Kevin Ward

[JMoney]

To be fair, he's not wrong. Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon combined were probably rivals with half the field

Tony's a lot less aggressive now, much like Kurt and Kyle. Ten Eleven years ago in a video game is completely irrelevant. To put that in perspective, Ward was nine when that game was released.

 

[phillgt2002]

NASCAR has to take a good, long, hard look at how it runs its various racing series.

In Formula One, people get huge penalties for even spitting on the racetrack after an accident (or throwing your steering wheel out into the road while getting out of your car). Which is just and proper. These things are big, rolling death machines, and drivers should exercise more than a modicum of respect for that.

I was thinking of this when reading various comments. F1 has some of the strictest rules out there, throwing helmets at cars, kicking cars, ECT should give a penalty. I guess that's what keeps people coming back to NASCAR and these other events. Have you seen the video where the guy (I'm guessing they were bandito cars) starts ramming his opponent and starts driving through the field while the crowd is cheering them on? (Just found it)



Honestly, this is ****ing stupid, but I guess it keeps the tickets selling.

 

[Blitz24]

Bowman Gray should NOT be compared to NASCAR.

 

[phillgt2002]

Bowman Gray should NOT be compared to NASCAR.

I'm not comparing the two types of racing, I'm only comparing the mentalities (which are very similar) to NASCAR. I have a friend that has done all of the types of oval racing (legend cars, bandito, ETC) and they all basically revolve around each-other, and it's not surprising to see that these people are backers of NASCAR and the sometimes rowdy behavior.

 

[meek]

@phillkillv2
What is this ECT you speak of?

 

[bscar27]

@phillkillv2
What is this ECT you speak of?

I may be wrong, but I think it was just a typo of etc.

 

[phillgt2002]

Oops. Never really noticed that.

 

[Chocochocochip5]

Around here ( I'm from the area) Tony Stewart is notorious on the dirt ovals. A lot of drivers have trouble with him racing here because of his win or die attitude. He is known to take people out, track regulars racing for a living (or for fun.) To Stewart, a wrecked car isn't a big deal because he has enough money where he can replace it easily replace it, but to the regulars that run, money doesn't come as easy. They don't really like him to begin with because of that, but then when they get taken out I can see why Mr. Ward would try to confront him about it. Do I agree with running out into the middle of the track like he did? Absolutely not. I watched the video (sadly) and he is way away from his car. Other times when drivers confront each other on track they are at least somewhat close to their cars, but he was very far away. Do I think it was intentional by Tony? Absolutely not. I think it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that resulted in a tragedy.

Last year, Tony was also involved in a wreck at a dirt track event (May have been in Canandaigua as well.) One other driver involved acquired a broken back from that wreck, and yet there was still no media coverage of that that I can remember.


Condolences to the friends and family.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Do I think it was intentional by Tony? Absolutely not. I think it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that resulted in a tragedy.

How do you explain Stewart apparently hitting the throttle and fishtailing the car as he approaches ward...on a caution lap?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

How do you explain Stewart apparently hitting the throttle and fishtailing the car as he approaches ward...on a caution lap?

The only way to drive a sprint car is to keep your momentum up. They're not cars that change directions easily, especially when under braking. If Stewart revved the engine and fishtailed, it was probably intended as an evasive move.

 

[Jahgee]

How do you explain Stewart apparently hitting the throttle and fishtailing the car as he approaches ward...on a caution lap?

The right rear tire is bigger than the left rear, if he floors it the back end will swing counterclockwise, away from Ward. He probably saw Ward right before he hit him and that's why he floored it.

 

[Johnnypenso]

The only way to drive a sprint car is to keep your momentum up. They're not cars that change directions easily, especially when under braking. If Stewart revved the engine and fishtailed, it was probably intended as an evasive move.

On a caution lap? I wouldn't buy that with your money

The right rear tire is bigger than the left rear, if he floors it the back end will swing counterclockwise, away from Ward. He probably saw Ward right before he hit him and that's why he floored it.

CC swung the back end towards Ward not away from him.

 

[Tornado]

Bowman Gray should NOT be compared to NASCAR.

Perhaps not; but this is the same sanctioning body that makes token gestures towards punishing drivers for inappropriate driver antics like miniscule fines or (at most) single race suspensions, then actively cultivates the "rivalries" that result from said antics while highlighting them in various in race promos. It's very rare for anything of the nature of that video to happen in actual NASCAR races anymore; but NASCAR has still never seemed too worried about putting an immediate stop to drivers deliberately spinning each other out on pit road or keeping accidents from devolving into fistfights and helmet throwing.

 

[IceMan PJN]

How do you explain Stewart apparently hitting the throttle and fishtailing the car as he approaches ward...on a caution lap?

I used to frequent dirt ovals weekly up through 2011, after which I was a father and had a bunch of lifestyle changes making it difficult getting around to going back. The track had various lower classes and also sprints (the type involved in this incident,) late models, and modifieds. During yellows it's not uncommon to see cars occasionally stomp the throttle. It could be that they've fallen behind and were rushing to catch up to cars ahead because they do need to form back up or because they've dropped a lot of speed. Sprints don't have starters so if they stop then they need push-started, which is boring and slows action down, and I'm wanting to say that they can die if they slow too much but can't swear to that part.

 

[bscar27]

I used to frequent dirt ovals weekly up through 2011, after which I was a father and had a bunch of lifestyle changes making it difficult getting around to going back. The track had various lower classes and also sprints (the type involved in this incident,) late models, and modifieds. During yellows it's not uncommon to see cars occasionally stomp the throttle. It could be that they've fallen behind and were rushing to catch up to cars ahead because they do need to form back up or because they've dropped a lot of speed. Sprints don't have starters so if they stop then they need push-started, which is boring and slows action down, and I'm wanting to say that they can die if they slow too much but can't swear to that part.

THIS, SO MANY TIMES THIS, They also rev and weave like that to keep heat in the tires

 

[mustafur]

I think its just a tragic accident, first of all it should be noted kevin put himself into an extremely dangerious position to begin with and after seeing footage it doesn't look all that good for tony either.

but honestly on a slippery dirt surface and a quick movement by kevin right before impact you can't possibly say it would of been entirely easy to predict how you could avoid him, the sprint cars have next to no steering ability at moderate speed without using power oveersteer which is what tony did so i can't say its fair to blame anyone in this.

its a tragic accident that took the life of a young upcoming racer and at the end of the day thats the reality of it.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

How do you explain Stewart apparently hitting the throttle and fishtailing the car as he approaches ward...on a caution lap?

I will wait until I see more videos, but my thoughts currently, given Stewart's temperament, is that he wasn't gonna listen to this little punk a** yell at him so he gunned the motor. I'm sure he had no intention of hitting the guy though.

 

[King_Fatts]

Would just like to say I blame both parties equally.
Unless being in the car is a risk from fire or something, I dont think you should get out until safety crews arrive. Especially not at night on a track with minimal lighting. I dont care how upset you are, Running into the middle of the track is absolutley ridiculous.

Watching the video though, Tony swerved away revving the motor. I dont believe hitting him is what he intended, But its what happened.

A random thought: The Blue and White 45 car looked like it almost hit Ward just before Tony did. Had the 45 hit Ward instead, Do you think this story would be even close to this big ?
I think not.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I will wait until I see more videos, but my thoughts currently, given Stewart's temperament, is that he wasn't gonna listen to this little punk a** yell at him so he gunned the motor. I'm sure had no intention of hitting the guy though.

The problem once again as stated when Earth used this asinine argument and others are doing again is that they have some knowledge of foresight that this guy would jump out of the car to be in front of Stewarts. I mean how the hell do you or anyone else know this especially when five other cars passed this guy with four of them at faster speeds than Stewart. The fifth (45 car ahead of Stewart) swerved as well to avoid this guy but was already traveling a lower speeds than any of the other cars passing as well as Stewart.

If you haven't read the thread I and many others have been over that, if your not going to bother to consider what has been hashed then why post? Perhaps you've already decided what the Police and DA seem to see as nothing but an accident, as more malicious intent. This idea that you can deduce the emotion of a guy that probably had no idea this other guy was out of the car to confront him on foot, due to past transgression that he either voiced in the press or on pit road is silly. That's before we even look at the facts that they watched fan videos and the Go Pro in Stewart's car.

 

[hawkeye122]

The only way to drive a sprint car is to keep your momentum up. They're not cars that change directions easily, especially when under braking. If Stewart revved the engine and fishtailed, it was probably intended as an evasive move.

Which is why he's the only one in the video who does that.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

The problem once again as stated when Earth used this asinine argument and others are doing again is that they have some knowledge of foresight that this guy would jump out of the car to be in front of Stewarts. I mean how the hell do you or anyone else know this especially when five other cars passed this guy with four of them at faster speeds than Stewart. The fifth (45 car ahead of Stewart) swerved as well to avoid this guy but was already traveling a lower speeds than any of the other cars passing as well as Stewart.

If you haven't read the thread I and many others have been over that, if your not going to bother to consider what has been hashed then why post? Perhaps you've already decided what the Police and DA seem to see as nothing but an accident, as more malicious intent. This idea that you can deduce the emotion of a guy that probably had no idea this other guy was out of the car to confront him on foot, due to past transgression that he either voiced in the press or on pit road is silly. That's before we even look at the facts that they watched fan videos and the Go Pro in Stewart's car.

If the evidence shows that Stewart hit the gas in an evasive move to try to avoid hitting the kid then great. I personally like Tony Stewart. I don't mind that he is a hot headed old school NASCAR guy.

But the fact remains that he hit the gas, and the kid was killed.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Which is why he's the only one in the video who does that.

Watch the vid, the rear kicks as it takes Ward's leg into the wheel. I think that's the first sign to Stewart that they've collided. Ward would have been killed very quickly, the physical transfer was literally massive.

But the fact remains that he hit the gas, and the kid was killed.

But the fact remains that the kid took himself onto a raceway to d*** about in front of live race cars.

But the fact remains that event organisers enjoy the man-on-man gladiator-idiocy that's become more and more common at race events and effectively facilitate it by continuously refusing to rule against drivers involved in such incidents.

You missed a couple of facts there, you seemed naively unbalanced

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

If the evidence shows that Stewart hit the gas in an evasive move to try to avoid hitting the kid then great. I personally like Tony Stewart. I don't mind that he is a hot headed old school NASCAR guy.

But the fact remains that he hit the gas, and the kid was killed.

How do you know this, do you have telemetry from the car? Do you have the Go Pro footage? Are you an audio expert that can tell with your ear alone that the recorder isn't picking up the cars closer to them, since they too were probably revving up to at moments as well?

I really don't care what you mind or don't mind, as I told someone earlier I only care about people being impartial on this, you could hate the guy and wish ill on him for all I care as long as you don't twist reality because you think you know what "facts" are. The only facts that are known is Stewart hit a man that deliberately got out of his car and walked on to the track to put himself in that position. The other facts are that the Police are treating this as an accident and not a malicious intent of anything either murder or manslaughter. Until something happens to where you can safely say this with out looking as someone out to instigate then just wait.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

I will stand by both of my posts until new evidence is presented.

Why did Tony gun it? That is the question.

 

[Rich S]

The people that say US oval racing needs to enforce its rules and maybe become more strict on "fighting" policies are probably going to see that soon. This whole get out of the car and throw your helmet at the other car or confront the other driver is so common I couldn't possibly count the sheer # of instances....it is a normal part of short track, dirt track and Nascar racing in general. I imagine 5 years from now that will have cut down.

unfortunately I am not as positive as some others are. I'm sorry for offending any Tony Stewart fans, I do not share in any support for him.

I will admit that I have had a dim view of Tony for a long time now I'm sorry for all the Tony fans who now feel they have to jump to his defense. I think this could certainly have been deliberate, we'll have to wait and see if there's some on board footage because the vid doesn't show all of it although I must say the "gut feeling" I get watching it is that it is a deliberate hit and Tony is doing a good 15-20 mph faster than the blue car ahead.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I will stand by both of my posts until new evidence is presented.

Why did Tony gun it? That is the question.

I don't care what you stand by you're not right because you don't know if it was him or not. And even if it was him you're ignoring the behavior of these cars and basically saying you think he did it on purpose, due to your ignorance of how these machines work on that type of surface.

The people that say US oval racing needs to enforce its rules and maybe become more strict on "fighting" policies are probably going to see that soon. This whole get out of the car and throw your helmet at the other car or confront the other driver is so common I couldn't possibly count the sheer # of instances....it is a normal part of short track, dirt track and Nascar racing in general. I imagine 5 years from now that will have cut down.

unfortunately I am not as positive as some others are. I'm sorry for offending any Tony Stewart fans, I do not share in any support for him.

I will admit that I have had a dim view of Tony for a long time now I'm sorry for all the Tony fans who now feel they have to jump to his defense. I think this could certainly have been deliberate, we'll have to wait and see if there's some on board footage because the vid doesn't show all of it although I must say the "gut feeling" I get watching it is that it is a deliberate hit and Tony is doing a good 15-20 mph faster than the blue car ahead.

There is on board footage that the police have, did you read the thread?

 

[mustafur]

Anyone who thinks Tony Stewart did this deliberately needs their head checked, whether you hate the guy or not there is no way he did it deliberately.

the worst thing he possible could of done in this situation is scare him but what actually happened surely wouldn't of been what he desired.

if you look at the crash that triggered kevin to go on the track you will notice Tony would of had very limited vision to what actually happened to kevin.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Why did Tony gun it? That is the question.

No, that's a tautology, like "how often do you hit your wife?".

Did he "gun it" would be a better initial question? The only significant direction change I see from the car is at the point where Ward's leg connects with the rear tyre. It grabs him hard and the car understandably "jinks" a little.

 

[Chrunch Houston]

I don't care what you stand by you're not right because you don't know if it was him or not. And even if it was him you're ignoring the behavior of these cars and basically saying you think he did it on purpose, due to your ignorance of how these machines work on that type of surface.
There is on board footage that the police have, did you read the thread?

I never said I thought he did it on purpose, in fact I said:

I will wait until I see more videos, but my thoughts currently, given Stewart's temperament, is that he wasn't gonna listen to this little punk a** yell at him so he gunned the motor. I'm sure he had no intention of hitting the guy though.

But, I did say that he hit the gas as he was passing by the guy.

Why did he hit the gas? that is all I want to know.

 

[Bo]

On a caution lap? I wouldn't buy that with your money

CC swung the back end towards Ward not away from him.

Why did he hit the gas? that is all I want to know.

You might want to read up on sprint car behaviour:

As far as Tony’s alleged “gassing” momentarily before contact with Kevin, sprint cars are equipped with big right rear tires to turn the car. What many may not understand is that the car will mostly rotate hard under acceleration. If you watch a sprint car race under caution, you will see a driver or two pull out of line every corner, move up the race track, hammer on the throttle and turn down the race track to pull back into line.

You have to understand what winged sprint cars behave like. They pull to one side.