Racer Tony Stewart hits and kills fellow racer during sprint

[terry78]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nascar-...s-fellow-driver-kevin-ward-jr-at-canandaigua/

Holy hell.

 

[The Spawn]

Leaving the car was a no.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Have to lay blame on the guy who was hit. It was like he was asking for it.

 

[Sekitar555]

Poor guy

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I guess, but it sounds like he was actually trying to get himself killed. I feel more sorry for his family and Tony Stewart who will forever have this on his conscience (even though it's not really his fault from what I've read).

 

[Asgard]

I guess, but it sounds like he was actually trying to get himself killed. I feel more sorry for his family and Tony Stewart who will forever have this on his conscience (even though it's not really his fault from what I've read).

I watched the video and Tony didnt try to avoid him like the other drivers. What he did was accelerate right near him which caused his back wheel to swerve and slam into the kid. I doubt he was trying to kill him on purpose but it seems pretty clear to me that he was trying scare him by doing that.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I honestly don't know enough about this story, so I'll take your word for it. Then they're both at fault, if that's the case.

I can't imagine what was going through that kid's head when he got out of the car. Either he was suicidal, or incredibly stupid.

 

[Marvolo]

The kid, and it pains me to come down on him, made a dumb decision by walking into the line of traffic. It's possible he was disoriented or concussed, and if that's the case then it's even more tragic. As for Stewart, the man is a professional and has been at this many many years. He would never accelerate near a person to scare them. That's ludicrous. The logical answer for why he didn't swerve is he didn't see the guy standing there. The track was dark, the driver was in a dark outfit, and Tony was traveling at high speeds surrounded by other moving vehicles. He just didn't see the guy in time to react and avoid him. It's that simple.

It's just a tragic situation that will haunt a number of people the rest of their lives.

 

[james-in-cali]

I grew up racing dirt tracks, the first thing I was told at 13yrs old racing 1/4 midgets is NEVER get out of your car unless its on fire. His car was not on fire, he was pissed at Stewart for getting in his back end and wanted to let him know, Stewart was probably trying to scare the kid and he got a little sideways and hit the kid. Its wrong on both ends, Stewart should not have been going that fast under yellow, and the kid should have never have been outside his car unless its under black ( race stoppage cars in pit area)
It would not shock me if Stewart is sued in civil court and loses for being responsible for his death.

 

[Asgard]

The kid, and it pains me to come down on him, made a dumb decision by walking into the line of traffic. It's possible he was disoriented or concussed, and if that's the case then it's even more tragic. As for Stewart, the man is a professional and has been at this many many years. He would never accelerate near a person to scare them. That's ludicrous. The logical answer for why he didn't swerve is he didn't see the guy standing there. The track was dark, the driver was in a dark outfit, and Tony was traveling at high speeds surrounded by other moving vehicles. He just didn't see the guy in time to react and avoid him. It's that simple.

It's just a tragic situation that will haunt a number of people the rest of their lives.

Watch the video. You can clearly hear and see him accelerate the moment he gets near the kid.

Tony's a hothead from what Ive been hearing and seeing. The dude threw his helmet at a car while it was moving because he was pissed or something.

 

[the last son]

I don't know for sure if intentional or not, but if he never left the vehicle he'd still be alive today.

 

[Octoberist]

I watched the video and Tony didnt try to avoid him like the other drivers. What he did was accelerate right near him which caused his back wheel to swerve and slam into the kid. I doubt he was trying to kill him on purpose but it seems pretty clear to me that he was trying scare him by doing that.

I kinda get that impression too. I mean, i don't know what's going through his mind at the time, but if Tony's reputation is correct (being a bit of a hot head), maybe he WAS trying to scare the kid ("Stupid kid! Why are you walking around like that?") and then it sadly backfired. I can see veterans of any industry doing stuff like that to the newbies just drive home a point. Pun not intended.

I don't know. I agree that both are at fault here.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I think both are at fault. Ward should have never came down the track to begin with. At the same time, you can see Stewart's car is much faster than the previous cars. Just a terrible situation all around.

 

[jmc]

I've heard people screaming 'murderer' about this which I think is BS, both drivers were clearly at fault, but if Stewart purposely drove faster in an attempt of intimidation you could see lawyers chasing him for manslaughter.

 

[Duke]

It's just tragic to die at such a young age, but it was not the best thinking on Kevin Ward's Jr. part to try and confront Stewart while the race was still going on & cars speeding by.

 

[HighFivingMF]

At the same time, you can see Stewart's car is much faster than the previous cars.

Isn't that the object of the game though?

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Isn't that the object of the game though?

The race was under caution. The drivers ahead of Stewart slowed down as they approached Ward's car. Stewart didn't. You're supposed to drive at a minimum speed under caution.

 

[jaqua99]

The kid, and it pains me to come down on him, made a dumb decision by walking into the line of traffic. It's possible he was disoriented or concussed, and if that's the case then it's even more tragic. As for Stewart, the man is a professional and has been at this many many years. He would never accelerate near a person to scare them. That's ludicrous. The logical answer for why he didn't swerve is he didn't see the guy standing there. The track was dark, the driver was in a dark outfit, and Tony was traveling at high speeds surrounded by other moving vehicles. He just didn't see the guy in time to react and avoid him. It's that simple.

It's just a tragic situation that will haunt a number of people the rest of their lives.

I don't know for sure if intentional or not, but if he never left the vehicle he'd still be alive today.

I kinda get that impression too. I mean, i don't know what's going through his mind at the time, but if Tony's reputation is correct (being a bit of a hot head), maybe he WAS trying to scare the kid ("Stupid kid! Why are you walking around like that?") and then it sadly backfired. I can see veterans of any industry doing stuff like that to the newbies just drive home a point. Pun not intended.

I don't know. I agree that both are at fault here.

I've heard people screaming 'murderer' about this which I think is BS, both drivers were clearly at fault, but if Stewart purposely drove faster in an attempt of intimidation you could see lawyers chasing him for manslaughter.

Both are at fault here. I am a life time NASCAR fan, and grew up on racing as well.

Tony Stewart has always been a hot head. Short tempered, impulsive, speak his mind. Look at ANY interview with the media. Tony got into it a lot early in his career, but he's cooled off, and he is absolutely NOT the hot head he was when he was in his early 30s.

Tony has a passion for dirt racing, and racing in general, and the guy is one of the best in the world. He's won championships in every professional car he's been in. Not a lot of people know that he was an Indy Car champion before moving to NASCAR's cup series.

With that being said, it's tough to say. Yes, Tony may have tried to scare him. However, those sprint cars, it's hard to see, the track was dark. Those things move around a lot. From what I've heard, steering those things takes just as much gas as it does wheel. If Tony was moving, wasn't paying attention, or simply didn't see him, it is understandable that punching the gas in an effort to swing the car around Ward is what happened.

Tony was obviously shooken up by it, and my heart is out to Ward, his family, and Tony Stewart.

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

Don't wish to speak Ill of the dead it that guy was a damn fool to get out of his car during an active race

 

[Teelie]

What more is there to say? Both made stupid decsions that cost one of them their life and the other likely their future.

 

[Farren]

Just out of curiosity because I don't know much about NASCAR racing: is there a policy or procedure about getting out of a car like this? I'm not necessarily hanging my decision as to culpability on it, but having watched the video I'm trying to understand what was going through Ward's mind (and the minds of the other racers).

 

[Boom]

Well that wasn't disturbing to watch at all .

 

[kane9321]

You dont get out of your car...you just dont

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Just out of curiosity because I don't know much about NASCAR racing: is there a policy or procedure about getting out of a car like this? I'm not necessarily hanging my decision as to culpability on it, but having watched the video I'm trying to understand what was going through Ward's mind (and the minds of the other racers).

Drivers have been getting out of their cars for years to confront drivers on an active race track. One that comes to mind was back in 2002. Jimmy Spencer wrecked Kurt Busch at Indianapolis. Busch then exited is car and came down the track to confront Spencer.


Crash happens around the 3:25 mark.

[YT]fYJIbJHfGZ0[/YT]

It's just frustration out of a racers mind to confront the driver. Busch was called to the NASCAR front office, but I think it was because of his gesture and not going on to the track.

 

[runawayboulder]

Has there been any release on the audio communications between Stewart and his pit crew? That may indicate if this was intentional or not. If I was the investigator, that's right where I would start...