NASCAR driver Tony Stewart hit and killed a fellow driver

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Prayers for all involved

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/10/justice/tony-stewart-hits-driver/https://www.youtube.com

 

 

 

 

 

Hear is a video of the crash .

Prayers for every one Involved

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0F9VRz0sn0

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

Sad stuff.

 

GG

[Boon Doggle]

Prayers up for all involved.

 

Can't help but notice that CNN is already trying to put a spin on the story. Shame

[Roman T. Range, SASS #44722]

Prayers on the way for all involved.

 

Roman T. Range

[Litl Red]

Ward made a very bad mistake walking down into the inside racing line. There are two lines, inside and outside, both of which have a "cushion" the cars use for traction. The outside cars "lean on" the outside cushion for support and traction. Tony and Ward had been running the outside. When Tony was coming around Ward walked into the turn then down the track, right to the car immediately in front of Tony. Chances were good that Tony couldn't see where Ward was on the track. The car in front of Tony probably blocked his view. Lots of wrecks happen because drivers can't see around the turns on those short tracks.

 

Ward really forced all the cars down into the inside line or at least into the middle of the track, the worst place to be in those cars.

 

I'd say there were two victims of Ward's actions, possibly three. The third is dirt track racing. Or racing in general. It is sad news for sure.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

Hear he is still going to race today. Heartless.

 

GG

[Utah Bob #35998]

https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kevin-ward-jr--deserves-to-be-known-as-more-than-victim-in-tony-stewart-wreck-083005597.html

[Calico Mary]

Thank you for that link UB.....

[Utah Bob #35998]

Don't watch NASCAR so I don't know Tony Stewart from Jeb Stuart. I can only offer my condolences to the family of the young man.

[Sparky Nelson]

Hear he is still going to race today. Heartless.

 

Sometimes that's another word for "professional."

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. Racing is a big deal in this area. That's only about 3 miles from where our club shoots, and there are two other tracks within ten miles of my house. That's going to hit everybody hard here.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

 

Sometimes that's another word for "professional."

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. Racing is a big deal in this area. That's only about 3 miles from where our club shoots, and there are two other tracks within ten miles of my house. That's going to hit everybody hard here.

Professionals can have a heart. A better man Stewart is not. Glad I've never been a fan of his.

 

GG

[Litl Red]

Hear he is still going to race today. Heartless.

 

GG

 

 

Was that in the article that says "Stewart is scheduled to race tomorrow....."? Or do you have a link to another story?

 

That article is clear that the car in front of Stewart had to swerve to miss Ward. Those cars really aren't easy to see out of. They really aren't as agile in the middle of the track as someone on foot who just caused the car ahead to swerve.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

 

Hear he is still going to race today. Heartless.

 

GG

 

 

Was that in the article that says "Stewart is scheduled to race tomorrow....."? Or do you have a link to another story?

 

That article is clear that the car in front of Stewart had to swerve to miss Ward. Those cars really aren't easy to see out of. They really aren't as agile in the middle of the track as someone on foot who just caused the car ahead to swerve.

Don't care who's at fault. A guy died.

 

http://jalopnik.com/tony-stewart-will-reportedly-compete-at-race-after-fata-1618951411

[Cypress Sun]

It looks like a tragic accident to me. Stewart put him in the wall, he got out and ran in front of the car ahead of Stewart. That car swerved to miss him, Stewart didn't see him until the last moment, tried to swerve but the right rear tire got him.

 

I don't like Stewart or his hot headedness, never have, never will but this looks like a accident to me. Not for one second do I think Stewart meant to hit him or scare him....just didn't see him.

 

I'm sure this will weigh heavily on Stewart's heart and soul for a long time to come. It may even end his career as a driver and owner. Keep in mind one thing........this was a tragic accident, nothing more, nothing less.

 

My heart goes out to the friends and family of Kevin Ward Jr.

 

CS

[Cypress Sun]

The news just stated that Stewart will not race in todays event.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

The news just stated that Stewart will not race in todays event.

Thanks for posting this news. Me thinks this is the 'professional' thing to do.

 

GG

[Subdeacon Joe]

Bob, good find, thanks for posting it. One thing that struck me in it, "And now, this. The kid's gone. Maybe one day years from now he'd have reached NASCAR's highest levels; maybe he'd just be sitting around the local garage, telling the same story over and over about the time he raced Tony Stewart. He should have gotten the chance to go as far as his talent and drive would have taken him. He didn't get it. This is beyond unfair."

 

This is gonna sound cold, but maybe he had "the chance to go as far as his talent and drive would have taken him" and this was that point. You can have all the drive, ambition, dreams, and so on that you want, fill the world with them, but if you don't have the talent, don't have the brains, don't have the undefinable "something," some combination of drive, talent, smarts, composure, patience, and situational awareness, you just aren't going to make it.

[Utah Bob #35998]

I suspect that when Stewart said he would race today, he was still kind of in shock.

[Litl Red]

The story isn't really about Stewart.

 

Ward Jr's tragic mistake made more victims than one.

[Elk Creek LeMieux]

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/11334217/tony-stewart-not-race-hitting-killing-kevin-ward-jr

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

The story isn't really about Stewart.

 

Ward Jr's tragic mistake made more victims than one.

It's about both. Tragic as it is.

 

GG

[Litl Red]

I suspect that when Stewart said he would race today, he was still kind of in shock.

 

From what Dale Jarrett and others said who were around Tony over night, it sounds like he never said he would. Where did that come from?

 

Some years ago, a kid was killed while running to the school bus. The only thing anyone talked about was race and the rich guy who killed the poor kid. Turns out the bus driver hadn't gotten the lights out in time, wasn't fully stopped, and the kid was running etc. Not one editorial during that sad time mentioned what should be taught to kids and their mothers.

 

A couple of months ago, almost exactly the same deal only this time we also had "national leaders" show up and spout off. This poor guy who killed the kid got raked over the coals just like the one before. Turned out the kid had missed the bus, was running, the bus driver had come back for him so was going the wrong way, didn't have the red lights out yet.......... Didn't read much if any of that until the trial. Guy was found not guilty....... But had been raked over the coals.... Not one damn editorial, news story, or column during that time mentioned that mothers ought to keep their kids from running, and kids shouldn't run.

 

We should learn a lot more from tragedies than we usually do.

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Seems to me Ward acted like a fool at the wrong place, wrong time. This is akin to the running of the bulls. Put yourself in harm's way guess what happens?

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

 

From what Dale Jarrett and others said who were around Tony over night, it sounds like he never said he would. Where did that come from?

It was reported last night on several racing web sites that he said he would race. I suspect UB is right about being in shock.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

It was reported last night on several racing web sites that he said he would race. I suspect UB is right about being in shock.

Yup. Most likely the case....

 

GG

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

From what Dale Jarrett and others said who were around Tony over night, it sounds like he never said he would. Where did that come from?

 

Some years ago, a kid was killed while running to the school bus. The only thing anyone talked about was race and the rich guy who killed the poor kid. Turns out the bus driver hadn't gotten the lights out in time, wasn't fully stopped, and the kid was running etc. Not one editorial during that sad time mentioned what should be taught to kids and their mothers.

 

A couple of months ago, almost exactly the same deal only this time we also had "national leaders" show up and spout off. This poor guy who killed the kid got raked over the coals just like the one before. Turned out the kid had missed the bus, was running, the bus driver had come back for him so was going the wrong way, didn't have the red lights out yet.......... Didn't read much if any of that until the trial. Guy was found not guilty....... But had been raked over the coals.... Not one damn editorial, news story, or column during that time mentioned that mothers ought to keep their kids from running, and kids shouldn't run.

 

We should learn a lot more from tragedies than we usually do.

 

Yep. It's always easier to blame the driver who hit someone for not being perfect and not seeing 5 seconds into the future than it is to put any responsibility on the person killed.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

 

Yep. It's always easier to blame the driver who hit someone for not being perfect and not seeing 5 seconds into the future than it is to put any responsibility on the person killed.

No doubt that Ward made a stupid choice to get out in front of those cars.

 

GG

[Rocky Trail]

His manager was the one who said that Stewart was going to race. I think that Tony Stewart was a mess last night. I cannot believe that he would not be affected by this. Prayers for Kevin Ward and his family.

[Sedalia Dave]

From what little I know about racing the one thing you NEVER do is get out of your car unless it is on fire. The car is the only protection you have on the track and when you leave it you leave yourself exposed. If you have to leave your car you always move down the track so that the car acts as a shield.

 

I don't know Tony Stewart from Adam but it would be awfully hard for anyone to convince me that any driver would intentionally attempt to kill a fellow racer. Sometimes there is a lot of fender rubbing and jockeying for position that can get a little too out of hand but to say or even hint that this tragic accident could have criminal charges so early after the accident is irresponsible.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

What needs to be done hear.

 

Is every race track every were .

Needs to heavily fine and driver who gets out of the race car with out the first response teams help .

The driver needs to go directly to the ambiance get checked out and removed from the race way it self.

 

Then the fine needs to go up every time a driver gets out of there car after a crash on the track .

 

There was no way this would have happened if the driver stayed in his car.

This is a tragedy then should have never happened .

Now we need to PRAY for all that are affected by this tragedy .

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437]

Goodness knows I'm no Tony Stewart fan. In fact, I can't think of a nice thing to say about him. That said, however, upon watching the video of the incident I find it very, very difficult to assign the blame to him.

[Apache Hawk 60642]

In my younger days, I used to haul tires for Dale Sr. and sometimes I would have to help in the pits, so I know a little some thing about NASCAR, but not much.

 

That being said, I know this much, the wreck happened and Ward was out of his car THEN the yellow flag was waved......all the cars had to slow that had crossed the start/finish line....

Ward's 1st mistake was getting out of his car and not waiting for the rescuer to come get him.

Ward's 2nd mistake was to walk into race traffic slowing down for the yellow flag. If he had a beef with Tony Stewart (Smoke, as I call him) then Ward should have taken it off track.

However, Steward has been know to have a tempter and it has got the best of him a time or two.

 

Dale Sr. had to put him in his place more than once.

[Litl Red]

A large number of drivers were there.

 

In situations like this, judgment by peers seems the only fair way to do it. For anyone who has not driven one of those beasts on wet mud (the dirt is soaked for hours by water trucks shortly before those races, the dirt is mixed with components meant to hold the moisture), making a fair judgment based on a car's movements by anyone other than dirt racers would not be sensible. Heck, it's probably impossible for them too. And more importantly, the video available really only shows Ward walking into the path of the car ahead of Stewart causing it to veer to avoid him. The video then jerks up and away so we really don't see the accident clearly. There have to be drivers who saw that accident up close and who saw it from a lot of angles. They were most certainly interviewed by the police. It is fairly certain that peers have already testified what they saw and been asked their opinions.

 

Sadly, it think the media will judge Stewart as fairly as the media covers mass shootings.

[Cypress Sun]

What needs to be done hear.

 

Is every race track every were .

Needs to heavily fine and driver who gets out of the race car with out the first response teams help .

The driver needs to go directly to the ambiance get checked out and removed from the race way it self.

 

Then the fine needs to go up every time a driver gets out of there car after a crash on the track .

 

There was no way this would have happened if the driver stayed in his car.

This is a tragedy then should have never happened .

Now we need to PRAY for all that are affected by this tragedy .

 

I really don't think new rules concerning drivers exiting their race cars are needed. Even if the sanctioning body made new rules requiring drivers to remain in their cars, there would have to be exceptions which would make the rule subjective. You'd have to make an exception for every drivers nightmare......fire. Almost every crash has a certain amount of smoke involved thereby reasons to exit the vehicle.

 

I would think that any driver who thinks about confronting another driver on the racetrack is going to remember the video of this incident.......and the results. The visual images will be more of a deterrent to this kind of behaviour than any rule would be.

 

Bottom line is that every action has a result. Some are good and some are bad. People, including race car drivers, need to be held accountable for their actions.........in this case the driver's action resulted in his own death.

 

CS

[Jack Ash]

Very sad for everyone. I race with a club out of Texas on road courses, if we break down or go off track, we wave to the corner workers to show them we are all right and then sit in the car until the end of the race or until Race Control sends someone for us. Strapped in your car is the safest place to be on the track. Usually they wave a local yellow around the stopped car. After the race is stopped we collect the stalled or stopped cars. I'm certain they have safe methods for removing a stopped car on dirt ovals. That poor kid must have been extremely upset to the point of not thinking clearly or had some other motivation to walk out into the race line. As a racer you spend a lot of time weaving through spectators, campsites and and crowded pits to get your car to the grid. You instinctually avoid people more than anything else because your mind is so trained to from many years of avoiding them.