Tony Stewart Kills Driver In Tragic Collision, As NASCAR Reels And Police Investigate

www.forbes.com ^ | 8/10/2014 | Dan Diamond

[CaptainK]

NASCAR star Tony Stewart hit and killed another driver who was walking on the track in a sprint car race on Saturday night.

The other driver, Kevin Ward Jr., had collided with Stewart on the previous lap, leaving Ward’s car with a flat tire and pushed into the wall. As officials threw a caution, Ward left his car and began walking down the track — gesturing angrily toward Stewart — before being clipped and dragged 50 feet by Stewart’s car.

Several spectators told Bob Pockrass of The Sporting News that Stewart appeared to throttle his car before colliding with Ward.

[driftdiver]

You’re accusing a guy of murder based on a couple seconds of grainy dark video taken from a couple hundred years away at least.

You build assumption after assumption and then claim its fact. Then you admit you aren’t a fan of racing and don’t know it.

But you claim to know what the driver saw and why he did what he did. All the while claiming the revving of an engine you hear on the video is one particular car, that happens to be a couple hundred yards away from the camera.

You normally post pretty well so based on your behavior on this thread I assumed you were drunk.

[driftdiver]

Yeah it hurts when you realize you’re wrong. The only emotion on this thread is coming from those seeking to blame TS for murder.

[dragnet2]

If you’re not a race fan then you don’t understand whats happening nor the limitations of the equipment.

So ya have to be a "race fan" to interpret or observe what the video evidence clearly depicts?

How stupid is this? Ya think this is rocket science or some complex thing only a race fan could understand?

You have no idea what my background is...Yet another moronic comment on your part.

I already assumed you were a fan as your comments seemed so bias and so evasive to legitimate questions.

You are a joke...There is no discussing this incident with you...

Here, it's all your thread now Mr. race fan...

[driftdiver]

Oh I dunno, years of watching races. Ya know from seeing drivers stay in their cars until the safety crews get there. Or at the very least staying close to the car or wall and not running out into traffic.

But perhaps I’m wrong.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Ward was deliberately stepping into the path of the cars, and making wild gestures. He blew it."

Very true but also consider that in one of the videos you can see Stewart gun it just before he gets to Ward. (for some reason this version of the video seems to be getting taken down as fast as it goes up) I don't know about you but when a pedestrian steps out in front of me when I am driving I don't hit the gas, I instead slam on the brakes...

To me it sounds like stupid met stupid which equals Stupidity²

[Sacajaweau]

This is what I saw....I stopped the video and walked it...Kevin was clear of the front bumper. No doubt...Tony saw him approach and did a little "eat my dust" action, caused a wiggle and it grabbed Kevin.

I certainly don't think Tony maneuvered to miss him. He already had missed him. Kevin was clear.

[BeadCounter]

Well, I have CBS sports radio on now, the hosts are saying like you’ve been saying, it’s on the track so as sad as this incident is, quite likely nothing will happen per CRIMINAL charges. Just relaying what I’m hearing.

[deport]

Well in this case your ‘seeing’ would have kept the deceased from being hit.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

That's what I saw.
I also saw Car #45 pass Ward just 2 seconds before Ward was hit by Stewart's car. It is entirely possible Stewart's view was obstructed by the car in front of him.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about the track or Sprint Cars. I am not a NASCAR fan (not that there is anything wrong with that, LOL!) Just watched the video several times trying to make an sound judgment

It appears Ward's temper did him in, but it does not make it any less a tragedy.

[driftdiver]

On ESPN one of the Nascar bigwigs said that drivers emotions get them in trouble sometimes. They tend to be passionate about the sport and frequently have a huge investment in their cars. The track probably should have thrown the red flag and stopped the race but it really happened too quick for even that to help.

[driftdiver]

Its a tragedy for the family, this young man, and racing sports.

Drivers used to die frequently in racing. They’ve made it so safe we are surprised when it does happen these days.

[nascarnation]

There is much testosterone and adrenalin at the race track.
Definitely.

[deport]

Yep, it was fast. One lap around the 1/2 mile track by Stewart some of which was at top speed
so it wouldn’t take but a few seconds. There are still a lots of unknowns and hopefully other
videos will surface that may give additions views or perspectives.

[nascarnation]

A lot of spectators died too if you back far enough (early 1900s)
It was really a dangerous sport. And of course a lot of drivers and pedestrians got killed in road accidents.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

” Tommy Ivo”

My Little Margie’s boyfriend on tv!

[Ghost of SVR4]

I saw some new video tonight (the url won't hotlink here; sorry). It is pretty obvious the kid ran (literally)right into Stewart. Stewart's vehicle veered because of the 20-something's body catching on the rear right wheel.
This young driver should have stayed in his vehicle. Even under caution what he did was pure stupid; he killed himself. Is TS a hot head? So I hear, but he didn't run this young cat down nor do I believe he was trying to give the kid a spray. Its a bad situation all the way around but this was not murder let alone manslaughter.

[driftdiver]

Sounds plausible. A sad day for sure but how many other people died in accidents

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“.it would be easy to give Tony the benefit of the doubt insofar as WHAT was his state of mind at that instant, meaning, did he have any intent?”

Bot only that,,,, but how much time did he actually have to react? 1/2 second? 1 second? Not much time to think or do anything!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“even had time to rev his engine and break traction at about the time of point of impact.”

If Ward’s body caused that wheel to lose traction, and load on the engine, the engine would immediately rev with no load.

[PA Engineer]

If Ward’s body caused that wheel to lose traction, and load on the engine, the engine would immediately rev with no load.

I agree. I put off watching the video until a few minutes ago. "If" the sound we heard was from the backstretch where the accident occurred (video appears to be from the front stretch), the no load rev and pulling to the right would have been caused by Ward's body being pulled under the right rear wheel.

This was an accident and a tragedy. I feel both for Ward's family and Tony Stewart. Inexperience, anger and testosterone have killed many young men.

I was a spotter (Jennerstown Speedway) for a couple of years. When I saw him walking down the incline, I knew it was going to end badly. Racing shoes (traction) and the dirt track may have also contributed to the accident.