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!!!