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

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by RawleyD

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

That's what the kid grew up watching in NASCAR where he saw his idols pretty much doing the same with rarely a severe fine or expulsion from the next race. It's part of the stock car culture. In open wheel racing Michael Schumacher would run down to the McLaren garage to scream "Coulthard you you tried to kill me!". But he did so only after the race because the fines for doing anything on a hot circuit would be severe and would fall on the team and not just the driver. NASCAR had a hand in downplaying the importance of safety, not just in tantrums where the driver gets out of the car but in countless other retaliatory and deliberate wrecks at high speeds with 20+ cars in tow and nowhere to go. But this kid was an adult and is ultimately responsible for his actions. Albeit heavily influenced by a series that has never taken the hillbilly aspects out of what is otherwise a very competitive and professional form of racing. This was bound to happen in a junior formula sooner than later.

[Pdwight]

I live in extreme North Alabama, the foothills of the appalachia. Nascar has never held any and I mean any allure to me, don't know what it is. I actually volunteered about 6 years ago to work at Talladega to help with Parking, something I will never do again. I did not even stay for the race and I was given free tickets, I actually went to the line and sol my 2 tickets for $30 to simply pay for my gas to go home. This was way under the value of the ticket price so I Reversed Scalped...no law against that. I could not stand the culture that existed around the track, total debauchery and hedonism. I have many friends who feel the same way that also grew up here. I guess I am being a little sensitive to anyone in the south being referred to as "Hillbilly" , I suppose that fits me as my grandfather actually served two terms in a work farm (think cool hand Luke) for making and selling Moonshine in violation of The Volstead Act. Many "Hillbillies, Tar Heels, Rednecks and Yankees gave everything so we would not be speaking German and only driving German right now.

Dwight

[Jinx]

I really don't know anything.
But if you on a track and are hit or break down.
Isn't it a rule that you stay in the car.
Until a wrecker (tow truck) comes
Or a corner worker arrives?

Jinx

[Brad Roberts]

Interesting reading the comments on this

Lets me know where a few people stand in life

I haven't met a racer (or racer family) that was interested in suing anyone (ever) especially dirt track people.

I believe TS wheels turning to the right? Is when the right front wheel clips the kid.

I believe the engine rev we hear? could be from one of the other cars on track. The video person is nearly in the middle of the stands. During a caution, it is common practice to "test" traction on the opposite end of the track with the issue. All it takes is a "blip" with these alcohol burning direct drive bad boys to determine what kind of traction you have up and down the track from inside to outside of the track.

Tracks I *regularly* visited for World Of Outlaws Sprint car racing

Devils Bowl Mesquite TX
San Jose CA.
Kennedale TX
Calistoga CA.
Perris CA.

[Davev]

I only know 2 things for sure about this sad event.

1. I can't say for sure what happened. Not being in the car with TS- impossible to make judgement.
2. TS has a lot to loose and would be an idiot to try to hit someone intentionally and risk loosing everything.

But since the race was at night, the guy coming for him was in black suit with black helmet and TS was driving with a helmet on- my gut feeling it was a total accident.

[Timco]

Civil suits have FAR less burden of proof. Maybe no criminal charges a unanimous jury would find, but civil is way different. Ask OJ.

I say settlement with TS racing is eminent. NASCAR? That will go to trial.

[Perfectlap]

Interesting history:

"This was not Stewart’s first accident at Canandaigua ... He was involved in a 15-car wreck at the track in July 2013, and two drivers were taken to the hospital. Stewart later apologized for being too aggressive on the track and causing the crash."

The link above has the video to the incident. It seems that the car that was ahead of Stewart kept within half a car's width to the inside of the track like many of the previous cars that were driving past slowly and keeping their distance from Ward. Whearas Stewart was much closer to Ward's disabled car and traveling faster. Stewart's got some explaining to do for sure.

[runjmc2]

A court of law will need to determine if TS actions were illegal. Independantly, I belevie that NASCAR should ban him for life due to his reckless actions. I WAS a TS fan...

[jdraupp]

Reckless? I really dont see that on Stewart's part. I see a 20 year old hot head who thought in a dumb moment he would really show Stewart. He lost. The crash itself didn't seem to be Stewart's fault either but what do I know. Sure Stewart's a hot head but I challenge anyone here on a dimly lit dirt track sitting in a sprint car with a helmet on under caution to find the man wearing a dark suit who shouldn't be on the track to begin with.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by jdraupp

I challenge anyone here on a dimly lit dirt track sitting in a sprint car with a helmet on under caution to find the man wearing a dark suit who shouldn't be on the track to begin with.

TS didn't need to look for a driver in black. Stewart could oviously see that driver's car was disabled and given the reduced engine noise from the caution, so coudl everyone else. Given his experience, TS knows that the safest path would have been the one furthest from the disabled car.
But for reasons that still remain to be explained, he chose to take another path around the track during that caution. Either because he was in the process of making a point, which would infer that he was able to see that Ward was on the track when TS came around the corner at a reduced speed. But rather than moving to his left to the inner part of the track like most of the other cars observing the caution, somehow this experienced driver ends up drifting up the track towards the disabled car. Why was he doing this??


Allegedly TS had a GoPro camera running during the race. Seems to be like if the video is helpful to him, and explains why he moved up the track instead of to the inside, it will be released.
If it isn't helpful his laywers will make try to make sure no one ever sees it. Either way on-board film of the moment Ward was run over will be pretty inflamatory.

[Timco]

Originally Posted by runjmc2

A court of law will need to determine if TS actions were illegal. Independantly, I belevie that NASCAR should ban him for life due to his reckless actions. I WAS a TS fan...

A court of law only decides who told the better story and presented more compelling evidence, not who was actually guilty or innocent. Having watched the OJ trial and having been through a custody battle, I will never be convinced otherwise.

[runjmc2]

Originally Posted by Timco

A court of law only decides who told the better story and presented more compelling evidence, not who was actually guilty or innocent. Having watched the OJ trial and having been through a custody battle, I will never be convinced otherwise.

I agree. Taking away his primary source of income as a consequence (e.g. NASCAR ban) seems an effective and just punishment.....one that will not likey come in court.

I stand by my reckles comment. My opinion is that REGARDLESS of the situation all drivers have a responsibilty for someone on the course outside of a car.

Do you think that guy was running into TS's line? NO WAY. TS had to see him and went out of his way to get close, "gun it" and we see the result. If TS did nothing but hold his line the guy would not have run under his wheel.

Did TS intend to hit him, absolutley not. No one knows the intent but it looks very clear that TS did not act responsibily he acted with emotion and was RECKLESS!!!

[ianacole]

TS wasn't the only one that took the high line under yellow... watch the video again.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by ianacole

TS wasn't the only one that took the high line under yellow... watch the video again.

you mean the guy who isn't a full time professional driver that went high?

TS knew where the safer part of the track was during a caution. What another driver decided to do, however unsafe or not, really has no bearing on his actions. Afterall, TS was in a wreck on this very track a year ago from being overly aggresive by his own admission. One would presume that safety would be more on his mind than the others.

but again, TS own video will shed some light on this, so to speak.

[ianacole]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

you mean the guy who isn't a full time professional driver that went high?

TS knew where the safer part of the track was during a caution. What another driver decided to do, however unsafe or not, really has no bearing on his actions. Afterall, TS was in a wreck on this very track a year ago from being overly aggresive by his own admission. One would presume that safety would be more on his mind than the others.

but again, TS own video will shed some light on this, so to speak.

Every racer should know where the safer part of the track is ... "professional" or otherwise. There were a number of cars that took the high line, including the car right in front of TS that swerved down at the last minute. Just because he was in a wreck last year doesn't mean safety should be any higher of a priority for him than any other racer on the track.

What does being in a wreck a year ago have to do with his actions this time? You pointed out earlier that every other driver was low, and now that you've been shown that they weren't now "has no bearing?"

[Timco]

Originally Posted by ianacole

Every racer should know where the safer part of the track is ... "professional" or otherwise. There were a number of cars that took the high line, including the car right in front of TS that swerved down at the last minute. Just because he was in a wreck last year doesn't mean safety should be any higher of a priority for him than any other racer on the track.

What does being in a wreck a year ago have to do with his actions this time? You pointed out earlier that every other driver was low, and now that you've been shown that they weren't now "has no bearing?"

They interviewed the driver you mention in front of TS. He said "well, I saw him, and can only assume he did.."

[thstone]

Seems like its hard to make assumptions about what TS may have been thinking, feeling, and even seeing.

[Lobo1186]

This is a little bit of a different conversation... however, I keep reading like in this thread title that WJ was a rival of TS. Seemingly, this is only to sell some news cuz I find it hard to believe this 20 yr old was TS's "rival".

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

This is a little bit of a different conversation... however, I keep reading like in this thread title that WJ was a rival of TS. Seemingly, this is only to sell some news cuz I find it hard to believe this 20 yr old was TS's "rival".

I took that from the headline I read. Aren't all competitors 'rivals', or only real contenders?

[ianacole]

Well, we know what they say about assumptions ... and the young man was in a different location by the time TS got there. And, for all we know Tony was watching the car in front of him wondering what he was doing and looked up at the last moment, too late.

TS may have very well made a stupid decision. I DON'T KNOW. But to come on here and try to draw people to a conclusion based on minimal facts and speculation, comparing his actions to others at the track doing when they are exhibiting the same behavior and saying he should have done something different, is unfair.