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Hungarian Midget Woman
  
Location: Midwest | runnink - 2014-08-11 8:29 AM 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
the problem was with these cars, it just makes you drift out (towards the guy). It could have been he was just reacting and it made it worse.
the only one that really knows his true intentions is TS, and either way he's going to live with the fact that this happened for the rest of his life, since I'm assuming he never meant to kill anyone |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I've watched dirt track races my whole life, from the little 4 cylinders to modifiers, late models and sprint cars. Sprint car handling is a totally different ball game than any other car.
BUT... To say they HAVE to get on the gas to make a turn is a complete joke and blatant LIE!! Otherwise how would they come into the pits and make hairpin turns around hundreds of people and other race cars without running over the whole mess of us??? Heck, 1/2 the time they come into the pits under NO power, motor not even running, to coast into their pit stall behind the hauler. Tell me how revving an engine to turn accomplishes that??
Did Tony mean to do it, probably not. Could he have been trying to spin the tires and throw dirt at the kid? Maybe? There are so many speculations, who knows, but I really hope the investigation is fair to both parties and we get a good honest judgement. I posted on FB that I lost respect for Tony, idk if I'll retract it or not. I will say the kid shouldn't have gotten out of the car, but drivers do it all the time!! There is a famous NASCAR moment where one guy throws his helmet at the car/driver he's piffed at!! So that part isn't new, just not smart. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | CYA Ranch - 2014-08-10 10:32 PM 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.
I agree, it was just a tragic accident.
The victim was throwing a fit and jumped out of his car onto the track. Before TS hit him, he was almost hit by another car. I'm sorry for his family, but he was being incredibly stupid.
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I can't believe some that think he intentionally tried to run into him. The guy may be hotheaded but he's not a total ass knowing the consequences. Losing a life...losing a career.. Etc..stop the rumors and assumptions. Racers might be hotheaded but not murderers..the guy got out . and on track. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Nateracer - 2014-08-11 8:43 AM
BUT... To say they HAVE to get on the gas to make a turn is a complete joke and blatant LIE!! Otherwise how would they come into the pits and make hairpin turns around hundreds of people and other race cars without running over the whole mess of us??? Heck, 1/2 the time they come into the pits under NO power, motor not even running, to coast into their pit stall behind the hauler. Tell me how revving an engine to turn accomplishes that??
Did Tony mean to do it, probably not. Could he have been trying to spin the tires and throw dirt at the kid? Maybe? There are so many speculations, who knows, but I really hope the investigation is fair to both parties and we get a good honest judgement.
There is a famous NASCAR moment where one guy throws his helmet at the car/driver he's piffed at!! So that part isn't new, just not smart.
This |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I saw the video. There's just no way I can see anything coming out of this in terms of criminal charges, unless there is some way of getting inside Stewart's head. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Bibliafarm - 2014-08-11 9:01 AM I can't believe some that think he intentionally tried to run into him. The guy may be hotheaded but he's not a total ass knowing the consequences. Losing a life...losing a career.. Etc..stop the rumors and assumptions. Racers might be hotheaded but not murderers..the guy got out . and on track.
I agree. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Bibliafarm - 2014-08-11 9:01 AM I can't believe some that think he intentionally tried to run into him. The guy may be hotheaded but he's not a total ass knowing the consequences. Losing a life...losing a career.. Etc..stop the rumors and assumptions. Racers might be hotheaded but not murderers..the guy got out . and on track.
I don't think anyone thinks he meant to murder the guy or even run him over, but some of us doubt whether or not he meant to throw dirt at him and got caught up in the crossfire
If he has audio from his communication with his guy in the tower, I bet that would likely clear his name.
Whether he did anything wrong or not, I don't see any charges being filed and I also don't see his career rebounding (but I don't watch a ton of NASCAR so I could be wrong about that) |
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 Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| So sad for all involved. Have there been any statements of support for Tony from other drivers or the NASCAR federation? |
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| RidenFly - 2014-08-11 12:26 PM So sad for all involved. Have there been any statements of support for Tony from other drivers or the NASCAR federation?
The NASCAR Federation? What's that?
NASCAR'S STATEMENT (from CNN): "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and fellow competitors of Kevin Ward Jr.," NASCAR said in a written statement Sunday. "We support Tony Stewart's decision to miss today's race, and we will continue to respect the process and timeline of the local authorities and will continue to monitor this situation moving forward."
Edited by runs4fun 2014-08-11 11:37 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
| this track is 15 minutes from my house....the horrible part is a life was lost...i was there as was many of my family members and my so - who himself has raced almost 40 years. its just like the horse world accidents happens, everyone has an opinion - but it still comes back to another life has been tragically taken too soon stop the crap and say some prayers for all involved! The emergency crews and the fans have also been effected by this just like what happens at a rodeo...think about how you would want people to react. its another sport just like ours - unpredictable, dangerous and many times people react to a situation wrong and it puts themselves and others at risk! |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I feel bad for all involved. Such a sad thing for everyone, really. Whatever happened, nobody meant for this boy to die. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 814
Location: California | There is little to no visibility on the right side of a sprint car. The outside wing is extremely low on that side of the car. From watching the video and being around these cars my whole life, I truly think that Tony didn't even see him until it was too late. I believe that when he did see him, he kicked his back tires to the INSIDE of the track to try to avoid hitting him. It is the nature of these cars to give them gas to turn them.
The guy shouldn't have got out of his car. Period. He was walking in the middle of the track...mix that with a black fire suit and helmet and it would be extremely hard to any driver to see him. Nobody would expect someone to get out of their car like that. In my honest opinion, it was Ward's hot headed moment that cost him his life.
It is a very tragic loss for the family, the racing community, and fans. I predict that Tony will pretty much go into hiding after this incident. I believe his career will be over.
Edited by GoBuddyGo 2014-08-11 11:56 AM
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| I just saw a post on FB by someone who said this: Wouldn't it be nice if ALL our US soldiers that lose their lives defending the freedoms of people all around the world got as much attention as this incident on a race track? Tragedies happen everyday all over the world but some get lots of attention and others don't.
This racing incident is indeed a tragedy for everyone involved, but when put into perspective, I think this ladies statement says a lot about our society as a whole. |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Who was Ward trying to point at? That has to be one of the worst decisions I've seen in a while. Walking in the middle of the track, pointing at some other car.......was he trying to stop another car? Was he trying to stop Tony Stewart's car? That's like trying to walk in the middle of a herd of running horses and getting one to stop.
Edited by LRQHS 2014-08-11 12:16 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 814
Location: California | He was mad because he thought Tony put him into the wall. So, he was going out on the track to point his finger at Tony to show he was mad. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | GoBuddyGo - 2014-08-11 12:11 PM He was mad because he thought Tony put him into the wall. So, he was going out on the track to point his finger at Tony to show he was mad.
Wow. I probably would have just told Tony I was mad after the race......sent him a text or something. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | barrelracr131 - 2014-08-11 12:10 PM
Bibliafarm - 2014-08-11 9:01 AM I can't believe some that think he intentionally tried to run into him. The guy may be hotheaded but he's not a total ass knowing the consequences. Losing a life...losing a career.. Etc..stop the rumors and assumptions. Racers might be hotheaded but not murderers..the guy got out . and on track.
I don't think anyone thinks he meant to murder the guy or even run him over, but some of us doubt whether or not he meant to throw dirt at him and got caught up in the crossfire
If he has audio from his communication with his guy in the tower, I bet that would likely clear his name.
Whether he did anything wrong or not, I don't see any charges being filed and I also don't see his career rebounding (but I don't watch a ton of NASCAR so I could be wrong about that)
Unless things have changed, dirt tracks don't have two way radios. Only one way. So all the officials probably said over that radio is there was a caution for a car in the wall at whatever turn he was at. No spotters in this game.
Look up photos of a sprint car. See if you could see out the right side of it. My hubby showed me a photo of the wing of another TSR sprint car last night. And you can't see crap out of the right side. Nothing.
It was an accident. Period. Regardless of the circumstances. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 501
| I know nothing about dirt cars or racing but have to say during tragedies like this people tend to lose their minds.
Someone said they could hear TS rev his engine on the film? No way. There were how many other cars on the track and they can tell it was him? Nope. Maybe there is other evidence he did rev the engine but "the film" and hearing it is faulty.
Aside from the who is at fault arguement, WHY DO THEY SELL ALL BLACK FIRE SUITS?!! We all know they look cool but visibility is an issue, don't manufacture black suits, don't buy them. Just seems like it would be a good idea in all cases, not just here. Dirty windshields or visors, bad lights, moisture, all things that make visibility bad. Don't add to it. |
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 Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2076
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | 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.
I know, but it happens all the time in those races -- Tony even does it (althought there may be some rule changes, now)! Just like I don't understand why people congregate on horse and on foot at the mouth of an alley in the middle of a barrel race or rodeo - but they do it all the time and it's dangerous. |
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