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

[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.