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| cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 1:43 PM runs4fun - 2014-08-10 11:18 AM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is.
I think that is a very big assumption - knowing what Tony was thinking - and one that no one can know for sure. Shame on you.
My husband has racing experience, short track ovals - pavement and dirt tracks - as well as driving Nascar (back when it was Winston Cup and Busch Grand National) though retired long ago. He's looked at the video several times and says it was so dark on the track and the car in front of Tony kept him from seeing the guy til it was too late and that not even Tony with his temper would of done what your suggesting. The young man caused this accident and ultimately his own death by doing something stupid and irresponsible. Period.
This is not a contest as to who has the most information on the juicy gossip of the day. Prayers to all involved in the situation.
Edited by runs4fun 2014-08-10 12:57 PM
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 12:43 PM runs4fun - 2014-08-10 11:18 AM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is.
I think that is a very big assumption - knowing what Tony was thinking - and one that no one can know for sure. Shame on you.
My husband has racing experience, short track ovals - pavement and dirt tracks - as well as driving Nascar (back when it was Winston Cup and Busch Grand National) though retired long ago. He's looked at the video several times and says it was so dark on the track and the car in front of Tony kept him from seeing the guy til it was too late and that not even Tony with his temper would of done what your suggesting. The young man caused this accident and ultimately his own death by doing something stupid and irresponsible. Period.
We have certainly been down this road before and this is exactly how those "first hand accounts get BLOWN WAY OUT of PROPORTION" by those who know people .... who know people.... who know more facts.......who know what went on, etc, etc, etc......
What did you want TS to do.....They were all still running pretty fast. He was directly behind another car, who almost hit him, on a very dark and dusty track with an ENRAGED driver running wild on the track.... |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| I read tony had a go pro on his car, that should clear some things up. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Please let me be the first to say that I know nothing about spring racing. The following is just my opinion from viewing the video.
I just watched the video and here is just my thoughts: Whether Tony Stewart did in fact try to hit him, I don't know. From the video I saw, I personally don't think so because it looked that he was right on the curve and he was drifting out. Some say that Tony Stewart sped up on the track and you can "tell" that by the sound. Here is another thought on that...if that did in fact happen, his reaction could have been to hit the brake and in fact hit the accelerator by mistake...I've done that myself in every day driving when something has surprised me, and luckily have not had anything bad happen. I would suspect that no one was anticipating that young man to get out of his car and be on the track. He should not have done that as it was not the right thing to do. It was something that could have been so easily prevented. I feel sorry for all people involved, but proper precautions could have been used to prevent it all by at least Kevin Ward, Jr., if not by Tony Stewart as well.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2014-08-10 1:39 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas |
After I saw this thread I have been watching the updates on it, how terrible to think some one did this on purpose, I think it's was a horrible accident. And I dont know any body that races and I dont claim I know any inside info on this but I say its a horrible horrible accident. Dont be judging this man, unless you were in the car with him... Prayers for the familes  |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | NJJ - 2014-08-10 1:32 PM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 12:43 PM runs4fun - 2014-08-10 11:18 AM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is.
I think that is a very big assumption - knowing what Tony was thinking - and one that no one can know for sure. Shame on you.
My husband has racing experience, short track ovals - pavement and dirt tracks - as well as driving Nascar (back when it was Winston Cup and Busch Grand National) though retired long ago. He's looked at the video several times and says it was so dark on the track and the car in front of Tony kept him from seeing the guy til it was too late and that not even Tony with his temper would of done what your suggesting. The young man caused this accident and ultimately his own death by doing something stupid and irresponsible. Period.
What did you want TS to do.....They were all still running pretty fast. He was directly behind another car, who almost hit him, on a very dark and dusty track with an ENRAGED driver running wild on the track....
Yep this is how cr*p gets started by someone that knows more then what is being said because they have inside info..they claim. And then it really gets blown outa the water from hear say..
And Tony could have gunned his car to try to get around him if he had another car coming up on him to move ahead of it when he saw what was going to happen. Dont be judging,, |
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Cold hands and Warm Heart
Location: oklahoma | Not sure that anyone is judging, I don't know their heart. I do know mine however and the Op asked for thoughts and opinions. Right, wrong or indifferent, we're allowed to have them.
I don't know what exactly happened, I watched it several times and as with high profile people, we get emotionally attached. Like I said earlier, there will be investigations and it's surely a tragedy for all involved. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM
From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is.
You don't know Tony Stewart. You know OF him and the reputation the media has given him. You can't tell squat from that video. And you can't tell squat from being in the stands! Those sprint cars are low to the ground and if you've ever been in/around them, they're a whole different breed. They're dirt cars. Not asphalt. And they don't offer a lot of visibility. Plus it was dark and the track lights cause glares. There's no way you or I or anyone watching knows what happened. I doubt Tony even knows for sure. I don't think he even realized the kid was mad at HIM. The video doesn't show exactly what happened to cause him to wreck. The driver shouldn't have been on the track but emotions run wild in this sport. They just do. He was being erratic on the track. Moving all over the place. Several cars almost hit him. It was a tragic accident. That's it.
You sound like a Tony hater. That's fine. Don't condemn the man bc of a reputation the media has produced for him. It was an accident. A tragic accident where tempers caused the untimely death of a 20 year old.
Edited by hlynn 2014-08-10 2:03 PM
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | hlynn - 2014-08-10 1:55 PM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is. You don't know Tony Stewart. You know OF him and the reputation the media has given him. You can't tell squat from that video. And you can't tell squat from being in the stands! Those sprint cars are low to the ground and if you've ever been in/around them, they're a whole different breed. They're dirt cars. Not asphalt. And they don't offer a lot of visibility. Plus it was dark and the track lights cause glares. There's no way you or I or anyone watching knows what happened. I doubt Tony even knows for sure. I don't think he even realized the kid was mad at HIM. The video doesn't show exactly what happened to cause him to wreck. The driver shouldn't have been on the track but emotions run wild in this sport. They just do. He was being erratic on the track. Moving all over the place. Several cars almost hit him. It was a tragic accident. That's it. You sound like a Tony hater. That's fine. Don't condemn the man bc of a reputation the media has produced for him. It was an accident. A tragic accident where tempers caused the untimely death of a 20 year old.
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | hlynn - 2014-08-10 1:55 PM cowgirlchic - 2014-08-10 11:28 AM From someone who has a racing background (My Dad is involved in NASCAR as well as some organizations..) I really don't think it's too much of an "accident". I definitely don't think Tony meant to kill the boy, but knowing Tony and that temper, he knew where he was and was trying to scare the you know what out of him.
I really hope he doesn't get away with a slap on the hand. He's gotten away with too much as is. You don't know Tony Stewart. You know OF him and the reputation the media has given him. You can't tell squat from that video. And you can't tell squat from being in the stands! Those sprint cars are low to the ground and if you've ever been in/around them, they're a whole different breed. They're dirt cars. Not asphalt. And they don't offer a lot of visibility. Plus it was dark and the track lights cause glares. There's no way you or I or anyone watching knows what happened. I doubt Tony even knows for sure. I don't think he even realized the kid was mad at HIM. The video doesn't show exactly what happened to cause him to wreck. The driver shouldn't have been on the track but emotions run wild in this sport. They just do. He was being erratic on the track. Moving all over the place. Several cars almost hit him. It was a tragic accident. That's it. You sound like a Tony hater. That's fine. Don't condemn the man bc of a reputation the media has produced for him. It was an accident. A tragic accident where tempers caused the untimely death of a 20 year old.
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 pressure dripper
Posts: 8699
Location: the end of the rainbow | Having a temper and purposefully harming someone are pretty far apart on the "I know what he's like from past experience" scale. For me it's a pretty big conclusion for anyone to jump to that it was done on purpose. It was a tragic accident. |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | Looked like a terrible accident to me. Prayers to Tony and the Ward family. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 292
Location: Northeast Nebraska | The blame lies solely with the hot headed idiot that ran onto the "freeway" to act like an ass. The blue car nearly hit him first. I don't follow this "sport" and don't know any of these people, but the dead guy is dead because he was a stupid jerk. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | First of all the guy should have stayed in his car. He was a hot head himself for getting out on a yellow flag, dark out, poor lighting. That was stupid. Second Tony hit him with a rear tire. If he was aiming for him he would have gotten him with the front end or front fender. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | I've only seen the one video. I'm sure there are many videos all from different angles. I think before anyone gets thrown under the bus, we need to know/see all the facts. More videos will surface - that is given.
The one video does not make the case one way or the other for me, and I'd like to hear what the drivers behind TS saw, as well as see what other video angles show. In no way do I think TS was trying to run over and seriously mame or kill Ward. However, these cars were under a caution flag, 40 MPH right? Seems you would have a bit of control at that slow of speed, even if it is on a dirt track... I don't know, I've never driven one and the visability was limited. There may not be a criminal case, but there may very will be a civil one. Thinking outloud here...
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A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Anniemae - 2014-08-11 12:15 AM
I've only seen the one video. I'm sure there are many videos all from different angles.  I think before anyone gets thrown under the bus, we need to know/see all the facts. More videos will surface - that is given.
The one video does not make the case one way or the other for me, and I'd like to hear what the drivers behind TS saw, as well as see what other video angles show.  In no way do I think TS was trying to run over and seriously mame or kill Ward. However, these cars were under a caution flag, 40 MPH right? Seems you would have a bit of control at that slow of speed, even if it is on a dirt track... I don't know, I've never driven one and the visability was limited.  There may not be a criminal case, but there may very will be a civil one. Thinking outloud here...
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It was said they were doing 25mph, including Tony, as per ESPN.
A sprint car is like a go kart on crack. They have a whole lot of power, in a very small wheelbase with no transmission. Meaning they are very easy to get sideways, hence the style of racing on dirt. These cars get sideways with just a brush of the throttle. That dirt is slick. It is packed rock hard and shiny and slick.
Ok. Here's my attempt at explaining what these drivers can or can't see. I am by no means an expert in any way.
Ever been running down the road, doing the speed limit, and the car in front of you swerves suddenly to miss something and you end up clobbering it? Because you had limited visibility of what was in front of you right? Well let's say someone is passing you, on the right, and you have a 2 foot wide piece of metal hanging down from your truck on the right side and the front. And you're wearing a full face helmet with a HANS device. At night. With crappy street lights. They suddenly JUMP into your lane. Do you think you would see that with enough time to react? And HOW do you think you would react?
Just something to think about.
All the drivers, crewmembers, and spectators go into these races knowing they could be injured or killed. I don't think they have a civil case to stand on if they wanted to. If the family is sensible, they will realize that it was a terrible accident in which Kevin was not completely innocent in. He got out of his car and WENT INTO TRAFFIC. It was an accident.
I'm a Jr fan by the way. And I was super excited to see AJ win today. I haven't been a huge fan of Tony at times. But I won't persecute him for an accident. He has to live with knowing his car caused someone's death. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Ever. The man has a rough road ahead.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I've seen the video. To me, it looked partly intentional but I don't think he meant to kill anyone.
I don't have any opinion on TS (don't follow him or NASCAR), and I hope for his souls sake it was an accident. I don't think he meant to kill him, but it looked to me like he meant to scare him. The kid was up yelling because TS had just wrecked him out. (Part of the sport)
They don't let you behind the wheel of a dirt track car unless you know your biz in handling it. I'm not sure why he'd hit the throttle unless he wanted to drift towards him. I know accidents can happen too, but I remain suspicious.
jmho and flame away
Word is he had a go pro running and hopefully the facts come out, but I doubt anything will come of this in the criminal arena. Civil is another story.
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| If there is indeed a civil suit, and if it prevails, what a shame! What a shame that a person chooses to get out of their race car for the express purpose of throwing a temper tantrum, runs out in front of approaching race cars and gets hit can cause anyone else from profiting off of it...if it happens we should all be appalled.
Edited to add: that's like someone choosing to walk up the alley way of a barrel race when they know another barrel racer is on their way full-speed and when they get plowed down by a horse and killed the family sues the rider, the arena, the association etc. Using the idea that a horse should be easy to stop no faster than they are going - 20 - 30 mph.. Ridiculous!! Would you feel responsible for hitting someone that CHOSE to walk up the alleyway- maybe a dark alleyway - especially when others start saying that you hit that person on purpose. Really? Think about it.
Edited by runs4fun 2014-08-11 7:39 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | runs4fun - 2014-08-11 7:34 AM If there is indeed a civil suit, and if it prevails, what a shame! What a shame that a person chooses to get out of their race car for the express purpose of throwing a temper tantrum, runs out in front of approaching race cars and gets hit can cause anyone else from profiting off of it...if it happens we should all be appalled.
Edited to add: that's like someone choosing to walk up the alley way of a barrel race when they know another barrel racer is on their way full-speed and when they get plowed down by a horse and killed the family sues the rider, the arena, the association etc. Using the idea that a horse should be easy to stop no faster than they are going - 20 - 30 mph.. Ridiculous!! Would you feel responsible for hitting someone that CHOSE to walk up the alleyway- maybe a dark alleyway - especially when others start saying that you hit that person on purpose. Really? Think about it.
It won't hold up in court if there is a civil suit, but I bet there will be one.
They have to get out of their car on a caution, but it's pretty obvious the deceased was PO'ed and emotion made him throw a fit.
The cars go all over the track on a caution to keep the tires warm. Those cars go over 100 and were running about 40 mph most likely there when he got hit. They don't stop on a dime, but I was pretty suprised to see him spin the tires like that and drift into him. I would think if he saw him even at the last minute, he would not have hit the throttle because on the dirt track that causes you to drift like he did.... like I said, I don't think he meant to kill anybody, but it looked to be like he was sort of revving the engine at him as a retalliation and it went bad. I really do hope it was just an accident.
I thought they had folks on the radio calling to drivers things that were ahead? If so, this should not have happened.... Wonder if the cops have the recording of it.
I don't think either party was totally innocent in this. I truly hope it was an accident, but either way, I bet TS's career is dunzo. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
Location: south central usa | as someone who has never been to a sprint race, IMO even at 25mph hitting the brakes would have simply thrown the back end of the car up the track hitting the guy even worse. looks as though he gunned it to throw the back end down the track away from him |
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