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

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Giller

To me, it was more he knew KW had crashed and wanted to gloat - so he was a little higher on the track so he could make sure KW saw TS still in the race while KW was not. Again, I'm not in his head, so am only guessing, based on the little I know about TSs personality.
Knocking him out taught him a lesson - driving up high was to drive that lesson home.

I have watched the original video several times. I see TS high on the track, but he never moves to actually put KW into the wall. If KW had that tight of a lane, he could have backed off and taken the lane behind TS. He fought the top lane battle and touched the wall, seems his own doing.

Then the video at the top of previous page, slowed down, with arrows. TS never moved that car and it didn't make one motion until it hit KW and that was from him being under the wheel. High lane pass to gloat maybe, but nobody expected KS to be out of his car and running towards the lanes.

When the guy who "wrecked him" is also the guy who killed him, it's easy to draw these lines connecting the two, then throw some gas on it (TS bad attitude) and it's "TS will never race again" when in reality there is nowhere near enough evidence to show criminal liability. Civil?? Ask Porsche about the PW lawsuit.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Timco

When the guy who "wrecked him" is also the guy who killed him, it's easy to draw these lines connecting the two, then throw some gas on it (TS bad attitude) and it's "TS will never race again" when in reality there is nowhere near enough evidence to show criminal liability. Civil?? Ask Porsche about the PW lawsuit.

As far as we know, all evidence is not in, all statements have not been taken, all equipment has not reviewed yet, etc. Also, the mere fact -- that during a caution -- he went higher and faster, opens the door to depraved indifference of human life investigation by local and state prosecutors, not including the police investigation. Once the prosecutors are looking at something closely.... all bets are off, it can go either way. I was pretty certain that this would absolutely lead to a prosecution (albeit with an unlikely conviction) simply because he's a high profile hot head that ran over someone who died.
Prosecutions are easily politicized, as we've seen in Florida numerous times. And juries a total crap shoot, I've seen plenty make some bizarre decisions.
in other words, the process is in motion and I would not be sleeping well at night if I were TS. Although that will probably continue if he's cleared of criminal negligence.

[thstone]

This hoax reporting that Tony Stewart was going to retire was posted online. If you see it, ignore it.

I fell for it and clicked through. Turns out that its a site that posts fake stories for laughs.

Worse than a Rick Astley video.

NASCAR: Tony Stewart To Announce Retirement From Auto Racing After Accident That Kills Competing Driver | Empire News

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by thstone

This hoax reporting that Tony Stewart was going to retire was posted online. If you see it, ignore it.

He may not retire but the guy we once knew who grabbed Harvick's wife's butt right in front of Kevin, the guy raced in these sprint races hard like they were a NASCAR race, the guy who basically raced with fire in his belly (and brain) is definitely done. Which makes me wonder if he can race any other way. Can you imagine ever seeing Tony Stewart in another deliberate on-track wreck or brawl? tossing another helmet? I don't think the reaction would be good...
This all makes me think of former F1 driver Stefan Johansson after he killed (or was involved with however you look at it) Jeff Krosnoff and a track worker while attempting a pass at the end of the Toronto street race. Johansson was roughly the same age Stewart is now when those guys died. He entered a few sports car races but basically stayed behind the scenes as a team owner.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

He may not retire but the guy we once knew who grabbed Harvick's wife's butt right in front of Kevin, the guy raced in these sprint races hard like they were a NASCAR race, the guy who basically raced with fire in his belly (and brain) is definitely done. Which makes me wonder if he can race any other way. Can you imagine ever seeing Tony Stewart in another deliberate on-track wreck or brawl? tossing another helmet? I don't think the reaction would be good...
This all makes me think of former F1 driver Stefan Johansson after he killed (or was involved with however you look at it) Jeff Krosnoff and a track worker while attempting a pass at the end of the Toronto street race. Johansson was roughly the same age Stewart is now when those guys died. He entered a few sports car races but basically stayed behind the scenes as a team owner.

The reason I clicked through to that fake story is that I thought that it sounded quite plausible for the very reasons that you mention. TS might retire after all, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Timco]

Cloud over Stewart's future remains as case goes to grand jury

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Timco

Cloud over Stewart's future remains as case goes to grand jury

No one wants to be the guy who let's TS off and no one wants to be the guy who charges TS with a crime.

Soooooooooo, let's have the Grand Jury decide, that way no one has to take a beating in the media.

[Xpit77]

First I should say that I have been to many dirt track races. As a crew member and a fan.
When a big time driver comes to a small town track it`s a big deal.Fans who normally don`t go to this track will come to see him or her not the rest of the field.
Anyway, there is an unwritten rule not to mess with him or her as the grandstand is full and they want to see him or her put on a show.Race them hard but .Respect. Kind of like the "Don`t hit Gretzky " rule.
That kid was racing Tony and knew he was inside of him. He also knew the Tony would try to make the pass. All the kid had to do was lift let him go and follow Tony into three. On a regular show night the kid would of and should of done what he did.But not that night. There were no extra points to beat Tony. I`m not saying let him win , not at all but this was a different show.The kid gambled and lost. Tony doesn`t and wasn`t going to lift.
Why did he get out ? Has he done this in the past ?
Tony knew there was a wreck but probably didn`t expect the kid to get that close.
Where were the safety crews ? Did Tony try to toss some dirt on him ? Did Ward`s inexperience get the best of him ? Youtube is full of videos of am drivers getting out of their cars and dukin` it out. Sometimes these things are " discussed " between the haulers after the race. Kid wasn`t going to do that. A career ender if he did. Unfortunate way to learn to stay in your GD car.

[steved0x]

I saw an episode of Law & Order once, where the cops were talking to a doctor who was performing a procedure on a coma patient of the opposite sex. They asked him "aren't you supposed to have an extra person in the room for protection?" and the Dr replied "The extra person is here for *my* protection so I don't get falsely accused of anything, and I don't need it since this patient is in a coma". To me the rule of "Don't get out of the car on a hot track unless you are on fire" is kind of like that. Sadly, when Ward got out of the car, his life was potentially forfeit. When he ran over to Tony, and the unfortunate incident occurred, that would not have happened if he had stayed in the car. Now Tony is left behind and has to live with it and the possible consequences. Since Ward paid such a high price for his part of it, Tony is too 9even if not convicted having to live with it seems like a high penalty)

I also saw a video analysis that shows the right-rear of Tony's car dropping down, and it suggested that Ward hopped on to Tony's car and rode along for a short distance before falling off and getting run over. It showed a few blobs that purported to show Ward's hands and feet holding on to the car. Very blurry and hard to see but it is a theory I suppose.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I also saw a video analysis that shows the right-rear of Tony's car dropping down, and it suggested that Ward hopped on to Tony's car and rode along for a short distance before falling off and getting run over. It showed a few blobs that purported to show Ward's hands and feet holding on to the car. Very blurry and hard to see but it is a theory I suppose.

Well only one of the two guys that know what actually happened is still alive.
It's kind of like the "stand your ground" law that way. Without clear as day video evidence the guy who lives through the confrontation has the overwhelming power of reasonable doubt behind him since he can spin the tale without another witness to contradict him.

[Timco]

Grand Jury:

No charges for Tony Stewart, Kevin Ward was under the influence of Marijuana.

[TeamOxford]

Never saw THAT coming!

TO

[Giller]

Originally Posted by Timco

Grand Jury:

No charges for Tony Stewart, Kevin Ward was under the influence of Marijuana.

Wow, that would explain the stupidity of wandering around on a live track. Can't believe no one noticed Ward was that high before the race and stopped his going out there.

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by Giller

Wow, that would explain the stupidity of wandering around on a live track. Can't believe no one noticed Ward was that high before the race and stopped his going out there.

High or THC in his system? Maybe he got high 3 weeks before the race...

just sayin'

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Giller

Wow, that would explain the stupidity of wandering around on a live track. Can't believe no one noticed Ward was that high before the race and stopped his going out there.

LOL. Do you know how many drivers in traffic around you are "high" on marijuana every single day?
And as someone who at point used to perform drug testing, aggressive or reckless behavior is not what's associated with THC. And that's if he even smoked it that day. And given how close he was racing a world class professional racing driver like Stewart, I HIGHLY doubt the kid was impaired at the time of the incident.


Man Tony Steward just caught the luckiest break of his life.
Did anyone test him for anything?

[gmboxster]

This was the expected outcome.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Did anyone test him for anything?

No toxicology test for Stewart. However, the police did have a certified drug recognition expert (what ever that is) interview him immediately after the race and that person found no basis for alcohol or drug impairment (and thus no test was performed).

[Giller]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

LOL. Do you know how many drivers in traffic around you are "high" on marijuana every single day?
And as someone who at point used to perform drug testing, aggressive or reckless behavior is not what's associated with THC. And that's if he even smoked it that day. And given how close he was racing a world class professional racing driver like Stewart, I HIGHLY doubt the kid was impaired at the time of the incident.


Man Tony Steward just caught the luckiest break of his life.
Did anyone test him for anything?

According to sources (DA), KW was impaired - meaning he was unable to make/use proper judgments, and this led directly to him making a very bad decision to walk out on the track. THC metabolizes very quickly - so if they found evidence of this, he was impaired. Not sure where you get the HIGHLY doubt then.
And your 'argument' about other drivers - does that somehow make it right? If you are impaired, you should not be driving. And whomever let KW get into that car should bear some responsibility. If you are a bartender, and you let someone leave your place and they get in an accident, you could be help liable.

[ep3_lol]

The DA specified there was enough there to consider him "under the influence". What exactly that means I have no idea.