R.I.P. Sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. hit by Tony Stewart

[F1fletch]

I am neither a fan or hater of TS. As I told my workmate yesterday, no part of any of this will be good for him. Life as he knows it is over. Sponsors, Racing, living with that even at no fault is a game changer.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by F1fletch

I am neither a fan or hater of TS. As I told my workmate yesterday, no part of any of this will be good for him. Life as he knows it is over. Sponsors, Racing, living with that even at no fault is a game changer.

Sterling Marlin bumped Dale Earnhardt Sr. in the accident that took his life, that same year 35 races later he finished 3rd in the points. He continued to race at NASCAR's top level for 8 more years (less competitive but a reasonable showing for the tail end of a 33 year career), here's the wiki summary of the fallout:

Three days later at the Daytona 500, Marlin appeared to make contact with Dale Earnhardt, causing Earnhardt to crash into the Turn 4 wall, an impact that would kill him. In the following days, Marlin and his family received hate mail and death threats from angry fans who felt that Marlin was responsible for Earnhardt's death. He was eventually publicly defended by two of Earnhardt's drivers, his son and Michael Waltrip, and was also cleared of any wrongdoing by NASCAR's investigation into the accident.

I think Tony will continue to race once the dust settles and he has the time to gather himself. Of course assuming this was truly an accident.

[Frost]

Originally Posted by F1fletch

I am neither a fan or hater of TS. As I told my workmate yesterday, no part of any of this will be good for him. Life as he knows it is over. Sponsors, Racing, living with that even at no fault is a game changer.

Wheel to wheel racing is a contact sport regardless of intention or not. This race isn't going to kill his career. A literal and figurative speedbump (no pun intended) but a blip in his career. People die in racing - it's a fact, doesn't mean we should treat it as if it was nothing but this happens.

Heck, rally racing has killed more fans and participants than probably most sports.

Either way, it's no good to wish ill will to anyone that walked away from this. No one survived intact that day.

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by Freeman

http://m.chippewa.com/dunnconnect/sp...ile_touch=true

Very interesting insight

I have never driven sprint cars...but I have ridden a Dirt bike on a sprint car track.

This was in Gaston, SC so it was a very local POS track. Lotsa clay and it was very slippery to me.

I do think Tony Stewart is a hothead, but I really think Kevin Ward is to blame.

I am not innocent myself. I have ridden motorcycles on public roads at 180+ mph...I have driven cars on public roads at 150+ mph. I did this stuff when I was way younger.

We have all done some boneheaded things in our life.

Sadly, Kevin Ward's boneheaded thing got him killed.

Villianizing Tony Stewart will not bring back Kevin Ward.

[inertia]

Any new updates if Kevin Ward's family suing Tony Stewart or the owners/association of the track? Will criminal charges be brought against Tony?

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by inertia

Any new updates if Kevin Ward's family suing Tony Stewart or the owners/association of the track? Will criminal charges be brought against Tony?

So far no criminal charges against Tony.

This is the USA, so I would expect a civil suit to be filed against the track, sanctioning body, and Tony. How far it goes is another matter.

[campy]

Originally Posted by Gunman

So far no criminal charges against Tony.

This is the USA, so I would expect a civil suit to be filed against the track, sanctioning body, and Tony. How far it goes is another matter.

Honestly, the video is pretty damning for Kevin Ward. I'm not familiar with Sprint racing, but if it's like any other racing, you cannot exit your vehicle unless it's on fire or staff tells you it's ok. All drivers are required to understand the rules and sign a form/waiver. That, along with low-traction track conditions and poor visibility, do not help Ward's case.

[thill]

I was listening to sports radio and a well respected lawyer thinks there is zero way there will be evidence to clearly show that TS did this intentionally.

Bottomline is that Ward never should have gotten out of his car and attempted to confront TS.

[Rampage]

I will resurrect this thread for those who "convicted" Mr. Stewart with little or no knowledge of the facts in the case. Now, after an extensive investigation, review of all the facts, analysis of all the available video/audio evidence and interviews with witnesses that were actually there, a Grand Jury has found that there is no evidence of wrongdoing on Stewart's part.

More evidence has come to light to cast the "blame" for the tragedy that took his life solely on Kevin Ward Jr.

http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/stor...ward-jr-092414

[tahdizzle]

Thanks. So the majority of the posters in this thread really were right.

[pushrod]

I don't think the jury, grand as it is, can read minds. Only one person knows what Tony Stewart's intents were at that exact moment. Still, I respect the decision made by the jury.

[Dave-ROR]

Not at all surprised. IMO it's 100% the right call.

[rice_classic]

Racing stoned? I get that they found MJ in his system but to imply that he smoked a doob before the race seems suspect, mainly on the fact that if were stoned at the time that would actually render him less likely to go running into traffic in a fit of rage.

I wouldn't be surprised if Stewart is sued in a civil court by Ward's familyi.

[gramicci101]

Pot shows up for 3+ days in your bloodstream, I thought. He could have smoked two days prior and still have it show up.

Of course they'll bring a civil suit against him. Their breadwinner just died, and Stewart will likely settle out of court because he feels bad about the whole thing.