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

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by jsceash

I continue to be astonished about the number of irrational comments made by people who in my opinion have never been to a dirt track or seen a sprint car up close, or seen one raced in real life.

The car them selves have little to know side view even if you not in a helmet or buckled in. They have a very large end plate on the wing on the right side that hangs down, and then a net, then add the HANS so you can't hardly turn your head, and helmet side rest you can basically see in front of you and 10 to 15 degrees to either side. Last the right side rear tire hangs out almost but not quite, 1/2 the total car width, and can't be seen by the driver. The cock pit is just big enough for the drivers seat and driver. The drive shaft runs right between the drivers calf's, just under his nutz so to speak. There is a big tire size difference from the right side to left side tires which also makes the car miserable to drive slowly, but they accelerate like a drag car. BTW they cant be driven to slowly either, the limit is about 20, they stall and have to pushed to be started.

The track should have thrown a red flag as soon as the the driver was on the track and didn't!!! My guess is they didn't see him or didn't have time to respond either.

KW got out walked along his car, then ran down the track several lanes almost clipped by the first driver step back then came down again as TS approached. 2 to 3 lanes down from Kw's disabled car.

In sprints like all other forms of racing, in yellow the track is still HOT, the car are prohibited from PASSING only, and that doesn't mean they can't or don't run at high rates of speed in an effort to close ranks and compress the field and move up and down the race line in order to align them selves in the correct running order. This can be seen at a dirt track near you every Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night.

TS was at least 2 lane and possibly 3 below the accident which means he did give way. Could he have been lower maybe but a car had just changed up below him. as he approached KW which he moved up from.

I doubt TS saw KW walking down until it was too late. At that point you are focused on the cars around you, and lining back into your correct position.

Iv'e been around dirt tracks most of my life, doubt it look up Eash in PA dirt tracking. This is nothing more than a tragic accident. In the end I have no doubt Tony and the track will be sued.

You think it's irrational to point that of the cars that managed to stay as far as possible from the disabled car TS was not one of them?

And why did the other drivers manage this and not TS? Because precisely of what you describe, acknowledgement that there is poor visibility during a night race, inherently poor visibility from a sprint car cockpit, and recognition that there are track workers walking on the track as well as driving on ATVs. You can either drive as safely as is within your control or you don't. Some drivers did this and some didn't, unfortunately for TS he's one of those that didn't and was the one that ended up running over the guy that died.

[jsceash]

If you want to sensationalize at least get your facts straight. I've seen two posted videos of the events that night. Neither showed track worker on the track until after Ward was hit. Neither showed an ATV on track until after the accident where Ward was hit. Both showed that Ward ran down 2 to 3 lanes below his disabled car on the track. One showed TS bobbing around another car prior to the impact, both showed him about one lane up past the lower racing line berm mostly because of the other car.

Routinely there are four wheelers on a dirt track with sprints under yellow. They push start the cars which then fly off at speeds up to 100MPH after starting in order to clear excess fuel and catch back up to the rest of the field.

Why would TS have any animosity toward this kid? The video showed him touch tires as he was passing Ward. Ward front right caught the outside berm which threw him into the wall causing the spin. I've seen the same accident hundreds of times, at 20 or more different tracks. The difference last Saturday is that KW got out of his car and basically ran into the racing line in front of oncoming cars. If you did the same on 95 at night what do you think the outcome would be.

Your answer will probably be you know better.

[gmboxster]

TS has a reputation as an ill tempered hot head. No one is disputing that. However the bottom line is that kid should have Never exited his car. If that weren't bad enough he goes down the track one or two lanes INTO traffic. I have no bias whatsoever. I dont watch car racing but logic dictates Never, ever get out of your car in that situation. Like someone else said ,, try crossing I-95 at night in a black suit and see what happens. In my humble opinion this was just a tragic accident brought on by extremely poor judgement on that kid's part.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by jsceash

If you want to sensationalize at least get your facts straight. I've seen two posted videos of the events that night. Neither showed track worker on the track until after Ward was hit.

C'mon! those track workers arrived seconds after KW was run over. Meaning they were already on their way to the disabled car and you could clearly tell from their reaction and where they parked the tow truck that they were not expecting to find a body right there. How is that sensationalizing? TS knew the track workers were on the way if not already on the track but chose to go higher up the track and at a faster speed than the cars that played it as safe as possible. As a result of his actions and ceratinly KW's there was no margin for error.

But I'm still unclear as to why TS wasn't driving to the inside like the other cars? In TS's book does safety go down a notch if it means losing a small time race for a $500 prize?

[Burg Boxster]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

C'mon! those track workers arrived seconds after KW was run over. Meaning they were already on their way to the disabled car and you could clearly tell from their reaction and the manner that they parked the tow truck that they were not expecting to find a body. How is that sensationalizing? TS knew the track workers were on the way if not already on the track but chose to go higher up the track and at a faster speed than the cars that played it as safe as possible. As a result of his actions and KW's there was no margin for error.

Can't have it both ways PL... Workers didn't, yet TS w/ very limited and much more restricted peripheral vision was expected to see a person in a black suit w/ a black helmet on a dimly lit hot track in active lanes of traffic. Watch the video after TS impacted KW and you'll see other cars on similar line...

Red flag should have IMMEDIATELY been thrown the second KW stepped onto track... let alone when he deliberately walked into traffic. The corner workers in the finger lakes region are some of the sharpest I've ever encountered anywhere yet they (and track workers as you cite above) and TS missed KW on track...

Could TS have done more to try and avoid running KW over? Possibly, but his options and reaction window were more than limited. Much like the Malucelli & Gidley crash at 24hr of Daytona this year.

Tragic yet preventable loss and a conversation we wouldn't even be having had KW stayed in vehicle on a hot track

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Burg Boxster

Can't have it both ways PL... Workers didn't, yet TS w/ very limited and much more restricted peripheral vision was expected to see a person in a black suit w/ a black helmet on a dimly lit hot track in active lanes of traffic. Watch the video after TS impacted KW and you'll see other cars on similar line...

Red flag should have IMMEDIATELY been thrown the second KW stepped onto track... let alone when he deliberately walked into traffic. The corner workers in the finger lakes region are some of the sharpest I've ever encountered anywhere yet they (and track workers as you cite above) and TS missed KW on track...

Could TS have done more to try and avoid running KW over? Possibly, but his options and reaction window were more than limited. Much like the Malucelli & Gidley crash at 24hr of Daytona this year.

Tragic yet preventable loss and a conversation we wouldn't even be having had KW stayed in vehicle on a hot track

Doesn't matter if some other cars were on a similar line. That wasn't the safest line. Which is the whole point. A seasoned NASACAR veteran, who has experienced on-track fatalities first hand, and more than once, should only be on the safest line during a caution.

KW would probably have walked further into the track so maybe it's a moot point.
The more important answer will come when, and if we ever see Stewart's on-board footage to determine if like other driver hinted, that TS could see Ward on foot yet still chose to go high. That's the critical piece of evidence.

[southernstar]

I would be very surprised if the prosecution would be allowed, under the Rules of Evidence in New York State, to tender evidence of Stewart's prior misconduct, including engaging in fights with fellow drivers, or entering the racing surface to throw his helmet at a fellow competitor. Even prior criminal convictions can only be tendered if the accused testifies, or if he attempts to lead evidence of his good character; in the latter case, under Article 60 of the NY Code, only evidence of convictions relavent to the issue of his character in disupte are admissable. What is more, it is only the fact of the conviction itself that is admissable (and not the facts of the previous offence that led to the convictioni).

Brad

[Burg Boxster]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Doesn't matter if some other cars were on a similar line. That wasn't the safest line. Which is the whole point. A seasoned NASACAR veteran, who has experienced on-track fatalities first hand, and more than once, should only be on the safest line during a caution.

KW would probably have walked further into the track so maybe it's a moot point.
The more important answer will come when, and if we ever see Stewart's on-board footage to determine if like other driver hinted, that TS could see Ward on foot yet still chose to go high. That's the critical piece of evidence.

Well, KW clearly stepped back from first car/driver which either did not see or could not avoid him... yet continued down afterwards.

This whole thread would be moot had KW stayed in his vehicle...

Believe, I'm horrified at a senseless and tragic loss of life occurring in a sport we all enjoy in many different facets.