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.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Brad Roberts

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

You mean while those people were still alive?

Way different ball game here now.

P.S.
Expect to see a HUGE clean up and stepping up of fines/penalties against NASCAR's trademark brawls, helmet throwing, etc. and the deliberate on-track incidents that lead to these WWF moments in the first place. This is a serious black eye for their sport even if it occurred on a dirt track.

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

You mean while those people were still alive?

Way different ball game here now.

This is a Boxster forum im sure at least one Lawyer visits here....

Either way, it is a high risk sport. It seems to me that a lot of the risk is assumed by WJ. Nevermind the fact he was grossly negligent in getting out of his car and approaching moving cars.

That being said while it will be hard to prove any criminal intent on TS's part, there could be money to be "won" I bet.

All we can do is sit back and watch it unfold, teach your kids to count to ten and of course conjecture here on the forum.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

That being said while it will be hard to prove any criminal intent on TS's part, there could be money to be "won" I bet.

Yes but the law also must consider criminal negligence when it leads to a loss of life. You're not off the hook just because you didn't act with intent but were still found to be acting in a reckless manner and this leads to a fatality.
Maybe you can blame the track officials but Stewart wasn't keeping to the far inside when a disabled car was on the track and track workers were responding. Although to be fair, with the red mist, the deceased would have probably kept walking into the track until he could get close enough to Stewart's car. Or maybe he wouldn't have walked out that far. We'll never know now. But what you can tell very clearly from the video is that Stewart was driving way too close to the disabled vehicle and traveling too fast relative to the speed and distance of the car that had just passed (unlike TS this driver looks like he slowed down because of the accident). I'd be curious to see how a prosecutor explains this away.
I read in one article that many online commenters were saying that Stewart didn't do enough to try and avoid the kid, which really implies reckless driving from their view.