Multiple sources say Tony Stewart ran over another driver tonight

[theplummer]

When you are under caution with 18 or so cars on the same very small track, do you not "hold your line", I do. He was following the 45 car, if he's at fault for being too high, approaching the spun car, so is the 45 driver.

Also, you mention the expectation of seeing a car in the corner, I would not expect to see a driver out of his car, basically playing chicken with the traffic, why would TS. He probably had no idea that the car he just gave a perfect slide job had hit the wall, as TS was completely past him. And if you try to claim that TS touched Ward's car, look again, Ward spun himself out, there was no contact, it wasn't even close.

 

[mb7]

You need to have driven a sprint to know you HAVE to gas it to turn hard. Rear end is locked and small front tires. If he would hit the brakes thing would have done a 360. Sure are alot of NEW members posting the same thing and disliking alot lol. Some people have nothing else to do i guess. Jimmy dearing am i correct in my assumption?

So your telling me its better to hit the gas to miss the guy at speed then to tap the brakes and spin? I've seen sprint cars for years (30 years at least) and seen guys move down the track or stop to avoid people on the track. Never seen them gas it up to avoid people. But if you want to make excuses for someone that's fine. My point was Ward made a mistake and Stewart mad a bigger one. Do I think he did it on purpose....no. The fact remains that Ward is dead and Tony Stewart's career may be also. I like how most people blame the kid and label him as a spoiled brat without knowing him. I'm telling you if the driver would of been Kyle Busch you guys would be screaming for his head. PERIOD!

 

[99]

THANX RICH

 

[racin90]

So your telling me its better to hit the gas to miss the guy at speed then to tap the brakes and spin? I've seen sprint cars for years (30 years at least) and seen guys move down the track or stop to avoid people on the track. Never seen them gas it up to avoid people. But if you want to make excuses for someone that's fine. My point was Ward made a mistake and Stewart mad a bigger one. Do I think he did it on purpose....no. The fact remains that Ward is dead and Tony Stewart's career may be also. I like how most people blame the kid and label him as a spoiled brat without knowing him. I'm telling you if the driver would of been Kyle Busch you guys would be screaming for his head. PERIOD!

Im not making any excuses. Ive been around sprints and knew the fact a about turning the fast before this all happened. I realize its hard to imagine for some( new members who some are actually the same poster)but it has been the truth before all this. Tell you what. Ever drove a regular racecar and tried to turn it sharp especially on hard pavement? It wont due to the wheels chirp and pushes the front end.

 

[theplummer]

The likely hood that the throttle burp heard on the video was actually coming from Stewart's machine is rather slim. The throttle burp was rather loud, as if it came from one of the other cars on the front stretch.

Also, if you look really close, it appears that the rear tires actually stop turning, as the rear end is jostling around, indicating either braking or something causing the rear end to get in a bind, then the rear end slips up the hill and a turn to the right was (probably) instinctually made to correct the sliding rear end.

I'm curious about all the haters and and accusers out there, are they going to be able to accept it when the investigation clears TS of any criminal negligence, be mature enough to recognize their own personal bias, and publicly retract their accusations. Or will they just shift their rhetoric to claim that TS's wealth and fame bought his innocence?

I guess time will tell, won't it.

 

[theplummer]

This post is a request for Bob711. I've noticed you have listed every one of my posts as dumb, as well as every other post that supports the facts and available evidence to clear TS of any liability, without elaborating your position. I find that disengenous, and frankly quite disgusting on your part. At least have the balls to identify why you think the posts that support TS are dumb.

 

[racer6e]

I see all these posts be the only ones that truly knows what happened is tony and Kevin sadly one can't tell his side. All I can say Sorry for Kevin's family lost and hope other drivers like myself to think before you react. Jmo

 

[racin90]

Im still waiting to hear the vast driving experience of some who disagree.

Hmm, so you assume on no facts at all. You go from someone making paragraph remarks that make sense to someone that can barely type one sentence..... This is why public communication is so useless. Too many little kids.

umm i have dyslexia and at times yes my typing or paragraph making isnt the best. Something i deal with daily and i dont proof read what i type at times. I re-read what i typed and still dont see and issue but if thats your opinion the thats your opinion. I am 47 and nowhere near a kid's age although im still trying to figure out what i want to do when i grow up

 

[racin90]

I see all these posts be the only ones that truly knows what happened is tony and Kevin sadly one can't tell his side. All I can say Sorry for Kevin's family lost and hope other drivers like myself to think before you react. Jmo

Well said and to the point!

 

[t.nie]

I hope no one is putting me in the category of "hater" on Stewart. I like him as a racer, and we need more talented people on the track getting their with talent rather than looks/name recognition/daddy's money.

I am simply stating some things that may be getting overlooked in the rush to blame the kid for doing something dumb.

So let's look at "the facts" because some people seem to wish to present "the facts" in ways that exonerate their favorite driver, and there is another way to view those very same facts.

1-Track was dimly lit, reduced visibility. Really? So, these guys can rocket around that place at 100 MPH in race cars, but when they are slowed down under caution and some guy gets run over, you want to say the lighting wasn't adequate? Sorry, but that is a head scratcher to me.

2-Ward was wearing a black firesuit, so he was hard to see. Really? Ward was also flailing his arms, gesturing, running around and doing everything he could to MAKE Stewart see him. Specifically to make STEWART see him. And of course, every other driver passing by didn't run him over, but the guy he was trying to get the attention of didn't see him and make every effort to stay as far away from him as possible? Another head scratcher to me.

3. Stewart could've been distracted, looking at this gauges, pulling off a tearoff. Yes, I think that is entirely plausible. But in my mind, it ranks right up there with "I was twiddling with my radio and never saw that kid run in the street in front of me when I was driving past the school." For starters, under caution, near the car spun out, you really shouldn't be messing with your tearoffs, or looking at your gauges. You, as a driver, have the responsibility for your car and where it goes on the track. When approaching the wreck, you have the responsibility of knowing there might be workers entering the racing surface, a driver wandering around, all sorts of things that take precedence over your oil pressure and your tearoff. While this is a very likely explanation, (it was just a momentary lapse of concentration), under the circumstances and taking into consideration someone is now dead as a result of his lapse of concentration, it wouldn't surprise me to see him charged. Just like the guy who runs over the kid in front of the school while messing with his radio.

4. He got out of his car and put himself in harm's way. What was Tony supposed to do? Tony got taken by surprise. Really? But in other posts, we read "this getting out of the car stuff has to stop, it's happening all too often and now someone is dead!" So which is it? Ward got out of his car, like we see all the time these days, or this was such an unusual event that of course Tony was surprised to see a driver on the track? Either its unusual for a driver to be on the track near a wrecked car under caution, which gives a driver some cover for not being prepared for an out of the ordinary event, or it's happening so often that most drivers should be using some extra caution whenever they are approaching spun out cars and wrecks.

That's all my point is in a nutshell. I hope this incident gets filed under "accident" and no culpability is assigned to anyone, because I really do think it was a tragic accident and one everyone should learn from. One that could have been avoided, but also one that could happen to anyone at any moment, because we all have those momentary lapses of concentration that could end tragically, or in the heat of the moment do something rash we could later regret, but we manage to escape without harm.

But if I am the kid's dad, taking into consideration all the stuff above? You know you would want someone held accountable and some blame for what happened assigned, and a punishment dished out. And it wouldn't surprise me at all to see that happen.

 

[t.nie]

The likely hood that the throttle burp heard on the video was actually coming from Stewart's machine is rather slim. The throttle burp was rather loud, as if it came from one of the other cars on the front stretch.

Also, if you look really close, it appears that the rear tires actually stop turning, as the rear end is jostling around, indicating either braking or something causing the rear end to get in a bind, then the rear end slips up the hill and a turn to the right was (probably) instinctually made to correct the sliding rear end.

I'm curious about all the haters and and accusers out there, are they going to be able to accept it when the investigation clears TS of any criminal negligence, be mature enough to recognize their own personal bias, and publicly retract their accusations. Or will they just shift their rhetoric to claim that TS's wealth and fame bought his innocence?

I guess time will tell, won't it.

And to you I would say if he is charged are you going to be willing to accept he has some responsibility for what occurred, be mature enough to recognize your own bias, or will you just shift your rhetoric to claim he is only being charged because of his wealth and fame? That cuts both ways.

My personal hope is that it gets filed under "accident" and nothing further comes of it. Not out of bias, but because I see fault on both sides, and one young man has lost his life in part due to his reckless action, and a grown man has to forever relive it and think of all the things he wishes he could go back and do differently so that this never happened.

 

[jclewis67]

The likely hood that the throttle burp heard on the video was actually coming from Stewart's machine is rather slim. The throttle burp was rather loud, as if it came from one of the other cars on the front stretch.

Also, if you look really close, it appears that the rear tires actually stop turning, as the rear end is jostling around, indicating either braking or something causing the rear end to get in a bind, then the rear end slips up the hill and a turn to the right was (probably) instinctually made to correct the sliding rear end.

I'm curious about all the haters and and accusers out there, are they going to be able to accept it when the investigation clears TS of any criminal negligence, be mature enough to recognize their own personal bias, and publicly retract their accusations. Or will they just shift their rhetoric to claim that TS's wealth and fame bought his innocence?

I guess time will tell, won't it.

I believe the throttle burp was actually the number 45 car.

 

[theplummer]

To answer your question. Yes, I would admit. Though, I have never spoken, or written anything about the incident until I felt confident that I had enough "evidence" to prove what I claim.

I must admit that I do respect and admire TS for two things that I personally know about him. 1. He is probably one of the most talented drivers in the sport, and in at least three different disciplines. Indy cart, outlaw sprint, and cup car. He is so talented that he has risen to the top of the heap and has been rewarded for doing so. In addition he has been able to develop his talents to the point of reaching a very high status in the field as well as parlayed his talents into creating great wealth for himself. Which brings me to 2. He has a great giving spirit, and to top it off, much of the time he doesn't advertise his giving nature. I'll bet not many people know that TS donated the use of his private jet for Curtis Boyers family to use at their discression to fly back and forth from home to the hospital that Curtis was being treated at.

Now, I do take issue with his antics at times on the track, though one must recognize that he is entertaining also. He has surely mellowed over the years, and even when he reacts out of emotion, he has acknowledged his error as well as presents valid logical reasons for his many times controvercial opinions.

Love him or hate him, he has done nearly as much as say, Dale Ernhardt has to the evolution to the sport.

I just can't stand emotional, uninformed opinions that come from no where other than personal bias to form opinions.

In many ways, I agree with your reasons to question, though when pot in a no win situation, such as Ward did to TS, how could one hold him accountable?

 

[lacustoms]

Here's the bottom line...if Jr. would have stayed close to his car or stayed in it (most drivers get out and survey the damage if they do get out), we wouldn't be debating this tragedy. I have drove and been a car chief for 35 years of my life running with WOO's and Regional and National ASCS series. As a SPRINT CAR driver, you know how these car's work, and running around on an active sprint car track is very,very risky at best. This situation is very unfortunate for all involved, but simply nothing more than poor judgement this young man's behalf in the heat of battle...The kid was more than halfway down on the racing surface (in a corner mind you) and I'm not sure if 45 didn't clip him first, as you will notice him crouch down and bend over as the 45 passes him in the video. There is absolutely not enough evidence to support any conviction criminally, that said, Tony may have a wrongful death civil lawsuit or something of that effect to deal with, because it was his car and he was driving which resulted in lose of life. Tony is a racer's-racer and a great ambassador for dirt track racing...I hope he decides to return to racing at some point.

 

[Convict18]

I really find it funny that ppl could even consider that ts get any criminal charges for anothers stupidty. I dont like that the kid died by all means but I guarantee if it wasn't TS that ran this kid over noone would even be making a big deal over it period dont care what anyone says. There is noone in there right mind on a race track gonna purposely run over and kill someone no matter what divison it is. I just laugh at most of the stupidty that is getting talked about on here like any of u ppl know either driver other than there antics on the track and maybe some off. The ward kid was 20 yrs old wet behind the ears and obviously has no brain to come down the race track running after racecars. His dad can be pissed off all he wants and look for a finger to point at but TS has noone to explain to except the cops n thats it. I just cant beleive how crazy ppl are getting about this its over been 2 weeks get over learn from it and remember the kid for what he has accomplished in his 20 yrs he was alive not who needs to pay for his mistake.

 

[rucket]

Im still waiting to hear the vast driving experience of some who disagree.

umm i have dyslexia and at times yes my typing or paragraph making isnt the best. Something i deal with daily and i dont proof read what i type at times. I re-read what i typed and still dont see and issue but if thats your opinion the thats your opinion. I am 47 and nowhere near a kid's age although im still trying to figure out what i want to do when i grow up

Lol, i wasn't trying to make fun of you in any way. I'm not an english teacher either. Whoever the other dude is wasn't typing anything worth reading at all.

 

[rucket]

Alright. So it's starting to look like Tony might not be at fault at all however at the last second i still think Kevin was trying to survive. Hopefully for Tony tho this was an accident! I really feared the worst that racing retaliation was getting way out of control. Crap like the Gundaker incident and compact car crap at TC prove once again that its way out of hand....