Looked like an accident to me. I doubt a criminal case will go anywhere. But a civil case? Boy howdy.

Never leave your car.
People try and emulate what they see on TV and many a pro has chucked a helmet at Bristol, etc.
I can see a young local gunning for a ringer at his home track.
Reporters are usually only half informed about any aspect of racing.
Gunning the engine to spray a guy sounds ridiculous.
Sad all around.
I'm under the grandstand at the Glen waiting for the race to start....so far I have heard they didn't address it all.

I can't see that holding much water. I see TS claiming the guy was wearing black and intentionally out in traffic on a dirt race track at night.

I see the other side saying look at the video. That gunning these cars brings the rear to the right. TS guns it right before hitting him and the track crew was on the down driver about 6 seconds after being hit. Clearly they were on track well before he got hit...yellow was out long before that. If TS was running a GoPro camera, that should tell the entire story as well.

TS and the track will face a humongous wrongful death suit...TS for hitting him and the track for not throwing a red flag for a guy on the track. If they haven't already changed, I'd suspect the flag rules will be changed to red for a driver on track outside of a vehicle and an automatic out for a year or longer if, prior to the track crew arrival, a driver exits a car not on fire or otherwise in immediate danger. Also, no more black or dark racing suits.

TS should not be charged but what a waste and shame for that young man. The hothead was obviously the driver jumping out and directing himself INTO oncoming cars. Car was NOT on fire and he chose a stupid thinking that ended his life. That's INSANE, temporarily or not. Complete loss of common sense. Would you do that on a busy roadway if cut-off by another driver? After watching the vid, tend to agree with mreid and jgreen. I've been a spectator of these events at a local fairground (believe TS has been at it a few times) and even under a yellow, its tight traffic and speed is still up. Lighting is certainly not as good vs. daytime.

Even though he has a fairly predictable behavior, not right to pre-judge TS or what he was thinking at that moment.

This was bound to happen sooner or later. NASCAR and World of Outlaws have pretty much encouraged the "WWF" aspect of their respective sports. It's like the fighting in hockey - while technically "illegal", they do nothing to discourage it. It even shows up on their highlight films - fighting and confrontation as a "highlight" of racing? They have brought this on themselves.

As far as winged sprint cars, I agree with what was said above, by a guy who actually raced them. I've never raced one, but I've sat in plenty of them as I used to help a neighbor build motors for some local teams, and help with just general wrenching on a couple. Of course I had to sit in them to see what it was like. Anyway, it is very likely Stewart never saw the guy, until he saw at most a pair of legs at the last possible moment. If even that. I believe he goosed it to turn under the car that he knew was there, and that this poor kid was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Trying to emulate what he had seen on all of those "highlight" films...

A guy jumps out of his car on a hot track, navigates his way into oncoming traffic to try and make a point and get's hit and this is some how anyone else's fault but his? Nope, Ward Jr. is 100% at fault, no question about it. He stays in the car, he's alive right now. He saw racers on TV do similar stunts over the years, i.e throwing helmets, pointing at drivers, etc, and thought he'd be a big shot and do the same to a NASCAR driver. I feel for the family but what the hell did the guy expect to happen getting out of his car on a racetrack?!?!

that was the 1st thing that crossed my mind. the showmanship is encouraged!

Do drivers get fined for getting out of the car in a situation like this? If not, they should.

When that guy made the decision to unstrap and exit the car, he assumed a lot of risk.
Death by testosterone.
Sad for everyone involved.

Kinda reminds me of the movie theater shooting awhile back. One guy started it and the other guy ended it.

Tony will walk. He makes too much money for everyone involved to be prosecuted over a "racing accident." The nobody driver/victim will be blamed (corporate media blitz by NASCAR and Stewart's legal/money team) and he'll escape with his aggressive reputation that much more inflated. "It was an unfortunate accident (that let everyone know not to F with Tony)."

What was said earlier about the "WWF" mindset being applied to auto racing (and many other things) is good to remember. Fans go to tracks to see this kind of thing and you can assume that ticket sales might go up after this, especially if Stewart continues his driving career legally unscathed. Dale Earnhardt Sr. earned this same reputation, as an overly aggressive driver, and it boosted NASCAR's profits into the stratosphere. Bottom line is we love a-holes and Stewart has enriched himself and his sponsors and NASCAR by being one.

The dead driver should have stayed in his car--but he can't let Stewart embarrass and shame him that way. He has to get out and gesture (or worse) at Stewart. WWF! If he wanted to become a big-name racer he has to take on the goliaths, like Stewart, and show them he is as tough and aggressive as they are. "You steal some of my sheep and I must come into your house at night and kill you so no one else thinks they can get away with effing with me." (Malcom Gladwell's theory of defending one's reputation.) Stewart, in the same way, has to show that he is the Alpha Dog a-hole and shower the loser with dirt. It goes wrong and now it's a tragic mess. "Turn the other cheek" has no place in a WWF world.

Let me also add that at the end of the 1976 Daytona 500 David Pearson and Richard Petty crashed together on the final lap racing toward the checkered flag. There was no fight afterwards and Petty and Pearson chalked it up to it being a racing accident. (They both turned the other cheek.)

Fast-forward to the end of the 1979 race, the first live TV broadcast of the 500. Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison crash as they race to the checkered flag. This time there's a fight and the TV ratings go through the roof as they replay the fight over and over. Fans talked about it nonstop for years after and NASCAR was launched into the billion-dollar era as corporate sponsors rushed in to take advantage of the huge increase in televised live racing. Aggressive behavior made everyone rich.

Dale Earnhardt sees this trend and makes his own name and reputation driving as aggressively as possible and intentionally wrecking not just other drivers but the stars of the sport. He paints his car black and is nicknamed "The Intimidator." Ratings go through the roof and the riches pour in. NASCAR is very hesitant to penalize Earnhardt because the fan response would definitely have a negative effect on revenue. The A-holes are good for business. Then one day Jeremy Mayfield bumps race leader Earnhardt into a spin on the last lap of an small-oval race and goes on to win. The outrage is deafening. Asked about it in the pits Mayfied replies, "I don't see why he is so upset, he made his reputation doing that to other drivers." Then we get to the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt is blocking Sterling Marlin and helping his teammate Michael Waltrip preserve his lead to the finish line. Marlin does what Earnhardt would have done and pushes hard into Earnhart's rear bumper, causing the spin that resulted in Earnhart's crash. The testosterone went too far and the biggest star in the history of the sport died because of it. What goes around comes around, one might be tempted to say.

But it makes people rich. Tony saw what the fans wanted and what NASCAR silently endorses, this kind of WWF/cage-fight behavior, and he fits right in because he was born an aggressive guy. It made him rich, as it did Earnhardt before him, and now we have another death because of it.

Fans still cry over Earnhardt and throw beer bottles at Jeff Gordon's car when he wins. (Or they used to before NASCAR clamped-down on that.) We don't want you to turn the other cheek, we want you to kill the other guy.

What evidence exists that Tony gunned his engine? The sound track contains noises from many many cars. The video shows he turned his wheel to avoid him. It also shows Tony Stewart was not the cause of Kevin Ward hitting the wall.

A rush to judgement is easy, especially based on limited evidence. I'm sure the number of people who tweet "I was there and this is what I saw.." outnumbers the total attendance at the Daytona 500.

It looks and sounds like inexperience, emotion, and Smoke's continued extremely bad racing luck this year combined to cause this tragic occurrence.

It does appear that he gunned it to break the tires loose an slip his rear end AWAY from the guy. Could be a camera angle/perspective issue I suppose. Heck, it might have been the impact with the guy that popped the rear down-track.

Amen



The MSM coverage has been annoying me with little to no explanation of standard track procedures, just running the clip over and over and over and...

Yes, Tony Stewart did run over a fellow driver, who was killed. But know the whole story. | News | Motorsport.com

Good story here.

I wonder where a young driver would ever get the idea it's OK to walk onto the track under a yellow?:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=925 &bih=460&q=tony+stewart+throws+helmet&oq=tony+stew art+throws+helmet&gs_l=img.12...0.0.1.43519.0.0.0. 0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1ac..51.img..2.24.1445.DDrwh bE0Xrc

I have to take issue with this one...HTF is he a "great man"? :confused:

The average person has never heard of him, I'm not sure but I've probably heard his name in passing. NASCAR is not real big with the more educated parts of the country. I'd personally rather paint a wall and set up a couple of chairs to watch it dry than watch one of those "races". :rolleyes:

It's tragic that the young driver lost his life over a moment of lost temper/bad judgement but at least it's in the papers so maybe he can be a cautionary tale. This sort of thing happens every day of the year on a street somewhere but no one ever hears about it.

THis Tony Stewart guy sounds like a typical NASCAR schmuck, not some great, heroic figure.

And his team manager calling it, "business as usual", until the inevitable PR schit storm rolled in? Yeah, these are great people.

That's just ridiculous!!! I don't follow either series, at all! So my only knowledge of Stewart is that he races in NASCAR. Until this incident, I had no idea about his reputation.

TS maybe an azzhat but its the WWF and bullring fighter rolled into one. The promoters are azzhats too. A loss of life happens. Is it really going to change the sport? I don't think so.

My thoughts exactly. Plus he would have limited visibilty with all the dirt that had been flung up. So about half of a second to decide how to avoid the guy.

Sad all round situation.

Easier to wait for the end of the race and go punch the guy in the face when in the pits, if you still feel like it... Poor judgement: you do not walk in front of a bunch of race cars on a live track, at night, on slippery surfaces, with drivers potentially having dirt in their field of vision... what do you expect? Gunning it is irrelevant, you are always playing with the throttle to turn/slide those things... If it wasn't Stewart, it probably would not have made the news (in that fashion). But...someone who might have been a nice guy (just had a crazy moment) died... it remains a tragedy. This will definitely make me think next time I have the smallest inkling of road rage..

And the NASCAR safety guys just stand there and let him do it because it's good for business.

Bizzare how often these antics are the routine today. Put some blame on the promoters. If World of Outlaws or NASCAR really cared, as of today a new rule would apply to all the bobo drivers attempting the aggressive behavior of walking, throwing helmets, etc. on a hot track. Penalty? Ban their license.

BTW: What would have fans said if TS was killed during the incident because of this other driver?

On a positive note, I hope this tragedy sends a message to all in the league. Ultimately, they have to come to respect and focus on the talent, not nitwits.

A guy's temper can get him killed in a heartbeat. It's a wonder I'm alive with some of the thoughtless stuff I've done "under the influence".

I gotta agree with you about the "great man" aspect, but make no mistake, TS is a GREAT driver, and if it wasn't for the Nascar aspect, you'd probably give him some props for being just that. No doubt in my mind, he'd clean anybody's clock that's EVER posted on Pelican and probably a LOT of professional 911 drivers...he IS that good, and has been so since he was a kid in ALL types of racing and tracks (including road courses...he is simply one of the best). I'm not a TS fan, never have been, and don't follow Nascar anymore, but imo this race and incident had NOTHING to do with Nascar. He was doing what a lot of them do....racing...out of the limelight on a Sat. night dirt track race. Why? 'Cause that's what he is...a "racer". Nascar is just the "show" that allows them to make millions every year and let's them do what they LOVE to do for a living...race. Just trying to put some perspective on this...YMMV.

Again...this race had NOTHING to do with Nascar.

^^^^ This!!!

ps: TS is not nearly the hothead that he was as a youngin' imo....like a lot of us...he grew up.

OK - Crashcar and World of Outlaws / sprint, IRL whatever they are today.

This sounds like an instance of my favorite saying......Stupidity is Instantaneous! In many cases it can get you injured, maimed or even killed!

It is a bad thing when this happens and all the finger pointing starts and the blame gets assigned by those who were not there and probably have never driven on a dirt track in their life! Back in the 60's when I would drive sportsman cars on those 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 mile dirt tracks, the starter (who was also the promoter/safety/track manager) would tell everyone...."In case of a wreck or accident or rollover or anything else that makes your car stop it's forward momentum.....YOU STAY IN THE CAR UNTIL THE WRECKER ARRIVES"! I remember several times when guys would loose their temper (after a few beers usually), jump out and would be out for the season.

You've never been to Home Depot?
Jim

Guess I wasn't paying attention.

I have to agree with this. Ward ran into traffic. He even had to step back, and then stepped forward again to try to literally poke Stewart's car. As a racing driver, you should know not to do that. You should not have to steer around a pedestrian race driver on any race track. It's not like you're a soccer mom driving around a bus stop full of kids. You are on a friggen race track, with a high powered car. Trying to jump in front of one is how you end up dead.

What it looks like to me!
 

Is the guy "Ward" almost ran/walked into the first car that almost hit him and based on the short distance that Stewart was trailing that guy, his presence on the track might have been partially obscured and yes the black suit/helmet made it difficult to see him, but the first driver obviously picked up on him just slightly before hitting the guy, but he had a better and clearer view of the track not following as close behind the car in front of him! Then around comes Stewart probably swinging wide to see where his competitor ended up after tangling and I am sure he would have been looking over at the car position up against the guard rail and not straight in front of him. If I was a driver, I won't expect a guy out in the middle of the track! From my viewpoint of the video, I don't think Stewart gunned it! I think as the guy was being ran over, it lifted the right rear tire and would have lurched the car to the right with a body wedged between the ground and tire and the left still making traction. Also the rpms would have elevated with a tire off of the ground and I bet it also bounced the car slightly even unweighting the other tire and plus that is the point where it is straightening out and where you would have applied power even on a pace laps.

To determine for sure, they do need more angles! The only one that I watched, it doesn't look conclusive against Stewart, and I am not his fan! The Ward guy to me, looked like his initial intention was to get in front of Stewart, and almost walked/ran into that first car in front of Stewart. Also on the track, Stewart got position, but Ward kept on it and got jammed up. Yes it would have been good driving if Stewart would have held his line which is expected, but it was one of those overly aggressive moves that Stewart is known for!

RIP Ward, sorry to see this happen!

If this had happened at an F1 or any other road race type of event, would some of you be so quick to want to bury the driver for hitting someone running onto the track?? or is it just the anti-NASCAR bias/hatred kicking in?

The idiot ran into traffic on a race course. Beyond stupid.

I don't think that anyone is blaming anyone but the dead guy. What are you talking about?

Anyone that thinks Tony should see jail time has, I doubt, ever driven one of these racing machines.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1407713460.jpg

Can you see the driver in this photo? Nope...These are designed for racing where people generally all move the same way, and use their heads allowing such low visibility to be relative safe providing common sense is used.

You should see what happens when a wing breaks on one of these, the sudden loss of downforce is catastrophic to the handling. At reduced speeds, downforce is also reduced, since the handling is designed around race speeds - not caution speeds, the ability of the driver to dodge an unexpected someone in their path is greatly reduced.

These cars also have massively missmatched tires to allow the gas/brakes to rotate the car rather than the steering.

Its also a full track, you really don't know who hit the gas.

This happened so fast to Tony that I doubt he could of intentionally even planned on hitting him once he saw him, or take any kind of evasive action to avoid him.

Ultimately, a kid got hot headed and stepped too close to a pack of difficult to handle super horse power race cars at night in a black suit. I doubt if any of us were suddenly dropped into the driver's seat that we'd of not run over this young man ourselves. :(

Then there there's this comment....

You're lucky I'm not wearing a driving helmet! I would throw it at you. First, NASCAR is not nationally televised and this story the media event that is because NASCAR is only popular in one part of the country. Second, I suppose you have never heard of Research Triangle, Marshall Space and Flight Center, ORNL, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, etc.

This non NASCAR fan is patiently waiting for your apology.

I think this is the smartest analysis I've seen yet...
What We Don't Know About Tony Stewart And Last Night's Crash

Amen brother!!!