....and Tony Stewart's career is over?

[4down20]

Funny, I was wondering the same thing about you

Plus you cant take Mav's word for anything on here since he is an admitted Stewart-hater.

Well, I'm not a Stewart hater, far from it. I actually considered him one of my favorite drivers because since Dale Sr died he's usually the only person with the balls to say something sucks publicly. So that whole "you're just a hater" line isn't going to work with me.

First person I looked too for an opinion on this is someone who has been dirt racing since the 70's, and they said the same things.

It's as if some of you for some reason believe these drivers don't have control of their cars or something.

 

[4down20]

The kid was struck by the rear tire. There are confrontations on the track quite often, but rarely is the upset driver stupid enough to get close enough to the other car to be struck by it.

Drivers do it all the time. Even in Nascar.

This one was rather famous, as Jimmy Spencer ended up busting his mouth/nose.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Drivers do it all the time. Even in Nascar.

This one was rather famous, as Jimmy Spencer ended up busting his mouth/nose.

Kurt wasn't blindly running into moving traffic. Kurt wasn't nearly struck by another car, and Kurt stopped far enough away where the only way he could have been hit would have been either intentional or mechanical failure.

 

[4down20]

Kurt gave him just enough room to drive by. The same that this kid did.

Of course, the kid does share some of the blame as if he hadn't been there it couldn't have happened at all. But it doesn't absolve Tony of his responsibilities.

 

[wildturkey]

They didn't have the video out when I went to sleep last night. From what was reported, I had envisioned what I've seen at many tracks from local all the way to Cup; angry driver stands a couple of feet away from his car and shakes his fist but this time Stewart buzzed him and hit him by mistake.

That's not what I saw on the video. Ward gets out of his car and moves into the racing line. While that's dangerous, its not unheard of (though most don't go this far). He keeps moving down the track and is almost hit by a car. Despite almost being hit, he goes even further down the track towards an oncoming Stewart. At the time of collision, they're practically on the apron. Given that these types of cars are almost totally blind on the right side, it's entirely possible that Stewart never saw he was that low and blipped the throttle because he caught a glimpse of him at the last micro second. Point is, the video showed me there's a lot more nuance to the situation than what was described. There's really no way any of us can determine for sure. Only people that would have insight would be Stewart and the guy that almost hit Ward.

Still, I'm a little surprised no charges have been filed as of yet. I figured the least Stewart would face is an involuntary manslaughter charge and then let the courts decide what sticks.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

The thing you are forgetting about these cars and turning is that it's only needed to turn like that at speed. They were at pace speed and it doesn't require the gas to be pushed in order to turn.

I actually liked Tony until this incident, so I'm not a hater.

Dude, did you just try to correct someone who has driven these cars and has first hand experience with them ?

 

[gohusk]

Well apparently there's no spotters or pit communications in that circuit so I don't see how Stewart could be at fault for this. I hate him as much as the next guy but how could he have even known that the guy was in the middle of the track under those circumstances? It was right out of a corner on top of it all.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

This is Atleast manslaughter. Just because he was racing shouldn't mean a damn thing. Even if he was trying to "buzz" the driver doesn't make it right. You don't play with people's lives like that and if this even tolerated by nascar, then they should be sued for every penny they're worth. This would be like some guy shooting his wife in the head while playing a game of William tell.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

What video did yall watch? The kid blindly ran into traffic. Almost got hit by the car in front of Tony.

Tony feels terrible I'm sure. He's sitting out of today's race. But anyone who thinks criminal charges should be brought against Tony clearly hasn't watched much racing.

His career might be over, but it will be on his own terms.

He should still get manslaughter. Saying this is part of racing isn't a defense. He tried to show up the driver during a caution flag and instead of buzzing him he hit the driver. That's not murder, but it is manslaughter.

 

[4down20]

Dude, did you just try to correct someone who has driven these cars and has first hand experience with them ?

Fine, the other people I know who have over 40 years experience with dirt cars know nothing. What happened was this kid decided to throw himself in front of Tony's car and there was nothing Tony could do about it.

Everyone happy now?

 

[GNG]

As of now, Stewart is racing today, and it's not being treated as a criminal matter:

Team: Tony Stewart will race, 'business as usual'

It shouldn't be treated as a criminal matter.

 

[GNG]

Fine, the other people I know who have over 40 years experience with dirt cars know nothing. What happened was this kid decided to throw himself in front of Tony's car and there was nothing Tony could do about it.

Everyone happy now?

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

This is Atleast manslaughter. Just because he was racing shouldn't mean a damn thing. Even if he was trying to "buzz" the driver doesn't make it right. You don't play with people's lives like that and if this even tolerated by nascar, then they should be sued for every penny they're worth. This would be like some guy shooting his wife in the head while playing a game of William tell.

He should still get manslaughter. Saying this is part of racing isn't a defense. He tried to show up the driver during a caution flag and instead of buzzing him he hit the driver. That's not murder, but it is manslaughter.

 

[TxHeat]

he was probably just trying to brush the kid and teach him a lesson, unfortunately he got too close. that's just my guess. he's a hothead and obviously the kid was too.

 

[jeffro151]

he was probably just trying to brush the kid and teach him a lesson, unfortunately he got too close. that's just my guess. he's a hothead and obviously the kid was too.

Why is it always Stewart that got to close to Ward, who was on foot?
Maybe it was Ward that got to close to Stewart, who was in a 1,300 lb machine going 40 mph.

 

[NDHoosier101]

Can't believe there's so many people blaming Tony. The kid got out of his car, the one thing you're not supposed to do. The guy was in a black suit on a dirt road, and Tony was going fast, he didn't have time to identify the driver and decide to run him over, or teach him a lesson. To suggest anything else is ignorant.

Bottom line: The guy stays in his car and he's alive today.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Another factor may have been that Tony's focus was very likely was on the wreck as he came back around and not expecting to see a guy in the middle of the road at night wearing a black suit.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Come to think of it ...why is there not a rule for drivers to wear a light color jump suit when racing at night.

 

[iowajerms]

Come on guys...Tony is just keeping the spirit of the NASCAR's founding fathers alive.

But seriously, I didn't see the video. I hope it was all an accident that can happen during a race like this. IDK much about Tony Stewart but I do know he is known to be aggressive. I know if I was in a similar situation, I wouldn't know what to do.

 

[HUBSTER]

he was probably just trying to brush the kid and teach him a lesson, unfortunately he got too close. that's just my guess. he's a hothead and obviously the kid was too.

This is my take as well.