Tony Stewart hits rival driver, kills him in Sprint car race..

[Perfectlap]

He MOST certainly will face prosecution.

And the Frances along with NASCAR will be writing the biggest check they have ever signed.
Years of token fines on millionaire arseholes have come home to roost.

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

He MOST certainly will face prosecution.

And the Frances along with NASCAR will be writing the biggest check they have ever signed.
Years of token fines on millionaire arseholes have come home to roost.

I don't think this race had anything to do with NASCAR, did it?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Timco

I don't think this race had anything to do with NASCAR, did it?

Correct, nothing to do with NASCAR.

This was a Sprint car race (open wheel cars on dirt tracks) held at Canandaigua Motorsports Park (north of Syracuse, NY).

NASCAR is racing at Watkins Glen today which is about 80 miles southwest of Syracuse.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Timco

I don't think this race had anything to do with NASCAR, did it?

Trust me the family's lawyers will name Stewart, NASCAR, and anyone who allowed Stewart to enter this race. And they will find a way to argue that the wrist slaps he's received in the past contribued/permitted his status as an 'safe' driver whose aggression was incompatible with a junior formula.... or something to that effect. And a bunch of other stuff that a top dollar law firm will think of. And being that the event took place in NY state where the Governor is potential candidate for higher office, and not in a NASCAR home turf state like North Carolina, means its not just a local prosecutor's call.
The fact that the guy who wrecked him is also the guy who ran him over is very damning (from a victim's lawyer view) and not remotely a risk that NASCAR and Stewart's lawyers are going to gamble with in front of a jury. The family's trial lawyer will simply run "Tony Stewart's greatest "hits"' of deliberate spins and crashes in front of a jury to show he's a hot head, dangerous and skilled enough to know that he should have kept to the inside instead of driving close enough, presumably to flip him off or worse scare him, to have put the deceased in danger. Thats where the state prosecutor will be pondering Stewarts actions as "depraved indifference" or whatever they call it in New York state. And its not just criminal intent as the Sheriff mentioned under the prosecutor's consideration, but also criminal negligence. Frankly I'm amazed that the Sherrif has come out so unequivocally in Stewart's favor at this stage when all evidence that may exist hasnt even been gathered yet. But as a civil matter, the defendants won't let it go that far even if plaintiffs would love to settle during trial where the stakes go up ten fold.

Either way NASCAR will be writing one giant check whose sum will of course be 'confidential'. A NASCAR team owner killing a kid not old to drink a beer has no precedence. Which means they will be swinging for the fences.

[Wrencher]

The kid got OUT OF HIS CAR! Dumb, rookie move, and then he compounded it by running down the track INTO THE RACING LINE! Stewart was (is) an idiot to even be in that race with a bunch of nobodies racing for peanuts, but hey!, he loves to race and it cost him.

This probably cost him big time, (rightly so) but he's gonna clear this incident no problem.
Bottom line, the hot headed kid f****d up big time, and he paid the price. Nobody is gonna' pull that stunt again....

Hans

[jsceash]

I'm reading these comments and began to wonder how many making the remarks have ever been at a dirt track ever. During the course of qualifiers and heats a bumper or curb gets built up through the entire track above and below the race line. Driver will avoid these at all time including during cautions. They are at least a lane up from the bottom of the track, and about a lane down from the top wall, it can be as high as a foot on some tracks. Second the sprint cars run serious stagger to the right rear, meaning the car is wider to the right rear than any other point on the car. Last if the car and driver are within a 100 feet of another car you are being drenched in dust and bits of mud, so it's very hard to keep good clear vision. If you've been at one of these even there are hundreds of tear off sheets floating around the track usually as many as one per drive per lap. I've been at this track really bad bumpers they don't maintain them during the race. Not a big TS fan but he was not that high on the track compared to where the bumper builds up. The kid RAN down in front of him at least three car lanes I was very surprised the car before TS didn't hit him.

[jb92563]

Its a tragic event, but getting out of the car and heading into traffic is a fatal mistake, if not TS someone else might have clipped him.

Race car driving is dangerous, everyone takes the risk knowing it could cost you your life.

That kid was not mature or experienced enough and let his emotions govern his actions and he paid the ultimate price.

Accidents happen in racing.

However, we can count on the conservatives out there to take this opportunity to try banning sprint racing altogether.

[Timco]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Its a tragic event, but getting out of the car and heading into traffic is a fatal mistake, if not TS someone else might have clipped him.

Race car driving is dangerous, everyone takes the risk knowing it could cost you your life.

That kid was not mature or experienced enough and let his emotions govern his actions and he paid the ultimate price.

Accidents happen in racing.

However, we can count on the conservatives out there to take this opportunity to try banning sprint racing altogether.

Can we leave politics out of this? It seems the left are the ones wanting to pass a new law to solve every issue from luggage fees to CA banning firearms that have never been used in a crime.

[Lobo1186]

I doubt anything will come of it. There is absolutely no evidence of foul play. His defense only has to be that he didn't see him til the last second because of the car right in front of him.

[RedTele58]

..........

[thstone]

"Tony Stewart will not face criminal charges right now after a Saturday night incident in which Stewart's car struck and killed 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. during a sprint car race at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park.

In a news conference shortly after 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Phillip C. Povero said, "At this moment there are no facts or evidence that would support a criminal charge or criminal intent.""

Sheriff says no criminal charges will be filed against Tony Stewart | FOX Sports

[TeamOxford]

Very intelligent and eloquent post RedTele.

It takes two to tango. Ward paid for his actions, now it's time for Tony to pay for his.

Maybe this arrogant, violent, big dick trend of bullying will finally end, or at least be subject to fines and discipline.

TO

[woodsman]

If we all saw the same video than many are making big assumptions (typical). What I'm wondering is why TS car is over steering while under a yellow, as he hits the other driver. Was he on the throttle as many conclude or swerving hard to avoid and encountering over steer? Obviously ( to most), such a sad, sad incident-- I mean 20 yrs old....

[BIGJake111]

There is a track in North Carolina where dirty stuff like this goes down all the time. It seems pretty common for antics on a dirt track, weather dissing, or legitimately seeing red. Serious reason to stay in your vehicle. However, TS seems to have clearly been attempting to do something, weather it be a scare tactic, diss, or intention to hit. It seems fairly common with hot headed drivers on dirt.

Sorry that i have forgotten the name of the North Carolina track, it is the one that is so small that drivers must pit outside of the track.

[Nine8Six]

Horrific to see such am ambitious young man life being ended so early. Respect and my prayers goes to both families.

I wouldn't want to appear trying to defend any one, but it looks as if TS tried to rev the car hoping to drift it away from him. Clearly Ward was too close, TS saw and knew that. He also knew, as an experienced driver, that the car would have drifted downward when reved up.... obviously that was TS's only way to avoid getting that kid hit by the back wheel. What I think happened here is TS just decided to do so too late.

And for info; No drivers/racers, TS or whoever, has any sort-of "malicious intentions" as described by some of the medias (sad to see in fact). That just doesn't exist. What the media are doing is not good for the industry at all. Not the type of event and reporting those involved in mosports wants to see happening at this particular moment.

I really feel sad for both of those guys' families horrific incident, for both sides

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Horrific to see such am ambitious young man life being ended so early. Respect and my prayers goes to both families.

I wouldn't want to appear trying to defend any one, but it looks as if TS tried to rev the car hoping to drift it away from him. Clearly Ward was too close, TS saw and knew that. He also knew, as an experienced driver, that the car would have drifted downward when reved up.... obviously that was TS's only way to avoid getting that kid hit by the back wheel. What I think happened here is TS just decided to do so too late.

And for info; No drivers/racers, TS or whoever, has any sort-of "malicious intentions" as described by some of the medias (sad to see in fact). That just doesn't exist. What the media are doing is not good for the industry at all. Not the type of event and reporting those involved in mosports wants to see happening at this particular moment.

I really feel sad for both of those guys' families horrific incident, for both sides

Not a NAScAR fan, but it's my understanding that TS has a long history of poor attitude and sportsmanship, intentionally spinning out rival cars, and has been fined repeatedly. While not malicious, it seems he could possibly have been reckless or retaliating. With the bank of that track, any rear end break free would cause down slope slide, no?

With 15 or so other cars on the track it's nearly impossible to say the rev noise was his car. Don't all these cars have to tap the gas to keep moving, not like a normal car?

I did stupid things at 20.......(sadly, still do...)

[RawleyD]

WTF is that dumbass running out in the middle of the track for??

[Timco]

Originally Posted by RawleyD

WTF is that dumbass running out in the middle of the track for??

To be that hometown guy who put his helmet through TS's window and get noticed?

Nobody claims the initial maneuver was against any rules, didn't look like TS sent him into the wall intentionally when he wrecked & spun out.

[RawleyD]

Originally Posted by Timco

To be that hometown guy who put his helmet through TS's window and get noticed?

Nobody claims the initial maneuver was against any rules, didn't look like TS sent him into the wall intentionally when he wrecked & spun out.

He just had to be a 'tough guy' and run out in front of everybody. Probably wanted him to get out of his car too and fist fight. That'll show' em!

[Wrencher]

That dumb ass local 20 yo kid climbs out of his car after being schooled by a pro (mistake #1), then RUNS INTO TRAFFIC! (mistake #2). Most people on the national (TV) level never see what goes on in the trenches at these bullring local events. That's why Tony (and I'm no fan - jerk) loves these events. Have we all forgotten what real racing is?

I tell every one at the driver's meetings for the club I direct to STAY IN YOUR CAR!
There is one exception to this rule - If your car is on fire, please exit the vehicle....

Nuff said.

Hans

Oh sorry, Just got a '98 Yellow Boxster!