Tony Stewart Runs Over Driver During Confrontation, Killing Him

[madokie]

http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708
Video: Tony Stewart Runs Over Driver During Confrontation, Killing Him


NASCAR driver Tony Stewart ran over a competitor, 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr., during a confrontation at a sprint car race on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. Ward was killed.

In the video above, via YouTube, you can see Ward apparently confronting Stewart on foot after Ward's car is run into the wall. He is struck, dragged, then thrown a number of feet. According to Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero, Ward was dead on arrival at the hospital.

Our original post, with several updates, is below.

[exboyfil]

1. Stewart appears to accelerate

The irony is that Tony Stewart has done something similar as this 20 year old driver (confronting another driver in motion under caution) did in two incidents in NASCAR. He stepped towards an oncoming car and threw his helmet in one instance and his gloves in another. In one case he was very close to the other car. There are several other incidents you can see on YOUTUBE of helmet throwing and confrontations. One idiot driver left his car which proceeded to back into the wall with track personnel all around.

IN ALL OF THESE CASES THE ANNOUNCERS ARE LAUGHING AND JOKING ABOUT IT. You can easily see where this young driver would pick up this behavior. It will be interesting to see racing mitigate this by blaming the 20 year old (who was at fault too by walking on the track) when NASCAR has a long history of this same type of behavior.

Given Stewart is known for his aggression, and it appears that kicking up dirt is a standard in your face tactic in this type of racing, many folks familiar with the sport are thinking that is what happened (tried to brush the kid back in baseball terms). I don't think you can prove intent in a court of law (I doubt it will ever go to trial), but the civil case is going to be huge. Stewart is definitely going to pay in endorsements and possibly suspension from NASCAR (but I am cynical and I doubt it).

[BainsBane]

108. You mean using cars agressively

is common in NASCAR, they threatened people with them?

Pay in endorsements? From what you and the OP have said, it looks like murder. You don't think he'll be prosecuted? The video shows him deliberately steering the car to hit the guy.

[exboyfil]

132. I am not saying what should happen

I am predicting what will happen. Stewart has a credible defense and the standard for proof is going to be higher than some street incident. The deceased driver knew the risks in his sport and he further increased that risk by behaving in a reckless manner. For a criminal conviction you have to show intent, and I just don't see that happening here. Other video perhaps will show more.

I will give you an example in another sport. In a college baseball game a batter was in the on deck circle which is far from the plate, and a pitcher intentionally threw a fastball at his face. It hit him in the eye and blinded him in one eye. That pitcher was never charged. It that case intent was demonstrated through the pitcher's own statements.

http://qctimes.com/news/local/a-decade-after-blinding-pitch-anthony-molina-says-he-misses/article_0807d368-2f9b-11de-a388-001cc4c002e0.html

[BainsBane]

134. The victim was a fool, clearly

and a hothead. But I saw the driver swerve right toward him. Seems to me a prosecutor has a case. As bad as blinding someone is, it's not murder.

[exboyfil]

162. Subject to interpretation

for Stewart and intent is a big deal in a criminal case (especially in a sporting event).

The beaning incident had clear intent and still battery charges were not filed. If you intentionally throw a baseball at someone's head in public with the intent to scare or injure, you will be charged with battery or worse (or a specific law involving throwing objects). The fact that he was not killed is not material - it is still a battery in that case.

[BainsBane]

135. Those are some lame looking cars too

Is that was NASCAR drivers always use?

[exboyfil]

161. They are Sprint cars

A specialized type of racing done at a much lower level of competition. Tony Stewart came up from that type of racing, and he does it kind of as a "hobby" now. The previous year in that same race he instigated a mult-car pile up that led to hospitalization for one of the competitors. Stewart broke his own leg in a later sprint car race and lost half a season in the big time NASCAR races. I doubt if he will ever race sprint cars again.

[yeoman6987]

151. I just saw the video

how crazy do you have to be to cross into the track. He clearly wanted to get killed. Some personal problems or something. Poor Tony Stewart ran into a guy trying to get hit.

[exboyfil]

164. I don't know about poor Tony Stewart

He still punched his throttle right before the encounter. Given his history you cannot help to think that he had ill intention (if nothing more than to scare the other driver). I wonder how people would feel if Matt Kenseth had hit Stewart because he was startled by the helmet thrown by Stewart at the him. Kenseth was within half the width of a car of Stewart when he passed him on caution.

Any excuse Stewart will give (Ward should not have been on the track) will be viewed by the public in light of Stewart's own prior behavior. If not legally liable, a civil jury will see all the things that Stewart did as a racer. I suspect he will settle out of court with Ward's family (I would in that case).

[BootinUp]

176. lol,that was funny as hell

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Stewart did not run over him.

He hit the throttle which caused the car to fishtail and the wheel hit Ward. I believe Tony's temper got the best of him and he misjudged what would happen.

Be that as it may, a young man is dead. That is the tragedy.

Stewart may very well avoid charges or if he is charged he my avoid being found guilty. While Stewart is a champion Sprint car racer, accidents happen. Proving he did this on purpose may be hard to do. I am not defending him. I am pointing out the defense his lawyer may use.

[HereSince1628]

7. I didn't see that in the video I watched...

The view I saw was so narrow field and brief that there was no sense of any change of speed that may have been seen from a different perspective over several more seconds.

Stwearts car really didn't seem to fish-tail to me. If anything the front of the car went straight rather than turning, and if what I think I saw really happened, that could be evidence Stewart was trying to avoid the side-ways slide.

[snooper2]

43. He murded him, guess he can play with matchbox cars in prison

[qazplm]

58. he murdered him?

I'm sorry you walk out onto the track in the middle of a race and start confronting folks AS THEY ARE SPEEDING BY you pretty much are responsible for what happens to you.

[elehhhhna]

60. thank you. confronting speeding car on foot = you lose. sad. out of control temper tantrums kill.

[Logical]

122. Initially the asshole decided to still race today. Wow, bad PR move. Luckily for him his handlers...

talked him out of it.

[HooptieWagon]

157. No.

The statement last night that he was going to race was not from Stewart, it was from someone with the team. Its unclear if that person knew at the time the other driver had died. Stewart publically announced at 10am he wasn't going to participate in todays race, but the decision had been made earlier since his replacement driver said he had to get on a plane at 8am to get from Charlotte to Watkins Glen. The team said it was Tony's decision not to race.

[PowerToThePeople]

4. Why was he walking into the middle of a track of speeding race cars?

[eShirl]

5. anger of the moment overtook better judgement, I suppose

[treestar]

35. I thought that too

Good grief, what a dumb thing to do . Darwin in action.

[closeupready]

48. Yeah, that's the takeaway for me, to be honest.

These machines can be deadly weapons, and you are not in a CGI action film.

[Logical]

123. Drivers do that other times. People don't run over them. n-t

[closeupready]

127. Stupid is as stupid does. Get out of your car in the middle of a car race,

you gonna get burned.

[Logical]

128. Really? Need some videos where they don't get killed? nt

[Fawke Em]

68. My reaction, too.

People are racing in heavy machinery and on adrenaline. Any other outcome would be the miracle.

[DiverDave]

6. He stabbed the throttle. Tires break loose, he hits man.

If he hadnt hit the throttle would the guy be alive?
Yellow flag means slow down, which stepping on the gas is NOT.
Stewart should be charged. Period.

[madokie]

9. I agree with that

"Stewart should be charged. Period." then given his day in court.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

51. 'According to the sheriff, no charges are pending'.

They also refer to it as an accident.

[madokie]

85. At this point in time they have to say that

if after an investigation they find no reason to charge then that will be that. Up until then they have to say no charges are pending. Its the way our system works.

What I think from looking at the video there may be reason to be skeptical of it being an accident.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

87. If the incident occurred as described

it sounds like negligent homicide to me. He gunned his car as a form of intimidation, and accidentally hit the other guy. Not really any different than some yahoo with a loaded gun brandishing it at somebody he was threatening and accidentally pulling the trigger and shooting the other person dead. No intent to kill, but a stupid decision with potentially foreseeable lethal consequences. You wave a loaded gun around, you can shoot somebody. You hit your engine on a dirt track with brakes on, your car can slew around and hits somebody nearby.

[madokie]

91. At the very least

From what I seen once they investigate this I think there will be charges brought fourth. this is just my opinion mind you, from my watching the short clip in the OP.

[randys1]

88. The dead guys behaviour is common in this situation, they all do it on this type of track

Stewart is an asshole and a crazy good driver and one of the drivers who resisted meeting with Obama for reasons that are obvious at least to me (which has nothing to do with this incident but I had to mention it)

Stewart gunned it when he went by the kid and his car did fishtail so Stewart needs to be arrested and indicted for manslaughter

Drivers on these kind of tracks and these cars get out all the time and point like this, they were under yellow, there is NO reason for tony to have hit him, while it wasnt on purpose to kill him he surely was sending a message with the gunning it and fishtailing which is clear in the video...

guilty of manslaughter

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

102. I see a poster or two repeatedly saying

that they've driven these cars and that it's 'common' for people to gun it then coast, but in the video clips, I don't see other drivers 'gunning it' and fishtailing. Now maybe if I were watching much longer pieces of video, I would see it happen, but it seems odd that in the clips we're seeing, Stewart is the only one who seems to have a fishtailing incident.

[randys1]

152. He is doing it on purpose to respond to the driver who is yelling at him, it is negligence and

manslaughter, 2nd degree

doesnt have to be intent

[4b5f940728b232b034e4]

111. Time to vote that jerk out

if he doesn't listen to the people.

[exboyfil]

45. Reporter on NASCAR website

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/8/10/tony-stewart-sprint-car-incident-canandaigua-driver-death.html

"Stewart's car revved and fishtailed, catching Ward with its right-rear tire and sending him a sizable distance from the crash site."

I think NASCAR may hang Stewart out to dry. Even with the video that is a very assertive thing for a reporter to say this early in the process.

He is not racing today. His manager made a rather imprudent comment earlier about him racing since "it was business as usual". You need to immediately hire a PR crisis firm under these conditions. That comment alone will be played over and over.

[HooptieWagon]

59. NASCAR has no jurisdiction.

The cars were open wheel sprint cars, not stock cars. Different sanctioning organization.

[exboyfil]

70. I would think that they could

sanction or suspend him for behaviors outside his venue just like any other sports organization (latest example is Ray Rice). In this case he is voluntarily putting himself on the shelf for the latest NASCAR race (which is a wise decision since otherwise looks very insensitive). I doubt he will ever race again on a dirt track. He has been warned before and the sponsors are going to flee in droves if he tries it - perhaps his own people looking for a more stable team. He is bigger than the dirt tracks so I am curious if you can get independent voices from that quarter (you don't tic off a giant which can crush you). They come to an understanding that he won't race in that body anymore.

NASCAR - I bet he races NASCAR in the next two weeks. He will probably settle out of court with the family in the $1M range. No criminal charges - you can't show intent. Hopefully NASCAR adopts stricter rules for these type of encounters in their venue. Stewart has had two similar encounters where he approached a moving car under caution and threw his gloves and helmet. The announcers thought it (and other incidents like it) was funny.

Did he try to scare the kid, try to kick up dirt, or try to bump him in anger??? I don't think a criminal trial will ever get to decide that. A civil trial is probably unlikely as well unless the family is really out for blood. The dead driver has a great deal of responsibility in the incident.

[HooptieWagon]

72. No, they won't penalize him for a racing incident under another sanctioning body.

And NASCAR already has rules and policies for such events in their races. Drivers are escorted from their crashed car into a safety vehicle (truck or ambulance) by track officials. A driver who exits his car to confront another driver in their car is heavily fined and placed on a prolonged probation.

There is equal blame in this incident. Ward should not have gotten out of his car to confront Stewart. And Stewart should have been more cautious when passing the accident scene.

[exboyfil]

97. Maybe not this incident

but lets say intent was clearer. They can suspend indefinitely for a gay slur - I would think they could punish something like racing under caution and killing a track worker.

Nationwide Series driver Nelson Piquet Jr. has been fined $10,000 and placed on indefinite probation, and he will have to attend sensitivity training after using a gay slur on social media.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1795345-nelson-piquet-jr-penalized-for-violating-nascars-code-of-conduct-policy

Probation? Is that really taking it seriously. If nothing more the entire tone of these incidents needs to change starting with the announcers.

No penalty for Stewart in helmet throwing incident.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2012-08-27/tony-stewart-fine-throwing-helmet-at-matt-kenseth-at-bristol

[lumberjack_jeff]

170. Sprint cars are steered via the throttle.

If you want to go inside (as you would to avoid a person running at you from the right), you don't just turn the wheel, understeer will take you straight to the rail; you blip the throttle.

I think it's frankly ridiculous to claim that he murdered Ward.

[brewens]

177. Making a stupid move that kills someone would normally get you a manslaughter charge.

Under caution is not the time to hit the gas to spray someone with dirt, possibly all he intended to do. Had he just blown him over with a little rooster tail, Tony would have been laughing his ass off all the way around the track.

Too bad for the kid but also for Stewart. He can be an ass but no one wants to do something like that.

[trumad]

8. Drivers who witnessed say it was an accident....

I'll go by their judgment not a bunch of keyboard warriors.

[DiverDave]

10. So, since I'm not a driver on the scene

I cannot examine the evidence that is available?
Oh, and keyboard warrior, how quaint.

Yes, the kid should not have been on the track, but under yellow you are not allowed to speed up.
Stewart has a temper, just look it up.
But since I wasnt there I cannot comment.
Says you...

[trumad]

11. You can think whatever you want...

but you were not there---the drivers who witnessed were.

Maybe keyboard warrior was a bit much..... should have said dudes on laptops in their pajamas.

[safeinOhio]

14. You have a point, however

the video trumps other drivers that were there. Much like the video of a cop killing some poor guy and all the other cops swear the guy was resisting. Tony stepped on the gas under a yellow flag. That's what killed the other driver. That makes it a homicide, the degree is the only question now.

[daleanime]

52. So who wears...

'pajamas'?

[phil89]

57. And eyewitnesses are never wrong.

I'll examine the evidence and think for myself.

[HooptieWagon]

63. You obviously don't know squat about sprint cars.

Most of them don't have clutches or transmissions, they don't drive at a slow constant speed. Caution flag doesn't mean drive at a constant speed, it means slow down and be cautious. Its quite common for sprint cars to hit the throttle for a second, and then coast a bit during caution flags.

[madokie]

12. In the video its pretty obvious that he blipped the throttle

with the rear end going to the left. I'm sure he turned the wheel to drive around Ward but when he blipped the throttle and the ass end swung down, (to the left towards the center of the track,hence down) that left the front wheels in effect straight ahead. The crime, if I can use that word, was when he blipped the throttle. Without that maneuver it looks like the front wheel of the car would have simply gone around not over Ward killing him. IMO

[trumad]

13. Well---again...

the experts--- errr drivers who witnessed are saying it's an accident---and so far it appears that the authorities are saying the same thing.

DU and it's crazy way of eliminating due process never ceases to amaze me.

[madokie]

16. Of course they are

It would be prudent for them to say that at this point otherwise it shows them in a very bad and I mean a very bad light.
Your opinion is like my opinion, our opinions, nothing more or nothing less. I watched the video and from that I can say what I said I seen and what I seen is Stewart making a grave mistake. One he should have known better because of the fact racing on an oval, slopped to the center, tracks is his business. If the car that Stewart was driving didn't have a locked rear differential then more than likely he would have drove around Ward but since both wheels break loose during a blip of the throttle like he did and the fact that things fall down not up he is at fault. He should have known better but I suspect that anger got in his way of a better judgment. What Stewart should have done is stop. Pretty simple or simply steered his car around Ward and drove on not spin the tires like he did. Again Stewart killed Ward with his race car as the weapon to do it with. NO two ways about that, no matter what the other drivers say.

[MohRokTah]

24. Yep, from all the video evidence, looks like manslaughter. eom

[yeoman6987]

121. Total accident

I hope he is not charged and back in 2 weeks. He will need time to decompress from this tragedy.

[jberryhill]

90. So in your world "due process" means "decision without trial"?

[madokie]

138. Did I say that

fuck no I did not, nor did I insinuate that either. Read into it what you will because I could care less as I stand on firm ground on this. From the video it looks like a crime was committed and if it was then I expect the authorities to take the appropriate action.

To me it looks, from looking at the video and reading what others at the race are saying, like it was an intentional action on Stewarts part.

[jberryhill]

149. Um, I wasn't replying to you

I was replying to the person who seems to believe that charging someone with a crime does not give them an opportunity to defend.

[madokie]

167. My bad

I apologize.
Wish I'd caught it sooner but I didn't, sorry

[sendero]

140. Those saying..

.. "it was an accident" are the ones who seem to want to avoid any kind of actual trial.

[madokie]

141. Sure it is

durn sure isn't me saying or insinuating that

[sendero]

143. I meant..

.... to reply to the post you replied to, sorry.

I have no opinion about whether a crime was committed or not, but the idea a grand jury shouldn't look into it is absurd.

[madokie]

144. I knew that, I was just reiterating what I have already said

Peace

basically I was just agreeing with you

[HooptieWagon]

153. That would be the police, and other drivers...

... saying it was an accident. Those screaming "manslaughter" are the keyboard commandos who've never even seen a sprint car, let alone ever attended a race.

[sendero]

159. Just like..

. with Trayvon Martin. You'll excuse me if I'd prefer a more unbiased evaluation.

[Calista241]

137. Mechanics of driving Sprint cars.

If you hit the brake or back off the throttle, the car will drift to the outside (up towards the wall). Maintaining or increasing pressure on the throttle, to me, says he wanted to narrow his driving line into the turn. If this maneuver would have been successful, and the other dude wasn't moving, Stewart would likely have missed.

In this particular case, accelerating the throttle was probably the only chance of saving that dudes life. In any case, the dead guy is entirely at fault. He was out of his car, alive, and out of danger, and through his own actions, and against the rules of the race organizer, he put himself in the position of being struck by a car legally and actively participating in the race. There is ZERO fault here by Tony Stewart.

Intending to race the next day may have been an asshole thing to do, but there's no crime against being an asshole.

[DiverDave]

146. man, lets just let the superstar off.

if he stabbed the throttle, which it appears he did, the tires broke loose to the outside where the dude was standing. If he wouldnt have stabbed the gas, that guy would be alive.
Stewart has a temper, and has boiled over before.
I'm not saying he did it on purpose, but his actions caused that kids death.

[backwoodsbob]

168. he wont be touched

I have driven a sprint car at a lower level than this.At the pre race drivers meeting they emphasize VERY aggressively that if you are in an accident and there is no immediate danger to you that you DO NOT get out of the car.
The moment he got out of the car he put it all on himself.
I feel terrible for the kid and his family but nothing is going to happen to Stewart.The kid went at fault the moment he got out of the car.

[lumberjack_jeff]

172. That's not at all obvious.

Had Stewart locked the brakes, he would have still run the guy over. The kid launched himself into traffic.

[lumberjack_jeff]

171. Fully agree. n/t

[JaneyVee]

15. Every eyewitness in the stands say otherwise.

None of the drivers even saw it, they were all driving. Plenty in the stands say he gunned the engine.

[madokie]

17. You can see for yourself that he gunned the engine

which made the rear of the car go down hill, towards the center of the slopped track, when the rear tires lost traction. Things fall down not UP.
Stewart will be charged with a crime in this when its all said and done if there is any justice in this world that is. Yes Ward had some responsibility in all this too but that does not let Stewart off the hook. Again in my opinion.

[HooptieWagon]

154. You don't know what you're talking about.

Sprint cars don't have a differential. The rear tires are two different diameters, called "stagger". The RR tire is larger in diameter than the left. When you hit the throttle, the car wants to turn left. Closing the throttle makes the car makes the car veer right. Plus, the cars have about 1000 hp, and no transmission or clutch... its direct drive through an in/out box. Its not at all like cruising down the street in a Camry. They are squirrelly as hell.

[MohRokTah]

22. A jury is going to be shown the video.

Looks like manslaughter to me.

[n2doc]

34. And drivers would never, ever lie to protect one of their own n/t

[closeupready]

49. Why wouldn't they protect Stewart, then?

??

[JVS]

54. Drivers generally don't like drivers who kill other drivers on the track.

If the guy did it on purpose and they think he did, their self interest wouldn't be served at all by covering for him.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

92. There doesn't have to be intent or purpose to commit a crime.

There's a little thing called negligence.

[frylock]

145. negligence is getting out of your car and walking towards the racing line

[cherokeeprogressive]

105. "I'm Tony Stewart, dickhead... and you're not. So back the FUCK up."

I've slowed the video down and watched it frame by frame. He hit the kid with his right rear, and the car was in a right-handed slide with the front wheels turned slightly to the right at the moment of impact. Couple that with the throttle-up the moment before and here's my take and it's just my opinion, doesn't make me a keyboard warrior, and I'm not currently wearing pajamas.

Pitch the car to the left, stab the gas pedal for a quick second, and kick the rear-end out either to back the kid up. or toss some marbles in his face. He misjudged and caught him with the right rear tire. "I'm Tony Stewart, and he's a punk nobody, challenging me in front of all these people? The fuck does he think he is?"

Anyone who's followed Stewart's career knows he's a hothead, considers himself entitled, and is prone to outbursts. This time he fucked up. He misjudged badly, and a 20 year old is dead. Hell, if the helmet he threw at Matt Kenseth's car in 2012 had gone through the windshield instead of bouncing off the hood of his car, Stewart's career might have ended with criminal charges right then and there.

I see involuntary manslaughter. That's my opinion, and I'm still not wearing pajamas.

You can right click on the video at the link below, and set the play speed to 0.125 and watch Ward wrap around the right rear tire at 0:36.

The sad part is that if Ward hadn't gotten out of his car and challenged a hothead like Stewart, he'd be alive today.

http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708

[DanTex]

107. Yup. That's what it seems like to me.

Looks like he was trying to back the kid up or spray some dirt on him or something, and misjudged it.

[trumad]

109. Ward walked into the middle of the track with fast oncoming cars heading his way.

He almost got hit before Stewart hit him. I played the video several times and there aint no way in hell that Tony Stewart will charged with any crime because of this.

[madokie]

113. Actually the cars had slowed down considerably by the time he got to the point of impact

not going more than 30 or 40 mph, looks to me like, sounds like that too from the sound of the engines.
I wouldn't want to be tony Stewart this morning is all I know for sure. I doubt he will do much more racing after this all settles in.
I'm sure there is other videos from different angles from this one. I'm sure there will be several videos surface before its all said and done.

My hope is this is nothing but a terrible accident but from first blush this video does not support that.

[trumad]

115. Bank on it.

No charges will come against Stewart. There is no evidence that is visible from the video that he did it on purpose.

None

[madokie]

116. We will see won't we

I predict that Stewart's racing career has ended and he simply doesn't know it yet.

[trumad]

117. Why would his career be over?

[TeamPooka]

169. I predict you're both right. Stewart will get no criminal charges & no sponsors behind him to race.

[bullwinkle428]

163. +1000. And this particular "keyboard warrior" actually attended the first two

(at the time) NASCAR "Winston Cup" races at Watkins Glen, in addition to being a follower of the sport in general for about 40 years.

[Logical]

124. Of course they did. Stewart could ruin them. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

173. Trumad is right. Now I need a shower. n/t

[Rhinodawg]

18. Need info...Questions..

1. were they under GREEN or YELLOW?

2. Was Tony Stewarts view blocked by the car in front of him?

3. It appears from a side view that AFTER he hit the driver he the SWUNG to the right...meaning that BEFORE the hit, he SWUNG TO THE LEFT to try to avoid the driver before he hit. Did anyone see that?

[trumad]

19. Thank you

that's all I'm saying.....

[Rhinodawg]

20. Thank you for the Thank You but why?

[trumad]

21. Debating folks here that seem to immediately have jumped to a conclusion

that the should be criminally charged.

[Rhinodawg]

25. From what I can see..

I think it was GREEN and that car right in front of him blocked any view until the guy was right next to him.

just my guess.

[madokie]

26. You're basing what you say on what the drivers are saying, or so you say

I'm basing what I'm saying on physics and what I see. Chances are the other drivers didn't actually see what happened as I can from the video plus the have a vested interest in saying what they are saying. I don't.
A kid is dead, a guy who should have known better seems to be at fault so yes it needs to be looked at much closer than simply waving it off as an accident because the other drivers say it was.

[jberryhill]

31. A charge isn't a "conclusion"

A verdict is a conclusion.

A charge is a question.

[madokie]

32. And there is definitely a reason for questioning in this case

From the video alone it raises questions. A person is dead is enough reason to be skeptical about this incident being simply an accident. Tony Stewart should not be racing again until this is settled, IMHO

[greyl]

166. The distance Stewart's car travelled after hitting Ward is incriminating.

Coupled with the obvious throttle blip during impact, it looks to me like it was an intentional collision.

[MohRokTah]

23. Answers

1. Yellow

2. He'll claim he was.

3. You can clearly hear he hit the throttle, and did so under a yellow flag. That was intentional. That's homicide, at a minimum it's manslaughter.

[Rhinodawg]

27. Interesting.

the car in front was close and blocked a lot of view.

[madokie]

30. Looks that way to me too

course I'm only a keyboard commando though

Stewart has anger issues, he blipped the throttle, Ward was hit being killed so yes it needs to be brought to the attention of the authorities
Stewart should have known that when he blipped the throttle the rear tires would break loose, spin, hence loose traction and that things fall down not up. The track is slopped to the center, not flat so that is where the fall down I keep saying comes from

[ieoeja]

165. Hitting the throttle sounds exactly like down shifting.

Down shifting gives you more control when trying to turn. If I was trying to avoid hitting somebody you would likely hear the same thing from my car.

[lumberjack_jeff]

175. See post #154

the definitive primer on how sprint cars work. There's no transmission and the primary purpose of the steering wheel is countersteering.

You couldn't drive through an obstacle course with one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025362559#post154

[Algernon Moncrieff]

28. Per ESPN Radio tthis morning: as af 9 AM Eastern, Stewart still intends to race today

Thus far, NASCAR has made no move to stop him. However, the day is still young.

[HooptieWagon]

66. As of 10am hes NOT driving today.

And NASCAR has nothing to do with the accident last night. Those were open-wheel sprint cars, that have a different governing body. Whatever they may or may not do inre Tony Stewart has no influence on NASCAR.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

131. NASCAR is the governing body of today's race

The talker on ESPN suggested that NASCAR would come off as insensitive if they allowed Stewart to race.

[HooptieWagon]

133. No, the decision was Stewart's.

I'm sure he consulted his PR peep and sponsors, but NASCAR had no influence in the decision.

[madokie]

136. I suspect that Stewart won't be racing anytime soon

there are a lot of questions to be answered concerning this death. This happened on a Saturday and this is only the following Sunday. Tomorrow when people are back to work then we'll see what comes of this. I'm sure there are a lot of videos to be seen yet that we haven't seen that the authorities will see and from those the intent will be plain enough to either charge or not to charge. Not until then is this even close to smelling finished. From the video in the op I say there is enough evidence to warrant further study. A mans life was taken and many people don't/won't take that very lightly

anyways I'm heading out for a swim for now

[HooptieWagon]

158. Well, the decision to resume racing will be Stewart's.

The police already have seen several videos, I'm sure. And they've interviewed dozens of eye-witnesses, and Tony Stewart. They said there is nothing to indicate its anything other than an accident.

[bigtree]

29. how absolutely horrible

. . . and the young man is dead.

...

[99Forever]

33. What a terrible situation.

For Kevin Ward Jr and his family and friends and for Tony Stewart. The heat of a moment racing incident (VERY common in this kind of event) has cost a young man his life and devastated an icon of racing.

NASCAR.com has further information about the accident:

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/8/10/tony-stewart-sprint-car-incident-canandaigua-driver-death.html

Including a statement from Sheriff Philip C. Povero:

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/8/10/ontario-county-sheriff-philip-povero-tony-stewart-sprint-car-incident-news-conference.html

I don't know about anyone else, but I'll wait till there is a complete investigation before I make a harsh judgement of anyone's actions.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

95. If 'heat of the moment racing incidents' are 'VERY common'

then maybe the penalties for engaging in them need to be strong enough that people don't dare engage in them.

[99Forever]

147. You obviously have no idea of what it is you speak of.

Authoritarian draconian solutions hardly work in any situation, let alone one where the competitive drive is a critical component to success in a sport. Charged emotions are the nature of the beast. If that doesn't suit you, I suggest you not watch the sport.

[msanthrope]

36. Tony Stewart had better retain a criminal attorney. nt

[Lochloosa]

38. He won't need one. See my post.

[Lochloosa]

37. I have raced sprint cars. The first thing they teach you is to stay in your car

If your in a wreak you are to stay in your car and let the emergency crews handle it. The guy was an idiot for running to the middle of the track. Tony did nothing wrong

[maced666]

39. Now that is some 1st hand knowledge/viewpoint.

Thanks for posting.

[Rhinodawg]

41. I thought the first thing they teach you is...

"If you not cheating, you're not trying"





just kidding

[Lochloosa]

42. Well that goes without saying.

[JVS]

56. Anyone who needs to be taught that is beyond instruction

Last edited Sun Aug 10, 2014, 09:48 PM - Edit history (1)

[snooper2]

44. So do they teach you when you are under a yellow flag and another racer is on the track screaming

at you it is perfectly okay to goose it to kick the ass end at the driver running him over and killing him?

[Lochloosa]

89. Maybe you should look at the video again. Those card are going fast.

Not just Tonys. Those are split second decisions and the last thing you expect is for someone to be standing in front of you. Remember, those cars are designed to go SIDEWAYS.

[exboyfil]

47. The driver was wrong in exiting the car and

confronting the other driver. I wonder where a 20 year old picked up that behavior. Maybe it was the years of NASCAR broadcasts with drivers throwing things and confronting other drivers as they pass. The announcers think it is funny. Stewart himself has thrown his gloves and his helmet at other drivers. In one case stepping dangerously close to the other car. If nothing more NASCAR should put a stop to that (long suspensions??).

What reasons do you throttle up under caution? That will be the crucial question that will be answered. I don't think Stewart will face criminal charges, but I am curious to hear his explanation.

[freshwest]

96. He may have throttled up to avoid collision. At least that's what the guy who hit me said.

I was in a line of cars in a long freeway exit, and suddenly a driver almost a dozen cars ahead made a hard stop. So did I and all of the cars in front of me.

It was the kind of lane where you can take the exit or not, and it backed up onto the freeway for that one lane only, one out of four. and I waited there, for what seemed like a real long time with two lanes of cars to my right. It's allowed and common, I watch ahead and change lanes in advance of such daily occurences if I'm not turning myself.

Then thunk, and I get knocked unconcious for a few minutes from injury. The guy who rammed into me told the police he was going too fast to stop, so accelerated to get to the left of my vehicle and avoid hitting me. He was trying to change lanes. He sped up on purpose for it, thought he had a plan.

But he missed his angle, knocking me out, tearing up a lot of stuff. I bring it up as people figure they have a plan at times that doesn't work.

So yeah, there is a reason to hit the throttle if you think you'll avoid having an accident. The guy that hit me wasn't charged with anything, as it was just an accident, which the police are calling this now.

This situation on the track was chaotic and the crowd appeared to love it. This may be Stewart's defense, that he was trying to avoid hitting him, as the other that drove around him did.

One would have to prove malice in this case, or in mine, and there is no proof in a split second event like this. It's awful this guy got killed, no chance to enjoy life and everyone thinks they did the right thing.

That's my answer as to why he hit the throttle, but YMMV.

[Spider Jerusalem]

73. Apart from accelerating under a yellow flag, that is.

Which is inherently dangerous (which is why the rule is, don't).

[EX500rider]

84. You can accelerate under yellow flag.

I road raced motorcycles for 6 years with 3 SE & Fla Championships.

Yellow flag: stop racing, no passing, slow down near the corner with the waving flag.

Of course you can accelerate, if you come out of a slow hairpin you speed back up, just not to full on race speed.

[AngryOldDem]

77. Is there a specific rule that mandates that?

That question was asked on ESPN this morning and the racing expert (forget his name) said he didn't know if there was or not. I was a little surprised at his answer.

If not, do you think there should be some sanctions for drivers who do this?

[Lochloosa]

94. I'm not aware of a specific rule but in drivers meetings they cover it

Plus it's just common sense to stay off the track with cars going that fast

[AngryOldDem]

114. Yeah, but you know what they say about common sense.

You would think that people would know better than to walk out into the equivalent of an interstate, but again, heat of the moment and all.

If the threat of not racing or taking a hit the pocketbook could make racers think twice, maybe they should try it.

[SwankyXomb]

120. I thought there was

And I thought it came about because of Stewart doing it repeatedly.

[Eleanors38]

40. Ugly shit. Don't know the outcome legally...

but NASCAR needs to institute harsh penalties for on-track antics and breaking rules under caution. This isn't ice hockey. Save the fist fights for behind the wall, or at some local bar.

[HooptieWagon]

65. NASCAR has absolutely no jurisdiction.

NASCAR is a sanctioning body for stock cars. This was an open-wheel sprint car race. Completely different governing body.

[Eleanors38]

74. I read some bad info on another site regarding this event.

The poor lighting seemed to be a clue, thinking about this further.

[HooptieWagon]

81. Poor lighting, and the driver was wearing black suit, black helmet.

Its questionable when or if Stewart saw him on the track. Stewart should have been more cautious when driving past the scene of the wreck, but the DUers saying he should be criminally charged/put in prison simply don't know what they're talking about and are pulling shit from their ass.

[TransitJohn]

46. Hope he likes prison

He should be doing some time for that

[HooptieWagon]

67. <rolleyes>

No one is going to prison, get real.

[TransitJohn]

79. he gunned his engine as he passed the guy

fishtailing his car and killing a man. If one's actions resulting in the death of another aren't prosecutable, what is?

[HooptieWagon]

83. You obviously know nothing about sprint cars.

They don't have clutches or transmissions, they are direct drive through an in/out box. Its common to drive "slow" by a quick burst of throttle and then coasting. Plus, they are designed to be slid around corners, not steered around. So they don't just cruise along at low speed very well.
There is no possibility Stewart intended to hit him. Its questionable if Stewart even saw him in time, the car immediately in front of Stewart swerved at the last second to avoid the driver on the track.

[Bobbie Jo]

50. I watched the video

Last edited Sun Aug 10, 2014, 02:46 PM - Edit history (1)

To me, it looks like Stewart used the same move to hit Ward as he did when he tapped his car into rail on the first go-around.

I'm not a NASCAR enthusiast, but this looks like an intentional act to me.

eta: an intentional act that went very wrong. On the other hand, Ward should have never put himself on the track.

Tragic.

[doxydad]

53. Fish tailed to hit Ward?

HMM..watched this several times and looks like Ward was being gunned for....

[PumpkinAle]

55. I doubt Stewart even saw

Ward on the track, with the adrenaline going and not normally having to look for people on the track - I believe it was an accident.

It is tragic and Ward was stupid to do what he did, but sadly Stewart will have to live with his for the rest of his life.

[Coventina]

61. Yellow flag means that you go slow enough to react to dangerous conditions.

Stewart is 100% at fault for not going slow enough to control his vehicle.

I hope he gets nailed for this.

on edit: grammar.

[Cali_Democrat]

62. Holy shit!

Murder?

[Baclava]

64. Well, Tony is a hothead, but I doubt his intention was to kill this guy,

It certainly looks like he did something there with a quick engine rev and some fishtailing. I'd say he was trying to startle or scare him a little and it went really bad. This stuff happens all the time on dirt tracks.. nobody runs over the other guy

[Skeeter Barnes]

69. I agree. #45 almost hit him before Stewart did. It could have easily been one of

the others hit him the way he was walking out there.

[AngryOldDem]

76. Right now I don't think it was intentional, either. Just too many unanswered questions.

The lighting is bad at those tracks, which can skew perception. We don't know if the other driver may have been sideswiped by another car, which could have put him in Stewart's path. Also, as has been pointed out, at NASCAR and other races there is constant communication between the driver and his crew, who can warn him off another driver if tempers are running high. If that had happened, Stewart may have backed off and given the other guy some space.

Who knows.

I think the other driver, for whatever reason, lost it in the heat of the moment and just did what he did without thinking. You see that sometimes at all motor races.

This is the third serious dirt track race accident Stewart's been involved in. If I were him, I think I would give this up. I do commend him for not racing today. Smart decision on many levels.

[cpwm17]

71. It first appears that Tony Stewart ran Kevin Ward Jr into the wall

which naturally upset Kevin Ward Jr. Then Tony Stewart clearly gunned his engine before hitting Kevin Ward Jr. I wish we had other angles, but Stewart appears at fault.

[Ruby the Liberal]

75. What is "blipped the throttle"?

I used to own a stick - but have no idea what that means or what happens to the car when you do it. Anyone?

And why was that dude running into the middle of the track? Is that common after a wreck?

[HooptieWagon]

80. A quick open and close of the throttle.

Sprint cars usually aren't equipped with clutches or transmissions, so they don't drive well at a slow constant speed. Common to give a little gas, then coast. Plus, the dirt track cars are designed to be slid around corners, not steered around. The cars are very light (under 1500#, iirc), about 1000 hp, very short wheelbase, have large tires in back and small tires in front. Also, there is no differential in the rear axle, the RR tire is larger diameter than the LR to compensate. They aren't very drivable at low speeds.

Yes, the other driver shouldn't have climbed out his car to confront Stewart, exactly for the reason of what happened. And Stewart should have been more cautious when driving past the wreck scene.

[Ruby the Liberal]

82. Wow - thanks for the explanation

I actually understood it.

One would think that staying in the vehicle would be common sense - at least until the cars are all under control. Thats what they tell us to do here in the northeast when the roads are icy, because someone else could slide into the pileup.

[EX500rider]

86. "And why was that dude running into the middle of the track? Is that common after a wreck?"

No, not common and practically suicidal also.

I have been in motorcycle wrecks at the track where I broke bones and cracked my helmet but the 1st thing I did was roll off the track as soon as I could before I got ran over by other bikes.

[B Calm]

93. Looked like he committed suicide because he had a bad temper.

[Rex]

78. Pure speculation on my part, but I just don't know the drivers intentions.

First off...the 20 year old is STUPID STUPID STUPID for putting his life in danger...just to finger wag at someone that might or might not have meant to push his car into the railing.

I personally don't think Stewart meant to hit and kill Kevin Ward, I think he was trying to avoid hitting him and ended up clipping him with the back end.

Hot heads can lead to death. Sorry to see such a young person killed in their prime. RIP.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

98. And the Darwin Award goes to Ward

[Rex]

100. Seriously, I cannot believe he got out of his car and walked to the middle of the track

to yell at another driver still hauling ass around the track! I might have done something that stupid at 20...but really doubt it.

[trumad]

101. It would be like getting out of your car on a freeway.

and walking directly in the path of oncoming cars.

[Rex]

104. Yes!!

I was shocked to see it! I thought he was going to make a run for it to the center where it is safe!

[madokie]

142. No it wouldn't

By the time he got out of his car and walked onto the track the cars were under yellow and traveling at a much slower more cautious pace. I can see that for myself and no amount of trying to change that is gonna make any difference, fact is fact

[Rex]

174. He was hit by a car going as fast as the other cars, so no I think it is a good comparison.

One of the very first things we all learn as children is NOT to walk out into oncoming traffic. And that is EXACTLY what he did. Sorry, but I think when all is said and done, there will be no charges. Just my 2 cents.

[teach1st]

99. 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 Stewarts momentum appears to be caused by the collision.

Rest in peace, Kevin Ward.

[NuclearDem]

103. Tragic accident that never, ever should have happened.

You never, ever walk onto the track, no matter the color of the flag, unless you're being helped out by the medics and the other crash responders.

[WilliamPitt]

106. Pro tip: don't run into the middle of a live racetrack and try to stop a racecar with your finger.

Bad idea all around.

[trumad]

110. Hell yeah its a bad idea.

[liberal N proud]

112. Why would you get out of your car and step into traffic?

[Blue_Tires]

118. If nothing else, I hope this spurs a bunch of MAJOR rule changes

I've never liked the culture in U.S. short-track/dirt-track/NASCAR of wrecked drivers getting out of their cars and pointing/gesturing/throwing helmets/etc. at the driver who was supposedly at fault...I've also had a huge problem with post-race fisticuffs in the paddock, but that is another discussion...

In any other race series or foreign country, a driver pulling this shit on an active racetrack would be subject to severe disciplinary measures. Not only is it legal, but the culture has actively encouraged this silliness from some mistaken notion that it adds some kind of pro wrestling-style "spice" that the fans love...

[JVS]

150. "it adds some kind of pro wrestling-style "spice" that the fans love"

That spice has a name, it's called "kayfabe"

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

119. This shit is part of racing and all have a good laugh...

But let Tony Stewart show you how it's done... and no one gets hurt.

Idiot boy was trying to make a name for himself by punching out a legend during a race.

[Dawson Leery]

125. Another reminder why I will never be fan of that nonsense.

[Owl]

126. Looks to be intentionally hit.

[HooptieWagon]

130. Oh, horseshit.

[Politicalboi]

139. How do people watch racing

Maybe Stewart gunned it to jab at the wipe out he caused without realizing the guy was on the track. Suppose we'll never know for sure if he saw the guy, or saw him in time to stop. Do they have helmet cams?

[AngryOldDem]

148. With that type of race and car, I doubt there are onboard cameras like with Indy Car & NASCAR

But can't say for sure.

As for the boring factor, I think it depends on the course.

Some kind of accident reconstruction will obviously be needed. The call is out for anyone who was taking videos to share what they have. I'm sure that something will come out of that if different perspectives can be seen.

[HooptieWagon]

155. Not TV cameras.

Some drivers mount a GoPro type video camera on the roll cage, to make a personal record.

[AngryOldDem]

160. Thanks -- didn't know that.

[Thinkingabout]

156. I have heard others joking about someone going to play in the traffic but it

Would sound really simple for Ward to stay in his vehicle or stay by the wall until he received aid, running out on the track was not smart, I don't see how to tell if Stewart accelerated on purpose or not. Stewart will not be charged.