I didn't see his car flip?

 

I'm saying throughout Tony's career he's been through a lot and certainly his fair share of wrecks. He's always been a firecracker, some 20 year old tried to call/show him last night and it cost him his life. Road rage is lethal.

We all know what we saw. We can't prove that what we saw is the truth.

 

This

I just saw it on TV and the kid was hopping left and right like he was trying to get in front of Stewart to confront him. Maybe Stewart steered towards him, maybe he didn't...none of us know. But looking at Ward again he appears to be trying to get in front of Stewart's car, we was looking for him as soon as he got out of his car and knew right where he was.

Not necessarily. It's a dirt track, not pavement. And from what I've heard these sprint cars are very loose.

 

Actually--sprint cars are usually extremely tight ... and push constantly (under steer).

The only way to get these cars to turn (most of the time) is to hit the gas.

I have driven a sprint car on quite a few occasions ... the only way I can describe it .. is that it is almost driving a car backwards.

I know that it looks like the rear end is sliding ... but you are usually going to end up turning the wheel hard inside more than to the outside (to get the nose straight).

 

(The rest of the response is not pointed at you--HB20) .. just some information that I have.

 

Some info of some one I know who was at the race in question last night:

Tony hit Ward on the FRONT stretch ... which blew Ward's tire.

From there ... Tony came out of turn 2 and took and barely edged into him.

Then Ward did the 360's--my buddy doesn't think Tony hit Ward there ... but his rapidly deflating tire while coming out of 2 was the major reason why Ward wrecked.

 

Before this goes further ... my opinion is that .. even with the above statements .. Tony is still at fault--for the fake out move (I don't think it was intentional .. but he is still responsible).

 

I have watched the video a ton of times ... I feel like I can BARELY see Stewart turn the wheel towards Ward. I also tried to compare Stewarts car was in comparison with the inside edge of the track ... and that made me more confident that Stewart made the fake out move.

Standard Operating Procedure at nearly every dirt track that I have been to ... is for the driver to get out of the car and get into the infield. (Which is a whole lot different than someone getting out of the car and confronting another driver).

 

The opinions that I have heard so far made it extremely clear that Tony was doing his normal .. "swerve a the angry driver he just wrecked" ... but either misjudged how close Ward was to his car .. or he couldn't get the wheel turned back quick enough after the fake swerve (this is another symptom of the car being tight ... Tony had to hit the gas to get the car to turn.

 

With that said ... guess what ... it happens every week and will continue to happen for one simple reason--to get butts in seats. Dirt track promoters play up the driver confrontations in the biggest way possible. Doesn't mean it is right ... but it is what it is.

 

As far as Tony goes ... he should have known better.

 

The anniversary of his broken leg was this past Tuesday ... maybe whatever higher being that Tony believes in was trying to send a message ... when he ignored it ... there you go (I know that sounds strange--but I believe in Karma)

 

Tony has been/is/will continue to be one of the most arrogant drivers in NASCAR.

 

Ooooohhhh .. Tony is a racer ... he wants to race ...!

Yeah well ... he is part owner of a multi-million dollar operation--where people depend on him for their livelihood. Before he became an owner ... I could care less where and what he was driving then. But when he put on the owner hat ... it was time to grow up and step out of his arrogant/self concerned mind set.

 

I really struggle with this one ... because Tony thinks he is helping dirt track racing by showing up to run sprints. I disagree for one simple reason ... Tony has no skin in the game--he can AFFORD to run so hard because he has the money and resources to do it. When you match that in with guys who are fighting tooth and nail just be be able to race each week ... well .. to me that is a horrible combination. He has a history of not cutting people any slack then whines like a sissy when he isn't cut any slack.

 

By no means do I think he tried to hit Ward .... but he is 100% liable for his stupid swerve fake out move.

Anyone who runs at a race car on a race track is the person at fault. Show that video in civil court and Tony Stewart either gets off completely or is found to be minimally culpable.

 

Here is an analogy that I think works. You see someone being careless with a loaded gun. It makes you mad. You run at the guy with the gun and try to pull it out of his hand. The gun goes off, hits you and you die. Who is at fault?

Anyone who runs at a race car on a race track is the person at fault. Show that video in civil court and Tony Stewart either gets off completely or is found to be minimally culpable.

 

Here is an analogy that I think works. You see someone being careless with a loaded gun. It makes you mad. You run at the guy with the gun and try to pull it out of his hand. The gun goes off, hits you and you die. Who is at fault?

 

That analogy doesn't work. Tony Stewart is a professional race car driver. He's made mlllions driving a car. He should have a few more tricks up his sleeve to avoid hitting the person who I agree is in the wrong for jumping out of his car.

If we hear that Metta World Peace, The Panda's Friend, Ron Artest beats up somebody at the Y during a basketball game would we be surprised?

 

Nope.

 

If Tony Stewart tries to teach someone a lesson on the race track in a fit of rage should we be surprised?

 

Nope.

There is no way to look at this situation and not look at Tony Stewart's past reputation when analyzing this whole situation. The same thing is done for everyone else.

That analogy doesn't work. Tony Stewart is a professional race car driver. He's made mlllions driving a car. He should have a few more tricks up his sleeve to avoid hitting the person who I agree is in the wrong for jumping out of his car.

What if Stewart didn't see him until the car in front of him steered out of the way, would/should he be able to miss him with 20-30 feet and not expecting to see someone standing in the middle of the track. It's not like Stewart was eying him down from 200 yards away at Daytona.

 

Also one way to look at the video is that Ward appeared to be doing his best to get in front of Stewart to protest his wreck.

The thing is no one here knows anything. And no one here can prove anything.

 

Common sense tells me that all the other cars/drivers were able to see and avoid Ward but we are to believe the most experienced and best driver on the track was not? Sorry that just doesn't add up. Tony knew the crash was up high. He should have been lower and slower on the track. Not saying Stewart intended to hit Ward but he was trying to get close to the kid.

 

Also guys get out of their cars all the time to confront another driver as he's passing by. Sure this isn't a smart move but don't act as if this is something new.

Common sense tells me that all the other cars/drivers were able to see and avoid Ward but we are to believe the most experienced and best driver on the track was not? Sorry that just doesn't add up. Tony knew the crash was up high. He should have been lower and slower on the track. Not saying Stewart intended to hit Ward but he was trying to get close to the kid.

 

Also guys get out of their cars all the time to confront another driver as he's passing by. Sure this isn't a smart move but don't act as if this is something new.

 

Only a couple of cars passed after he got out of his car and he was still up by his car when they went by. Only the car in front of Stewart and Stewart were near him when he went to the middle of the track to confront Stewart.

 

Common sense tells me that all the other cars/drivers were able to see and avoid Ward but we are to believe the most experienced and best driver on the track was not? Sorry that just doesn't add up. Tony knew the crash was up high. He should have been lower and slower on the track. Not saying Stewart intended to hit Ward but he was trying to get close to the kid.

 

Also guys get out of their cars all the time to confront another driver as he's passing by. Sure this isn't a smart move but don't act as if this is something new.

 

 

 

I've never seen anyone approach a car moving 40 mph. People get out, yeah but normally don't do what he did.

 

Most tracks tell them not to exit unless they're on fire.

 

Also it looks to me like the car in front of TS had to swerve to miss him too. And it's not like he was running towards the other cars...

I've never seen anyone approach a car moving 40 mph. People get out, yeah but normally don't do what he did.

 

Most tracks tell them not to exit unless they're on fire.

 

Also it looks to me like the car in front of TS had to swerve to miss him too. And it's not like he was running towards the other cars...

 

I've seen this happen in person at a dirt track. Happens all the time in the Cup Series. Guys take their helmets off and throw them at passing cars. I'm not much of a race fan and I've even seen this many times. I guess some people think this kid was trying to get himself hit. Please!

 

I've seen this happen in person at a dirt track. Happens all the time in the Cup Series. Guys take their helmets off and throw them at passing cars. I'm not much of a race fan and I've even seen this many times. I guess some people think this kid was trying to get himself hit. Please!

 

You have seen people run into the middle of the track when cars are moving at about 40mph? I have family that races dirt tracks every weekend and they said they've never seen anyone do that...

What if Stewart didn't see him until the car in front of him steered out of the way, would/should he be able to miss him with 20-30 feet and not expecting to see someone standing in the middle of the track. It's not like Stewart was eying him down from 200 yards away at Daytona.

 

Also one way to look at the video is that Ward appeared to be doing his best to get in front of Stewart to protest his wreck.

 

That's your take on the video. It's obvious we see and feel differently so I don't feel inclined to play the what if game. In my eyes Tony Stewart was trying to send a message to the kid and it backfired on him. I don't think he meant to hit or kill him but I don't think he had Kevin Ward's safety in mind either. There is nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise and the only person who knows the truth is Tony Stewart and none of us will ever find that out because he'd stupid to tell anyone exactly what was going through his head and what his intentions are. My opinion on this incident will be my opinion.