Tony Stewart

Toolfan66

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qILmIyG6qno

Just a tragic situation..

dbKiller

I just heard about this on the news, yes indeed a horrible accident. They should red light the entire track when a driver gets out of a car. My family owned a dirt track for most of my younger life and I have seen drivers get out dazed and just wonder around the track. Very bad deal for everyone.

vmaxer

I saw this when I got up, terrible.

Mikey081057

Wow.... On one hand wtf was that guy doing out of his car chasing someone in a car... Then TS hitting him with the car... and when that guy got out of the car track officials need to red lite the drivers.... What a mess...Can't tell if he intentionally hit him or not but if that is the case than ...Jeez what an effing mess.

ANd then I heard Stewart is going to be in a race car today!!!! Holy Crapola!!!

Toolfan66

Tony Stewart says he will not race today.. I figured he wouldn't, he made the right decision...

gce

Holy Crap...are you kidding me. Be pissed but stay off the race course. These cars do not have the best control on dirt!

codyc1ark

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Wow.... On one hand wtf was that guy doing out of his car chasing someone in a car... Then TS hitting him with the car... and when that guy got out of the car track officials need to red lite the drivers.... What a mess...Can't tell if he intentionally hit him or not but if that is the case than ...Jeez what an effing mess.

ANd then I heard Stewart is going to be in a race car today!!!! Holy Crapola!!!

You really think that Stewart would want to intentionally run someone over?

Tornado Red

Tony does have a history of knee jerk reactions at times, though one would hope that wasn't at play here. I don't think the video is clear enough for us to draw a conclusion. Very tragic.

george daniel

codyc1ark wrote: »

You really think that Stewart would want to intentionally run someone over?

maybe

nooshinjohn

george daniel wrote: »

maybe

His reputation of being a hot-head is not helping him here. I could easily see him trying to scare this guy by throwing some dirt in his face, and using the car to do it. To deliberately try to run him down however, not really. The dead driver really has nobody to blame but himself IMHO, for walking away from his car and onto the track, into oncoming cars.

I am sure the DA and the police will investigate, but I also think it is time for Tony to walk away from the sport...

Dennis Gardner

nooshinjohn wrote: »

but I also think it is time for Tony to walk away from the sport...

I might have to agree here. I expect at least a wrongful death suit and lots of legal issues from this.

Toolfan66

I disagree, there is no reason for him to walk away from the sport, it's the only thing he lives for, and it's his passion..

Dennis Gardner

Seeing the video, he knew the guy was right at his car, blasted the pedal (most likely to throw dirt on him) and the driver wasn't yet clear of Tony's car. If he had idled by, this never would have happened. It was the attempted fishtale that caught the kid.

Okay, I will restate my stance........I think the sport should walk away from Tony.

nooshinjohn

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I disagree, there is no reason for him to walk away from the sport, it's the only thing he lives for, and it's his passion..

That will be up to investigators to decide. I suspect there will be lawsuits and litigation coming from this for a long time to come, regardless of any criminal investigation. Dale Earnhardt had a well deserved reputation for being a demon behind the wheel of a race car, but a complete gentleman off the track. Stewart, on the other hand, has the reputation of just being an a$$hole.

Without knowing any of the facts, I will not speculate what occurred here beyond what is seen in the video, and from that I see no criminal case that can be proven beyond reasonable doubt, but if the facts can show he took a high line so as to intimidate the other driver and took it a bit to far, involuntary manslaughter is about as far as this could go.

If I were a team owner, Tony would not drive for me until all investigations and legal matter were cleared up.

Toolfan66

nooshinjohn wrote: »

That will be up to investigators to decide. I suspect there will be lawsuits and litigation coming from this for a long time to come, regardless of any criminal investigation. Dale Earnhardt had a well deserved reputation for being a demon behind the wheel of a race car, but a complete gentleman off the track. Stewart, on the other hand, has the reputation of just being an a$$hole.

Without knowing any of the facts, I will not speculate what occurred here beyond what is seen in the video, and from that I see no criminal case that can be proven beyond reasonable doubt, but if the facts can show he took a high line so as to intimidate the other driver and took it a bit to far, involuntary manslaughter is about as far as this could go.

If I were a team owner, Tony would not drive for me until all investigations and legal matter were cleared up.

Considering Tony owns the team, as well as the owner of a dirt track, it won't happen, he will be back racing soon as he should be..

nooshinjohn

According to multiple reports, Stewart was involved in an on-track incident with 20-year-old driver Kevin Ward Jr., with Stewart's car striking Ward after he got out of his car to confront Stewart about earlier contact between the two. Late Saturday night, video of the incident was posted on YouTube. In it, shocked fans sob and scream after Stewart runs over another driver and that driver lies motionless on the track while emergency personnel respond.
You can hear the motor rev just before the car hits the driver, who flies about 50 feet.
"People that witnessed it were horrified," Povero said of the crash, according to AP. "They were extremely shocked."
Povero said the 25-lap race was under caution when Ward was struck. Stewart's car was behind another before he hit Ward.
"The first car swerved to avoid the driver," Povero told the AP.

http://www.kevinwardracing.com/photos.html
Kevin Ward was 20 years old, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Tyler Graves, a sprint-car racer and friend of Ward's, told Sporting News in a phone interview that he was sitting in the Turn 1 grandstands and saw everything.
"Tony pinched him into the frontstretch wall, a racing thing," Graves said. "The right rear tire went down, he spun on the exit of (Turn) 2. They threw the caution and everything was toned down. Kevin got out of his car. … He was throwing his arms up all over the place at Tony for most of the corner.
"I know Tony could see him. I know how you can see out of these cars. When Tony got close to him, he hit the throttle. When you hit a throttle on a sprint car, the car sets sideways. It set sideways, the right rear tire hit Kevin, Kevin was sucked underneath and was stuck under it for a second or two and then it threw him about 50 yards."
Graves said he didn't believe it was intentional.
"You never mean to do something like that," Graves told Sporting News. "Kevin was pissed and he let Tony know. And Tony was trying to give the message back that he wasn't happy either. He went over the line with it."



A look back at the sports figures who have died this year.
Video of the crash showed Ward, in the No. 13 car, spin into a wall after contact with Stewart's car. Ward, wearing a black firesuit and black helmet, climbed quickly from his car and briskly walked around it in what appeared to be an attempt to confront Stewart as he passed by in his own car, his familiar No. 14.
The video showed Ward to the right of Stewart's car, which seemed to kick out from the rear and hit Ward. The driver was hurtled through the air and emergency personnel quickly reached Ward as he lay on the track.
Michael Messerly, a fan who witnessed the crash, told The Associated Press it appeared Stewart struck the driver as he tried to "speed past" him.
"I didn't see (the other driver) anymore," he said. "It just seemed like he was suddenly gone."
Messerly said the crash appeared to be the result of "a number of bad decisions" and not "any intent on Tony Stewart's part."


"Auto racing is a dangerous sport," he said. "I think it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that created a tragic situation."
After the incident, racing for the evening was cancelled, police were dispatched and fans were told to leave the track. The sheriff is asking for people who have video of the crash to contact the office so copies can be obtained for review.
Stewart was involved in a July 2013 accident at Canandaigua Motorsports Park that seriously injured a 19-year-old driver. He later took responsibility for his car making contact with another and triggering the 15-car accident that left Alysha Ruggles with a compression fracture in her back.
On Saturday, ambulances, fire trucks and police arrived within minutes of the crash, Messerly said. Fans filed out in stunned silence, he said.
The Ontario County Sheriff's Department says its officers were at the track investigating into the early morning Sunday.



....If the accounts hold up to scrutiny, Tony should not be allowed to drive in a race again. He can own as many teams as he likes, but he can sit and watch like everybody else, and involuntary manslaughter should at least be considered, but that is just my opinion.

nooshinjohn

...and I should ad that TFL... you know that I respect you and your point of view. On this one I will need to respectfully disagree.

vmaxer

I watch Nascar some when I have time, so not regular. I don't think Tony would have hurt, much less kill the kid intentionally. It is terrible that it happened. I know he gunned the car, but was most likely trying to throw a bit of dirt on him, not kill him.

Tony is a fierce competitor and I enjoy watching him as I did Dale Sr. No emotions would make it dull and boring to watch.

I really hate this happened and such a young man lost his life, I think the first mistake was him getting out on the track and trying to confront Tony, that is best done off the track.

Just my .02.

nooshinjohn

vmaxer wrote: »

I watch Nascar some when I have time, so not regular. I don't think Tony would have hurt, much less kill the kid intentionally. It is terrible that it happened. I know he gunned the car, but was most likely trying to throw a bit of dirt on him, not kill him.

Agreed completely... my contention is that when you are out in public messing around with several hundred horsepower, and someone gets killed through recklessness, negligence or a combination of both, a manslaughter charge is not far behind, and likely some jail time. I hold a guy like Tony Stewart, as a professional with decades of experience to a much higher standard of conduct that I do than a 20 year old amateur kid that lost his life.

Rest assured that if it were Tony Stewart being buried, that kid would be looking at charges.

I guess I want to see everyone held to the same standard regardless of their money or fame.

Erik Tracy

I would not want to be TS - regardless....hindsight is a **** to live with...

vmaxer

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Agreed completely... my contention is that when you are out in public messing around with several hundred horsepower, and someone gets killed through recklessness, negligence or a combination of both, a manslaughter charge is not far behind, and likely some jail time. I hold a guy like Tony Stewart, as a professional with decades of experience to a much higher standard of conduct that I do than a 20 year old amateur kid that lost his life.

Rest assured that if it were Tony Stewart being buried, that kid would be looking at charges.

I guess I want to see everyone held to the same standard regardless of their money or fame.

I think everyone should be held to the same standard, no matter how famous or rich.

But, if Tony had only thrown a little dirt on him and nothing else, how would everyone feel??

The main issue in the way I see it is the kid should not have jumped out of his car onto a live track, even with the caution. He paid the ultimate price for it and that is very sad. I truly believe Tony had no intention of hurting him.

deronb1

Its hard to tell, but it looks like the wheels on the car stewart was driving were locked up and he slid into him. Very dangerous move on the part of the kd. Stupid, in the moment choice that got him killed

nooshinjohn

vmaxer wrote: »

I think everyone should be held to the same standard, no matter how famous or rich.

But, if Tony had only thrown a little dirt on him and nothing else, how would everyone feel??

The main issue in the way I see it is the kid should not have jumped out of his car onto a live track, even with the caution. He paid the ultimate price for it and that is very sad. I truly believe Tony had no intention of hurting him.

My opinion of TS would have remained unchanged... the guy is an a$$, and even tossing dirt should have gotten him a fine IMHO.

The kid does bear some responsibility, a large chuck of it in fact, but actions have consequences. The kid paid with his life, and Tony should be held to account for his part as well. I am certain a wrongful death case will be forthcoming.

nooshinjohn

deronb1 wrote: »

Its hard to tell, but it looks like the wheels on the car stewart was driving were locked up and he slid into him. Very dangerous move on the part of the kd. Stupid, in the moment choice that got him killed

The wheels were actually accelerating...

deronb1

How can you tell they were accellerating? No way by that vid

Jhayman

I think the video show Kevin being caught on the large wing and pulled into the car..IMO
Tragic none the Less

deronb1

Just read up on it a bit. Gonna be a big deal for quite a while. It is a shame.

agfrost

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Rest assured that if it were Tony Stewart being buried, that kid would be looking at charges.

Oh, come on John. If it's the incident's worth charging, the driver will be charged, regardless of his name.

Would the 20 year old get the same quality of defense, were he the driver (and charged)? Not unless he's bankrolled like Tony Stewart is.

gce

No way should anyone walk onto a race course with cars still somewhat at speed. Even with a yellow these cars are still moving and sliding. Even with a locale yellow you see on a road course the corner workers look to make sure cars are not coming before they run out to pickup debris. If anyone get sued it would be the track. You can't sue Tony for someone running onto the track. Should have been red flagged!

dbKiller

gce wrote: »

No way should anyone walk onto a race course with cars still somewhat at speed. Even with a yellow these cars are still moving and sliding. Even with a locale yellow you see on a road course the corner workers look to make sure cars are not coming before they run out to pickup debris. If anyone get sued it would be the track. You can't sue Tony for someone running onto the track. Should have been red flagged!

I agree with this statement, growing up and being around dirt track my whole life, one could argue that Tony was trying to keep his tires warm on the dirt. There was a car directly in front of him and it was dark, so he most likely couldn't see the other driver out on the track. I am not a TS fan, so this is not an attempt to take up for him, only saying, if he did accelerate to intimidate the kid, hopefully justice is served. But it is possible he was keeping tire temps up and just didn't see him. The very moment the other driver crawled out of his car there should have been an immediate red flag/light for the entire track. It is sad to see anyone loose a life, regardless of circumstances, but the number 1 blame goes to the driver that got hit, even at only 20 years old had been racing long enough to know that you should never get out of the car unless its on fire.

Tornado Red

dbKiller wrote: »

I agree with this statement, growing up and being around dirt track my whole life, one could argue that Tony was trying to keep his tires warm on the dirt. There was a car directly in front of him and it was dark, so he most likely couldn't see the other driver out on the track. I am not a TS fan, so this is not an attempt to take up for him, only saying, if he did accelerate to intimidate the kid, hopefully justice is served. But it is possible he was keeping tire temps up and just didn't see him. The very moment the other driver crawled out of his car there should have been an immediate red flag/light for the entire track. It is sad to see anyone loose a life, regardless of circumstances, but the number 1 blame goes to the driver that got hit, even at only 20 years old had been racing long enough to know that you should never get out of the car unless its on fire.

I know hind sight is always 20/20, but...it's not realistic to see a red flag every time a driver climbs out of a dead-in-the-water race car.