Tony Stewart pulls out of race after fatal crash

[alp227]

Last edited Sun Aug 10, 2014, 02:02 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: AP

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Tony Stewart pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen Sunday, 12 hours after the three-time champion struck and killed a sprint car driver who had climbed from his car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart during a race in upstate New York.

Greg Zipadelli, competition director for Stewart-Haas Racing, said at a news conference that Stewart "feels strongly" about not racing Sunday following Kevin Ward Jr.'s fatal accident. The decision was an about-face for the organization, which had said when the track opened that Stewart would be behind the wheel of his No. 14 Chevrolet when the green flag waved.

"We gave Tony some time to sleep on it. He feels strongly this is the right thing to do," Zipadelli said. "All you can do is what you feel is right, and we feel this is right. We get through today and do it the best we can as a group.

"He's going through a tough time. It's emotional for him."

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/witness-tony-stewart-hits-driver-ny-dirt-track

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More detailed article by FoxSports.com

So the final frontier in sports violence will be a brawl at the PGA tournament, I guess.

Edit: Story updated since first post...wow the other driver died? Expect Stewart to be the Pete Rose of NASCAR now.

[TSIAS]

1. There is video

It's on the internet, and honestly it's graphic.

From the video, I can see

1) The injured driver appeared to run back onto the track

2) Stewart did appear to rev his engine before hitting the driver

3) Cannot tell from the angle whether Stewart went out of his way to hit the game.

It's very early, but it would appear Stewart could be liable for assault or even manslaughter if the driver is killed.

[Cosmocat]

7. The driver is 100 percent at fault

You can't possible tell who was reving engines, there are a couple dozen vehicles out there.

This guy got out of his car and walked into the race to confront someone, just horribly hot headed and stupid.

That was a dirt track and it was on the end of the track, this kind of racing you literally have no traction on the bends/turns, you literally have to set your course and slid your vehicle around the bends/turns.

Stewart had ZERO control of his car there, no way he could have done anything either way, to avoid it or to purposefully hit the guy ...

[Blue_Tires]

19. I'd still like to see some rule changes

Because the short-track/NASCAR institutional culture promotes these kinds of "confrontations", and I'm tired of seeing them...Just wait for traffic to pass, get your ass to the safety of the infield and take up whatever grievance you have against Stewart with the race officials...

[exboyfil]

2. Video here

The driver had no business walking into traffic like this, but on the other hand those who view the video claim that you can here Stewart's vehicle throttling up - if so it sure looks like the same move that he used to first crash the other driver. Someone who knows more about that type of racing needs to decide, but no should accelerate on a caution especially when a driver is on the track.

One thing to stop this type of idiocy. A very long suspension for any driver who leaves his vehicle in this fashion. It is ridiculous and dangerous.

[DAMANgoldberg]

3. These types of encounters are regular...

at short tracks, especially around here in NC. The difference is that they are on pavement, which means the back end doesn't fishtail, like what happens here and the pissed driver can point at a distance and generally not get hurt. The proper move is to slow the car below caution speed and drift down to the apron (bottom) away from the driver, knowing that someone is coming after you. Stewart should know better, especially before the real reason on the weekend, and a dirt track owner (Eldora). This could the type of outcome that could end his team ownership and sponsorships.

[Punkingal]

4. OMG....

It looks like he hit him on purpose to me. OMG. I wish I hadn't looked at this.

[rocktivity]

10. There was no reason for the driver to be on the track

except to show off his macho posturing skills.

You can see him walking toward Stewart's car. Maybe Stewart revved up in hopes of getting past him -- if he saw him at all.


rocktivity

[Punkingal]

5. He was DOA.

Just saw it on yahoo sports. I'm sick at heart. And an idiot for looking at that video.

[Purveyor]

6. AP: NASCAR's Stewart hits, kills driver on NY track

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) — NASCAR driver Tony Stewart struck and killed a sprint car driver who was walking on a dirt track during a race in upstate New York on Saturday night.

Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said his department's investigation is not criminal and that Stewart was "fully cooperative."

Povero would not identify the driver, but said he was pronounced dead Saturday night at a hospital in Canandaigua.

A video of the crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park showed driver Kevin Ward Jr. walking toward Stewart's car before being hit and hurtled 50 feet.

Povero said the 42-year-old Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and frequent competitor at local sprint car events, was questioned and released. The sheriff is asking for people who have video of the crash to contact the office so copies can be obtained for review.

"People that witnessed it were horrified," Povero said of the crash. "They were extremely shocked."

MORE...

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/witness-tony-stewart-hits-driver-ny-dirt-track

[groundloop]

8. Stewart should serve time and be banned from NASCAR

I HAD considered myself a Stewart fan, not any more. It's fairly obvious that as the other driver ran out on the track (which was a stupid move) Tony goosed his throttle to fishtail towards him in an attempt at intimidation. That didn't work out so well, and the result is a dead young man. I suspect that NASCAR will give Stewart a slap on the wrist as they usually do with their stars, but if there's any hope of salvaging anything from this incident and putting a lid on this stupidity they need to come down hard.

edit to add: The proper thing for Stewart to do when he saw a pissed off competitor running toward him would have been to simply turn down toward the inside of the track and avoid the confrontation. He obviously didn't choose that course of action. Of course the dead driver shares responsibility too, he's equally at fault for creating the confrontation. If either he or Stewart had made a different decision we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[Coventina]

9. Yellow flag conditions means that you need to be alert and ready to react.

Stewart is 100% at fault.

[teach1st]

11. I don't think Stewart hit the throttle

The "hitting the throttle" sound appears to be caused by Mr. Ward getting caught up in Mr. Stewart's right rear wheel. The throttle sound doesn't occur until Stewart's car is more than halfway past Ward. In addition, the change in Stewart's momentum appears to be caused by the collision.

Rest in peace, Kevin Ward.

[Chemisse]

13. I agree. The only footage I have seen doesn't show Stewart's car until just as the man was struck.

And the changes in momentum seem to be due to the collision.

[SnakeEyes]

15. Sprint cars are often throttling

to keep from dying. Tony was just coming off the turn, having had to go through slow while under caution. These types of cars can also be hard to see out of especially the right, wall facing side. THe car before Tony had to swerve. Perhaps tony didnt even see the guy. Dirt tracks are also not illuminated in light like indy/nascar tracks and the kid was in a black firesuit. Maybe Tony didnt see him

[Wuddles440]

12. What a totally unnecessary tragedy

Yes, the other driver (Kevin Ward) should have kept his emotions in check and stayed in his car until the safety crew arrived. However, it's very apparent from the video that Stewart, who has a history of being a hot head himself, intentionally goosed this throttle and unfortunately slid into Ward. While he certainly didn't plan on critically injuring Ward, he certainly wanted to intimidate him. It should also be noted that the other competitors dropped down to the bottom of the track and reduced their speed as they are required to do under caution. However, Stewart ignores the protocol and drifts up the track to engage his adversary. At the very least Stewart should be charged with assault, if not, manslaughter. Very sad.

[rocktivity]

14. Here's a decent quality version of the video

Last edited Wed Jul 25, 2018, 05:53 PM - Edit history (2)

which I can put on my server if it gets raided by the GoogleTube Kops:

You got out of your car, you walked toward his car, and now you're racing in peace, Mister Macho McBadass...


rocktivity

P.S. Welcome to DU, Wuddles440 -- sorry about the circumstances.

[littlemissmartypants]

16. I love racing. But not like this. Rest in peace, Kevin Ward.

Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp

[Javaman]

17. Golf Caddies Brawl During PGA Tour Australian Open

http://www.inquisitr.com/429628/golf-caddies-brawl-during-pga-tour-australian-open/

[rocktivity]

18. A fight broke out at an NFL game during the COIN TOSS

Last edited Tue Nov 24, 2015, 02:30 PM - Edit history (4)

(link). I didn't think ANYTHING could ever top that!

...Grant Buchanan is claiming that Matt Kelly started the golf caddies brawl: “Matt was a good friend of mine, [or] so I thought...He said some things that offended me and I approached him to clarify it and clear the air, and he pretty much laughed in my face.”

...But PGA Tour player Marc Leishman said that his caddie, Matt Kelly, wasn’t to blame for the bagman brawl....Leishman said. “I was there and he [Kelly] didn’t do anything. He stood there, copped what he got and didn’t do anything apart from that. I was proud of him, to be honest.”

They should have both gotten walking papers: neither should have been discussing matters unrelated to the tournament while they were "on duty."


rocktivity

[Orsino]

20. McCain is going to roast him on the Sunday shows. n/t