emperor has no clothes]

anybody that knows anything about sprint cars knows that ya steer with the rear wheels and the throttle.. i saw the video.. I say he gassed it to try and avoid him

I understand that, but it looked like he didn't gas it till he was right next to him. The video is not the greatest but when you hear the engine rev he is aside the car. That said I seriously doubt he intended to hurt him . I THINK he probably intended to spray him.

the video is from a fan on the front stretch,, the accident was on the back stretch,, how can anyone say they heard tonys car gas it with all the others out there doing the same? anyway further investigation reveals that the driver behind tony said that tony tried to avoid him..

You are right, it's hard to determine much from that video.

[Patrick]

Its now being reported that Ward was hit with the rear tire. That track has always been poorly lit, apparently it still is. ' They ' think that Stewart may not have seem him.  The car in front of Stewart could have also been blocking his sight of Ward.

[Rams]

Not a Stewart fan, hell, I'm not even a NASCAR fan really.    

Though this is truly a shame, this kid signed his own death warrant.     As Forrest Gump said, Stupid is and Stupid Does.      Getting out of that car and intentionally seeking out another race car on a track is, PRETTY FRIGG'N STUPID.    It may have been an act (non-thinking) such as Road Rage  but, it was still stupid.     I don't think I could blame Stewart for anything.    

Darwin's Rules of Survival apply here.   

[lakehunter]

Having been a licensed competition driver and car owner I can remember the driver's meeting prior to every race with the track steward stating the driver is to remain in the car, helmet and safety harness on, until track safety crew members arrive at the car. Only if a fire is impinging on the driver's compartment is exit advised. I have seen the spray debris tactic often, did Tony do that, only he knows but it is a common reply on dirt tracks everywhere. This is a sad accident with several mistakes made by both individuals. My condolences to the deceased and hope that Tony can deal with the mental anguish we would all feel in similar conditions.

Mike

[doubletee]

Having been a licensed competition driver and car owner I can remember the driver's meeting prior to every race with the track steward stating the driver is to remain in the car, helmet and safety harness on, until track safety crew members arrive at the car. Only if a fire is impinging on the driver's compartment is exit advised. I have seen the spray debris tactic often, did Tony do that, only he knows but it is a common reply on dirt tracks everywhere. This is a sad accident with several mistakes made by both individuals. My condolences to the deceased and hope that Tony can deal with the mental anguish we would all feel in similar conditions.

Mike

  Very well said, Mike.

[BF]

Having been a licensed competition driver and car owner I can remember the driver's meeting prior to every race with the track steward stating the driver is to remain in the car, helmet and safety harness on, until track safety crew members arrive at the car. Only if a fire is impinging on the driver's compartment is exit advised. I have seen the spray debris tactic often, did Tony do that, only he knows but it is a common reply on dirt tracks everywhere. This is a sad accident with several mistakes made by both individuals. My condolences to the deceased and hope that Tony can deal with the mental anguish we would all feel in similar conditions.

Mike

Heck....even in R/C racin', they tell you in every driver's meeting to NOT walk out on the track. 

[Gavin_Sons]

Tony is from where I live, his house is only 10 miles from mine. He is a good guy, I know several people that know him very well. He may be a hot head but I'm sure he wouldn't run over a kid or anyone on purpose. He would more likley get out of his car and give him a beating he would remember. My opinion is the kid should have stayed in his car, he knew the dangers of exiting his car on the track and unfortunately he and his family paid the consequences.