Tony Stewart, this is not good

[Buckterrier]

What is one of the first things you are taught when doing a drivers ed and you crash? Two in & STAY in the car unless there is a fire. Since opinions are being given here is mine. They kid was trying to be a tough guy and going to show up TS in front of the locals. It's a shame he got killed. CRASHCAR could stop all this... You get out of your car before the safety team arrives and you sit the next race. The kid was trying to be one of the boys.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

... You get out of your car before the safety team arrives and you sit the next race. The kid was trying to be one of the boys.

I'd go a bit further than that if I were king....you sit out the rest of the season. Harsh penalty, but that'd put a stop to it NOW. If it's within the last few races of a season, then sit out the next one...

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

What is one of the first things you are taught when doing a drivers ed and you crash? Two in & STAY in the car unless there is a fire. Since opinions are being given here is mine. They kid was trying to be a tough guy and going to show up TS in front of the locals. It's a shame he got killed. CRASHCAR could stop all this... You get out of your car before the safety team arrives and you sit the next race. The kid was trying to be one of the boys.

I agree.

Some of the comments are re-inventing what actually happened.
Check out the screen caps:

TS was following the same exact line as the car in front of him. Both cars are toward the bottom of the track. The driver, Ward, who exited his car and entered the hot track on foot pursued the oncoming cars. He stepped in front of TS's car and instigated contact.





Both cars were oversteering, even at slower speeds. TS was going no faster, and did not swerve to hit Ward. TS's car did not change in speed, nor it's angle until after Ward was hit and underneath the rear wheel. Ward's body caused TS's car to drift outward toward the wall. If anything, TS countersteered the rear of the car AWAY FROM Ward, but by then it was too late.



The fact that the guy ended up dead does not absolve him of blame for the incident. Nor does any of the events up to that moment have any relevance to what caused the death or assign blame. It was a hot track, cars were circling in a predictable fashion, and the driver who was on foot risked his life and paid the price for it.

[intakexhaust]

As mentioned earlier - YANK their racing lic.! That will get everyones attention. Sadly, shenanigans on and off the track makes promoters and series / league owners happy. Until they step on some of these hot headed drivers, nothing will change.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I agree.

Some of the comments are re-inventing what actually happened.
Check out the screen caps:

TS was following the same exact line as the car in front of him. Both cars are toward the bottom of the track. The driver, Ward, who exited his car and entered the hot track on foot pursued the oncoming cars. He stepped in front of TS's car and instigated contact.





Both cars were oversteering, even at slower speeds. TS was going no faster, and did not swerve to hit Ward. TS's car did not change in speed, nor it's angle until after Ward was hit and underneath the rear wheel. Ward's body caused TS's car to drift outward toward the wall. If anything, TS countersteered the rear of the car AWAY FROM Ward, but by then it was too late.



The fact that the guy ended up dead does not absolve him of blame for the incident. Nor does any of the events up to that moment have any relevance to what caused the death or assign blame. It was a hot track, cars were circling in a predictable fashion, and the driver who was on foot risked his life and paid the price for it.

"Some of the comments are re-inventing what actually happened."

No offense intended but the same could be said of your comments. We're all just spouting opinions here, me included:

My money's on TS losing his temper on purpose and killing the kid by accident. He's shown this proclivity toward anger and rage time and time again. Any good prosecutor would dig relentlessly at this aspect of his personality and reputation.

But TS will be fine. He'll pay his PR dues for a while and the news cycle will move on soon. Probably a financial settlement (with a strict gag order attached) to make the kid's family go away. NASCAR and TS will show sympathy, publicly, but the show must go on, the money must keep coming in uninterrupted.

As for him losing sleep? Maybe, maybe not. Any aggressive competitor, whatever the endeavor, rarely has feelings of remorse or any misgivings or guilt about the effect of their actions on others. On camera? Sure, the good actors have the ability to seem remorseful if they need to save their rear. If TS is losing sleep it's because he screwed up big this time and wants it to go away as quickly as possible.

[Skytrooper]

Really guys ??? Racers are aggressive. You don't win by pussy-footing around a race track. You use skill, tenacity, and aggressiveness to fight to the front and win the race.

The real issue is that the kid (Ward) is dead because he got out of his car. If he had controlled his emotions he would still be among the living.

Why don't some of you who seem to know exactly what TS was thinking, use your telepathic powers to figure out why the kid felt the compelling urge to jump out on a hot race track and chase cars.

[flipper35]

I still fail to see what NASCAR has to do with this in regards to PR?

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

My money's on TS losing his temper on purpose and killing the kid by accident. He's shown this proclivity toward anger and rage time and time again. Any good prosecutor would dig relentlessly at this aspect of his personality and reputation.

All those races were for real money and for his professional job. This race's purse was likely less than he had in his pocket. I assume he's doing this race for fun....why would you get all angry about that? Especially since he didn't get wrecked.

Regarding his personality? That's a bit like the Zimmerman trial all over again.

Originally Posted by buckterrier

What is one of the first things you are taught when doing a drivers ed and you crash? Two in & STAY in the car unless there is a fire. Since opinions are being given here is mine. They kid was trying to be a tough guy and going to show up TS in front of the locals. It's a shame he got killed. CRASHCAR could stop all this... You get out of your car before the safety team arrives and you sit the next race. The kid was trying to be one of the boys.

^^This. X100


I was actually at the Glen for the race yesterday. I don't know what was said on TV about it, they officially said very little to nothing at the track. They swapped in another driver and didn't say a whole lot.

Everyone at the track was abuzz about it. Lot of folks said he should have stayed in the car. Everyone knows this. Not quite the lynching that the internet is giving. I watch a lot of NASCAR races, the first thing you do it lower the window net so everyone knows you're OK.

Sprint cars are crazy machines. I don't particular care for that style of racing. I wouldn't get near one ever on foot. Ever. They don't even have a pace car, they have to get push started and keep moving.

I feel terrible for all involved.

[yellowperil]

In the middle picture above, it looks like he's being hit and knocked down by
Stewart's FRONT wheel. Am I seeing it wrong, or is this how you all see it?

[rusnak]

Any second year law student doing clinical mock trials would have the jury instructed to disregard "past" confrontations that TS may have had in other races, and to consider only the facts of that night. There is no way that any jury would be allowed to speculate as to TS's "state of mind" based on past events.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by yellowperil

In the middle picture above, it looks like he's being hit and knocked down by
Stewart's FRONT wheel. Am I seeing it wrong, or is this how you all see it?

Both the blue car and red car are moving at a slight sideways angle relative to the center of the car.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by flipper35

I still fail to see what NASCAR has to do with this in regards to PR?

NASCAR, WOO, sprints, Indy Racing whatever leagues don't really seem to come down on all this nonsense. The bullrings do in a way bring a different type of fan base in. Not trying to single anyone out and I too have attended a few myself, but its quite apparent. For one thing, anytime there's an incident, one will see fans cheering. No denying that and even in this latest tragedy, I wouldn't doubt a few fans were cheering. They love the wrecks.

Where am I going with this? Obviously promoters want the fans to enjoy the show and the more fiasco's creating cheering fans, the more its encouraged and ticket / related sales. The good guy bad guy, er' girl too makes for common debate with fans. They love it and as long as they do, these racing leagues feed them.

So what to do? Pull the racing license on these kind of racers. The message will clearly be sent that its not tolerated. The leagues INCLUDING NASCAR have the RESPONSIBILTY to enforce and promote safety. We know Stewart's reputation on the track and antics but even though the latest incident may have not been intentional, he should have pulled from NASCAR years ago. Jackazz on track, good boy at home, doesn't matter. As for this kid Ward, had there been a heavy enforcement in place long before he was racing, he might have restrained his temper or showmanship.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

My money's on TS losing his temper on purpose and killing the kid by accident. He's shown this proclivity toward anger and rage time and time again. Any good prosecutor would dig relentlessly at this aspect of his personality and reputation.

Explain to me why TS would be angry at Ward? What did Ward do to TS to make him mad? Mad enough to run him over???

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

What is one of the first things you are taught when doing a drivers ed and you crash? Two in & STAY in the car unless there is a fire. Since opinions are being given here is mine. They kid was trying to be a tough guy and going to show up TS in front of the locals. It's a shame he got killed. CRASHCAR could stop all this... You get out of your car before the safety team arrives and you sit the next race. The kid was trying to be one of the boys.

exactly

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by URY914

Explain to me why TS would be angry at Ward? What did Ward do to TS to make him mad? Mad enough to run him over???

Good point. Ward was a DNF and Stewart was still racing. There would have to be some video of Ward hassling Stewart to show why Steward was upset enough to run him over.

[Tim Hancock]

The dirt track I race at highly frowns on shenanigans/fights as it causes them headaches. They scream and yell at us over the race radios threatening to DQ us or black flag us when we appear to be about to retaliate during or after a race. I would bet money that the race controller was yelling at this douche bag to get back to his car over the race receiver..... Not that the guy was likely listening even if he had the race receiver on him once he got out. I can tell you that emotions can get the best of you in this type of racing. Fortunately getting killed because of it is extremely rare.

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Fortunately getting killed because of it is extremely rare.

True, I was discussing this with my wife. Of all the years I have been a spectator or driver on a dirt track, we have seen these same events unfold a thousand times, sometimes 4-5 times a night. Unfortunately for this young driver, it cost him his life. Fwiw, TS probably didn't even know the guy spun out if they didn't make contact and for sure he probably didn't see him on the track. When you are out there, you are breathing burning oil and exhaust, dripping sweat from the engine heat coming in on you and you have dirt in your face. Top that off with your visor fogging up and that don't even take into account the stance of the car or the wing hindering his view. Just a sad day at the track imho.

[wdfifteen]

^^
Congrats on your win Tim.
No fisticuffs needed.

[intakexhaust]

Not trying to be smug but it does seem rather weird big time money 'smoke' TS frequents small time tracks. Was on the schedule to race this coming Sat. 16th at:
BIg Events at Wilmot Raceway

Between the blown alky boats and then this short track, its an earshot every weekend from our N. IL home. And quite fitting they have demolition combines and truck tractor pulls. Maybe that's a better suited activity for the rabid 'professional' circle drivers.

[URY914]