Tony Stewart (Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images)
Shockwaves rippled through the motorsports community early Sunday morning when it was learned that a driver struck by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart during a Sprint Car event in New York died from his injuries.
According to USA Today, Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Philip C. Povero confirmed that Kevin Ward Jr. was killed after being struck by a car driven by Stewart during an event Saturday evening at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park.
Video of the incident shows Ward getting spun after contact with Stewart during the event. The video goes on to show Ward then exiting his car and gesturing toward Stewart’s car as Stewart approached the accident scene, and then Stewart’s car struck Ward, running him over and then throwing his body.
Povero told USA today that Stewart was cooperating with authorities investigating the accident and that no charges were immediately pending.
Stewart, a Columbus, Ind., is the owner of the Stewart-Haas Racing Sprint Cup Series team a stable which fields rides in the series for Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick and Stewart himself.
Stewart climbed through the ranks of Midwest based Sprint Car racing to become an IndyCar Series champion in 1997 before moving on to compete full-time at the top level in NASCAR. He competed for 10 years for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, winning series championships in 2002 and 2005 before forming Stewart-Haas Racing prior to the 2009 season. He won his third Sprint Cup Series championship in 2011.
It was unclear early Sunday morning if Stewart would compete in the Sprint Cup Series event scheduled at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y. later in the day.
First of all, it was a horrible tragedy and I pray for everyone involved.
While we wait for the investigation to allocate blame, I think that we can conclude one thing: it is incredibly dangerous for a driver to get out of his racecar to confront moving vehicles.
It is time for NASCAR to impose Rule #1: if you get out of your racecar on the track, you must go to rescue personnel or you will be suspended for 20 weeks from all NASCAR sanctioned races. 2nd offense is a 2 year ban.
I agree with you brad. No matter where the blame falls. These kids have to stop getting out of there cars. Find him in the pits and show your displeasure there.
It’s really unfortunate this happened but there is no reason to get out of your car unless your going with ems.
Tony Stewart should be arrested and tried for vehicular homicide (you decide the degree.) Stewart hit the gas just as he got to Ward. To what? Brush him back? Send him a message? Hit him? Yes, the driver shouldn’t have gotten out of his car, especially on a dirt track where the cars are sliding all over the place, but Stewart could’ve dodged him like every other car did. He didn’t. After Dale died, I was looking for a driver to follow and I thought it might be Stewart. It lasted one race. Stewart is a hot-head, crybaby whiner. Now he’s a killer. He should be banned from racing for life.
While I hate that this terrible event has occurred and my heart goes out to this kids family, why should nascar take any action? It was not a nascar sactioned race and they are not involved in the inncodent.
Agree Brad, and it should be ALL racing organizations – USAC, WoO, ARCA,ISMA, whatever – not just NASCAR.
An incident like this shows that it in fact could get tragic, and with the saddest of outcomes / results. And as much as maybe some race fans and even sanctioning bodies and TV networks may see “on track driver confrontations” as adding drama and ratings?
THIS incident should draw the line.
Prayers to all involved.
A couple of mistakes were made, the kid should not have got out of his car and approached a moving race car, and Stewart seeing him do this should have stayed clear or even stopped. As for the initial bump on the track it looks like to me Tony did not realize Kevin got beside him so really that part was a racing accident. My prayers go out Kevin Ward’s family
All you people who insinuate that he hit ward on purpose should not be so quick to judge here. Unless you walk in someone’s shoes how do you no the intent? First of all did you see what tony was seeing ? Did he see ward at the last minute and try to avoid him and goose it by accident ? These cars have no gear shift they are either in or out of gear and when in gear they need to pace at a good speed . Another thing these cars I believe have no radios I may be wrong but if they did he might have had a warning that a driver with a dark suit was coming after him . I am not Stewart fan heck I don’t even watch much cup racing but I don’t think tony had any intention of hitting ward . I doubt he even seen the guy until it was to late and that makes this a tragic loss for everyone involved . Why don’t we just pray for everyone involved and hope this never happens again .
Thank you Shawn for your website.
I keep reading and hearing reports that Stewart gunned his engine right before Ward hit Stewart’s car. How can that be confirmed? There are cars gunning the engines all over that video, no way any engine sound can be assigned to the Stewart car. Is there video that shows Stewart accelerating before the contact?