Tony Stewart ran over, killed a guy

[BishopMVP]

Reports are still sketchy at this point, but it sounds like Stewart intentionally hit a fellow driver who was out of his car after a wreck and yelling at Stewart, possibly dragging him for a couple of seconds, then throwing him 25+ feet in the air. Even if the kid survives I hope Stewart goes to jail for a few years.

[RainMaker]

Video of the incident. Not for the squeamish.

Tony Stewart Hits Driver at Canandaigua Motorsports Park 8/9/14 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvaHUN6JFPc)

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. The fellow driver was Kevin Ward. Some reports say he is in critical condition. One report says he has passed away. That video is tough to watch.

[MrBug708]

I doubt they can prove intent based on that video

[TroyF]

I doubt they can prove intent based on that video

Based on the video, I doubt it. But this is where the "Smoke" moniker could come back to bite him in the ass heavily. At the very least, it was reckless going that fast and hitting the gas. Stewart knows damned well what happens when you hit the gas in a dirt car. (and from my one look at the video, it looks like he hit the gas)

I pray the kid is ok, but I kind of doubt it based on reports from witnesses. I don't see any way in hell Stewart will win the civil suit on this, regardless of the kid living or not.

Just a brutal situation.

[RainMaker]

Sheriff reporting the individual was dead on arrival at the hospital.

[RainMaker]

Video was removed. If you still have the morbid curiosity, Deadspin has it up.

Video: Tony Stewart Runs Over Driver Confronting Him On Foot [UPDATE] (http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sheriff says no charges.

Dark suit, poorly lit track, sounds very plausible that he never saw the driver.
Or at least that's consistent with the quotes from a witness.

[SirFozzie]

No charges period? That sounds very fishy... maybe no charges right now, but I don't think they'd rule anything out this quickly.

[JediKooter]

I can't see how charges could be filed when the dude got out of his car and then ran into traffic, pointing at someone like he's pissed. Maybe there's more video than what I saw that shows something different, but, I can't see what Stewart did wrong.

[frnk55]

Holy shit. Getting out of the car is whats going to save Tony on this.

[Logan]

I think it's going to be interesting to see how the reaction to this breaks down between racing fans and non fans.

[SirFozzie]

Looks like he may race today, he's in the starting list.

[Lathum]

Ware shouldn't have gotten out of his car and weaved his way into traffic. It is obviously a tragedy but one that could have been easily prevented. If someone wrecked you on the freeway and their car ended up in the opposite side of the road would you dance through traffic to point and yell at them?

We will never know Stewarts intent but i doubt he hit him on purpose. Ware did something very immature and stupid and it unfortunately cost him his life.

[Lathum]

Looks like he may race today, he's in the starting list.

If nothing else this is a bad PR move.

[Lathum]

Dola. When will he learn nothing good can come from him screwing around on these small dirt tracks.

[Julio Riddols]

That Ward dude was an idiot.

From what I can see, Stewart didn't even hit his car, the dude just slid into the wall.. Then he gets out and basically runs right in front of the car? What the fuck.

I don't even give a damn about NASCAR, but I don't think anything can be said as far as Stewart intentionally hitting the guy. The guy intentionally hit him, with his body. I'm kind of amazed at the level of damage done to the dude, but I am confused on a level I rarely achieve as to why a guy would decide to run directly into traffic at a race, no matter the circumstances. Not saying he deserved to die by any means, but wow.. Incredibly stupid.

[Ryan S]

That Ward dude was an idiot.

That is exactly my reading of the situation. Why the hell would you walk down towards the racing line on a dirt track?

[Matthean]

Sheriff says no charges.

Dark suit, poorly lit track, sounds very plausible that he never saw the driver.
Or at least that's consistent with the quotes from a witness.

Another driver swerved to miss him.

EDIT: It appears via some reports that Tony's fishtailing was part of him trying to get out of the way. It was hard to tell based on the video I saw.

[RainMaker]

There is a slow-motion video of it. Sort of looks like he tries to avoid him and the back end clips him.

Tony Stewart Hits Sprint Car Driver Kevin Ward Jr (SLOW MOTION) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XvhrPu64Co)

[Ryan S]

Another driver swerved to miss him.

EDIT: It appears via some reports that Tony's fishtailing was part of him trying to get out of the way. It was hard to tell based on the video I saw.

I think that one of the problems for an observer is understanding exactly how these cars are driven.

From what I can gather these cars are pretty much steered with the throttle on a low grip surface. Hitting the brakes might have just sent the entire body of the car into the other driver.

[SteveMax58]

Not saying he deserved to die by any means, but wow.. Incredibly stupid.

Not trying to be an ass when a man dies but I would say if anybody was deserving of dying its somebody that runs into a racetrack yelling at somebody in a car. Especially as this guy should know full well the difficulty in controlling these cars on a dirt track & 1 slight variance will destroy you.

It definitely takes a unique mindset to race at this level as it does with a lot of other "extreme" (for lack of a better word) sports. And not that I'm saying the man was a bad guy or that all people who get angry & emotional should die because they do a stupid thing in the heat of the moment...just that in a Darwinian sense the guy kinda does deserve it. I've said the same thing when I see guys running out there in NASCAR as well...f'n idiots.

[rowech]

I think that one of the problems for an observer is understanding exactly how these cars are driven.

From what I can gather these cars are pretty much steered with the throttle on a low grip surface. Hitting the brakes might have just sent the entire body of the car into the other driver.

Only Stewart knows, and will ever know, what happened. Somebody on the video I saw revved their engine. It's pretty easy in my opinion to hear it. Assuming it was Stewart, my guess is he revved the engine, tried to scare the guy, car fishtailed, and the rest is tragedy. Involuntary manslaughter at the most but I am guessing no criminal charges, civil lawsuit for wrongful death from the family, settled out of court.

[Dutch]

Not trying to be an ass when a man dies but I would say if anybody was deserving of dying its somebody that runs into a racetrack yelling at somebody in a car. Especially as this guy should know full well the difficulty in controlling these cars on a dirt track & 1 slight variance will destroy you.

It definitely takes a unique mindset to race at this level as it does with a lot of other "extreme" (for lack of a better word) sports. And not that I'm saying the man was a bad guy or that all people who get angry & emotional should die because they do a stupid thing in the heat of the moment...just that in a Darwinian sense the guy kinda does deserve it. I've said the same thing when I see guys running out there in NASCAR as well...f'n idiots.

Hmmmm, if Tony Stewart has this mentality, maybe he did kill him on purpose in the heat of the moment...

[Dutch]

In any event, crazy shit to see a high profile race driver get caught up in something like this.

[path12]

Stupid to get out of the car but how is that not at least manslaughter? Amazes me how many people just blame the dead guy. Tony Stewart has been racing sprint cars most of his life.

[jeff061]

After watching that video, it's amazing to me how anyone could blame Stewart.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Ridiculous that anyone blames Stewart. You don't want to die, don't walk in front of moving cars on a dirt track (or any track for that matter).

[Noop]

It sucks this guy died the way he did but he should have never gotten out of the car. I don't see this as a criminal issue but it could be a negligence issue. If it is a negligence issue the fact that the guy stepped out into oncoming traffic may limit or bar recovery.

[RainMaker]

I've seen guys get out of the car to throw a helmet or yell but I've never seen a guy intentionally get that close to the action. It looked like he was trying to get in front of the car to stop it or something. Unfortunate accident but that's a Darwin Award winner if I ever saw one.

[Matthean]

I've seen guys get out of the car to throw a helmet or yell but I've never seen a guy intentionally get that close to the action. It looked like he was trying to get in front of the car to stop it or something. Unfortunate accident but that's a Darwin Award winner if I ever saw one.

And if you want to throw a helmet, stand further down from your car but still use it as a shield so drivers can dodge an obviously wrecked car. Step into oncoming traffic? Here's your sign.

[Sweed]

Well I guess we can all speculate until the cows come home but honestly I have to lay the blame on the guy that got out of the car.

So my speculation, which is as good as anyone's, from seeing the video on deadspin that shows the car hit the wall, ...

Guy hits wall entering the turn. Used to go to a lot of dirt track races years ago and I am not seeing anything to get worked up about here it's a race, shit happens.

Gets out of car and enters traffic in a dark racing suit(stupid if its a white suit with reflective tape). Remember this comes on a spot that is entering a turn, in the dark. The car ahead of Stewart sees the driver and avoids him. It approaches the driver at the 33 second mark and is just passing him at 34 seconds. At 35 seconds Stewart enters the frame and the driver is hit and down before the clock turns to 36 seconds. I wonder if the car ahead of Stewart obstructed his view coming around the corner? A second of obstructed view could reduce his reaction time to almost nothing. I think about the blind spots in my car from the roof supports that are 3-4" wide and the number of times over 40 years of driving that I have been amazed at what can "hide" there. Where is the car ahead of him in relation to his line of sight towards the idiot on the track? Stewart had a car ahead of him going into a turn, in the dark, towards a driver in a dark suit that he had no reason to believe would be there. It's his fault?

I would say he was as surprised as ALL of the drivers ahead of him that saw an idiot out on the track. It could be that he just happened to be in a place where his view was obstructed for a second and that second made a difference.

I just don't see how any charges come from this. Out of court settlement? Yeah but only because it will be the cheapest way for it to be resolved.

[ColtCrazy]

It's a horrible tragedy, but I'm in the "what was Ward thinking" camp. He's got a dark suit on and goes out into the middle of the track. It's not clear on the video, but it could be argued Stewart tried to swerve. Stewart has a long standing rep as an asshole, but to intentionally run over a kid?

[CU Tiger]

Man I've been reading on this most of the morning never expected it to make a splash on FOFC...this site never ceases to amaze me.

Have to agree the the deceased party put himself in harms way and its hard to fault Stewart fully for what happened. One of the things Ive heard/read over and over is that "intent was clear because you can see Tony's car veer up the track as he tried to run over him"...

This explanation is a bit macabre but I think its being missed by some. These cars run an open differential rear end, that is intentionally loose that allows one tire to spin faster than the other and the right tire is much larger than the left, that causes the cars to "turn"...additionally they run very low air pressures they are like a giant balloon. When he impacts the other driver the drivers body actually caused the right tire to basically stop spinning while the left tire still had traction...in my opinion that is why you see his car veer to the right. It is because of the impact not proof that he was trying to impact him.

The other thing I dont understand is I keep reading stuff about Stewart being a hot head. And granted he certainly is/was, I add was because we havent seen much of his hot head stuff in several year. That said, he didnt wreck here, his car was fine and he was in competition after the incident...I just dont see why hee would be in a pissed off mind set to begin with.

[Galaxy]

I think that one of the problems for an observer is understanding exactly how these cars are driven.

From what I can gather these cars are pretty much steered with the throttle on a low grip surface. Hitting the brakes might have just sent the entire body of the car into the other driver.

Sprint cars don't move or react like a regular car or even a stock car.

Stupid to get out of the car but how is that not at least manslaughter? Amazes me how many people just blame the dead guy. Tony Stewart has been racing sprint cars most of his life.

I don't see how this pass. I'm sure the track has waivers and such that you sign that state, "Do not get out of your car until track personel come to your car."

[digamma]

Anyone know how big this track was? Would there typically be spotters at a track like this?

[Scoobz0202]

I doubt there were spotters. I don't think many dirt sprint car races have them

[Dutch]

Anyone know how big this track was? Would there typically be spotters at a track like this?

Trying to think back to the dirt track near my house, it has one guy in a grandstand over the start/finish line that waves the flags and controls the action, 2 or 4 flag wavers at the corners, and a maintenance crew that hangs out in the infield. I'm pretty sure all the team's people are in the garage or just chillin' and watching, not sure they help out otherwise...but I've been wrong before!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Anyone know how big this track was? Would there typically be spotters at a track like this?

I'd be borderline shocked if there were. It's only a 1/8th mile track.

[Matthean]

Have to agree the the deceased party put himself in harms way and its hard to fault Stewart fully for what happened. One of the things Ive heard/read over and over is that "intent was clear because you can see Tony's car veer up the track as he tried to run over him"...

The most critical response I have seen towards Tony is written by a friend of Ward's so...

[Solecismic]

It looks like he tried to avoid him. Those cars slide, and the rear axle is the live axle. The driver is sitting far back in the car. They're not very big, but since you're so far back, the dead axle is in front, and you don't get great traction at any time, the only way you can maneuver around something is to hit the gas and slide. It's going to spin a lot like a rear-wheel drive car on the snow - only much, much more.

Since Stewart would be an expert at controlling the skid, I think he hoped he would skid around the kid. But anything other than what he tried to do would have meant complete loss of mobility, causing another accident. Which probably would have hurt/killed the kid anyway.

[BishopMVP]

After seeing the video it definitely does sound like Twitter exaggerated whether you can tell how intentional it was. I definitely do think it's a situation where Stewart's history works against him - I'd be much more inclined to assume the driver was just trying to get out of the way if it wasn't the driver with the longest list of on-track incidents where he lost his temper.

I completely believe Stewart didn't want to hit the guy, but did he try to put a scare into him, or did his temper get the best if him for a split second or two so that when he did swerve to avoid him it was too late?

[PilotMan]

He clearly guns the engine right before he gets to Ward. I seriously doubt that he intended to hit him but he clearly intended something. It was a caution flag, I'm not sure why you need to gun it as you are going by the guy otherwise.

[cougarfreak]

Looked to me like the car in front of him blocked his view. That car could see Ward, Stewart could not until it was too late.

[Lathum]

Stewart wouldn't have even known the kid was on the track until he came around the corner. He literally had a fraction of a second, no one is going to tell me in that time frame he did anything other that react.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'll say this much: credit to FOFC for having a reasonable "what happened" discussion. I've definitely come across one or two sensationalizing rank morons on social media today.

[PilotMan]

I really find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have had someone with a radio talking to him. I mean, I don't know at all, he might not have but it would seem logical that he would have though.

It would be very hard to convince a jury I think and very costly to prosecute. Still you have to think that Tony knows and that's a lot to bear. I have to think that fan's are going to react to this pretty aggressively as well. Maybe sponsors too?

[Lathum]

I really find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have had someone with a radio talking to him. I mean, I don't know at all, he might not have but it would seem logical that he would have though.



You are acting too much like this is professional racing. Its like comparing a high school race to an NBA game. Very doubtful Stewart had a radio hooked in.

[ISiddiqui]

I'll echo others - watching it, I don't see what Stewart could have done. It seemed as if the car shift to the right as Stewart was trying to accelerate away. It's a horrible shame, but its not Stewart's fault.

[nol]

No matter if it was intentional or not, they better not use this to try to make tougher car laws out of this.

Just because a car was used to accidentally kill this person shouldn't ruin it for all the other Americans who use cars responsibly. You can kill somebody by punching them too! If Obama tries to tell me I have to register my car or sign up for mandatory car insurance it's going to be over my cold, dead body.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You are acting too much like this is professional racing. Its like comparing a high school race to an NBA game. Very doubtful Stewart had a radio hooked in.

The track requires one-way radios (I checked their rulebook to see if there was any mention about spotters, which there wasn't) but that appears to be related to track officials desire to communicate things like black flags & other instructions to the drivers.

[Dutch]

No matter if it was intentional or not, they better not use this to try to make tougher car laws out of this.

Just because a car was used to accidentally kill this person shouldn't ruin it for all the other Americans who use cars responsibly. You can kill somebody by punching them too! If Obama tries to tell me I have to register my car or sign up for mandatory car insurance it's going to be over my cold, dead body.

I think you're trying too hard.

[TroyF]

After seeing the video it definitely does sound like Twitter exaggerated whether you can tell how intentional it was. I definitely do think it's a situation where Stewart's history works against him - I'd be much more inclined to assume the driver was just trying to get out of the way if it wasn't the driver with the longest list of on-track incidents where he lost his temper.

I completely believe Stewart didn't want to hit the guy, but did he try to put a scare into him, or did his temper get the best if him for a split second or two so that when he did swerve to avoid him it was too late?

Agree with both of your points here. I said last night I didn't think the video showed enough evidence to put any charges on Stewart. I still don't think there is.

I do think this is one area his past hurts him and hurts him badly. It puts doubt. He's thrown cheap shots at reporters and has a reputation as a hot head. (He isn't nicknamed Smoke by accident)

As far as the incident goes, the question I have is how much did he see. Did he try to scare the kid? Did he gun the car not trying to hit him, but as an F U from the bumping and driving from earlier in the race? I don't know that we will ever know the answer to that question.

One change that needs to be made at every track in the country. . . get out of the car and throw your helmet, chase down moving cars like a drunk guy in a bathrobe, or make a pain of yourself outside of the car ON the track? Thanks for driving, you can now find a new career. You don't give a damn about your safety or the other drivers. Your career should be over.

[DaddyTorgo]

So I saw the video.

The dead guy was an idiot - wtf was he doing?

[PilotMan]

His parents were at the race. I can't even imagine.

[CU Tiger]

He clearly guns the engine right before he gets to Ward. I seriously doubt that he intended to hit him but he clearly intended something. It was a caution flag, I'm not sure why you need to gun it as you are going by the guy otherwise.


I think the "gun the engine thing" isnt so clear.
Do we hear an engine rev in the video? Yes.
But look closely, that video is shot from across the track. Back at the S/F line. You can zoom video you can not zoom audio...that engine rev we can not accurately attribute to Stewart's car I dont think.

I really find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have had someone with a radio talking to him. I mean, I don't know at all, he might not have but it would seem logical that he would have though.



I can promise you there is no spotter on that track. There is no spotter tower, no where for them to see.

The average guy racing has $15-20,000 in his car and works a full time job not involved in racing.

THis isnt comparing NFL to NCAA...when you compare this to NASCAR.
If NASCAR =NFL....this is lower than adult Rec league...this is basically a pick up game Sunday in the back yard. I'd bet the winner of the race probably got $400...

[BYU 14]

I am curious about the gunning the engine as well, as it definitely ties in to controlling the car from everything I have read.

I think I might actually tune in to Bubba the Love Sponge tomorrow on radio IO as I am sure it will be the prevailing topic of the show, since Tony Stewart is a friend of the show. Bubba also knows dirt track racing, so he might actually be able to add some relevant insight.

[Julio Riddols]

From what I saw, it looked like Tony's car fishtailed a bit after the guy began to get sucked under the rear tire. That makes sense to me, as a human provides better traction than a dirt track.

[TCY Junkie]

No matter if it was intentional or not, they better not use this to try to make tougher car laws out of this.

Just because a car was used to accidentally kill this person shouldn't ruin it for all the other Americans who use cars responsibly. You can kill somebody by punching them too! If Obama tries to tell me I have to register my car or sign up for mandatory car insurance it's going to be over my cold, dead body.

I think you're trying too hard.

I liked his post. Thanks for posting.

[sabotai]

THis isnt comparing NFL to NCAA...when you compare this to NASCAR.
If NASCAR =NFL....this is lower than adult Rec league...this is basically a pick up game Sunday in the back yard. I'd bet the winner of the race probably got $400...

According to some guy on another forum (so, take it FWIW), the winner's purse was $1500. Tried to use my Google-Fu to find a source but couldn't.

[sabotai]

dola,

Empire Super Sprints (http://www.empiresupersprints.com/schedule.htm)

You can see the event on the schedule but it doesn't say what the money is for this specific event, but most of them are $2,000 or $3,000 to the winner.

[Matthean]

Tony Stewart's actions questioned by father of killed driver Kevin Ward Jr. - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/11347015/tony-stewart-actions-questioned-father-killed-driver-kevin-ward-jr)

Seems like a lawsuit is coming. Just a matter of when.

[jeff061]

So Ward can drain whatever little money he has on a lawyer and then lose. His son's a moron, let's stop reminding the world of that and let him rest in peace.

[JediKooter]

Sounds like being a moron runs in the family.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Your kid walked in the middle of a dirt racing track during a race. Let the kid die with some shred of dignity and shut up.

[GrantDawg]

I'm not so sure he wouldn't win a civil suit. All he has to prove is some negligence on Stewart's part. His son's negligence will be a mitigating factor, but doesn't not exempt the possibility of Stewart being found negligent as well.

[PilotMan]

My guess is that there will be a settlement of some kind. I'm not sure Stewart could handle the pub of a court case.

[GrantDawg]

My guess is that there will be a settlement of some kind. I'm not sure Stewart could handle the pub of a court case.


That would be my guess as well.

[cartman]

No criminal charges from the grand jury.

Tony Stewart not charged by grand jury in death of Kevin Ward Jr. | From The Marbles - Yahoo Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/tony-stewart-not-charged-by-grand-jury-in-death-of-kevin-ward-jr-190047656.html)

[kingfc22]

Guess smoking prior to racing is not a good idea nor is getting out of your car and heading down on a race track. Who knew?

[DanGarion]

I would think that SOP for racing would be after an accident of any type they would run a drug/alcohol test.