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| Kevin Ward signs a checkered flag for a very young fan. Photo: Kevin Ward Racing |
It could haven't happened to a nicer guy and involved a more controversial guy, Kevin Ward, Jr. Killed was by NASCAR's Tony Stewart during a 25 lap race on the hard mud of upstate New York.
The fall out is a sponsor's and NASCAR's worst nightmare. Intentional or not Stewart's racing days may be over. Sadly for Stewart in a split second he added his name to a long list of those found guilty of murder even though not convicted. Names like George Zimmerman, Casey Anthony and O. J. Simpson. The Twittervese was quick to declare Stewart guilty and rightfully so, the video shows an agitated Ward standing in the groove and Stewart apparently sending his car's rear end towards Ward.
The aftermath has fans screaming in horror and the guy with the camera saying I can't believe (expletive) Tony Stewart just hit that guy. The video image of Kevin Ward laying motionless on the dirt track has been viewed by millions.
“I know Tony could see him,” Graves said. “I know how you can see out of these cars. When Tony got close to him, he hit the throttle. When you hit a throttle on a sprint car, the car sets sideways. It set sideways, the right rear tire hit Kevin, Kevin was sucked underneath and was stuck under it for a second or two, and then it threw him about 50 yards.”
The video shows Tony Stewart car's kicking to the right as he reaches Ward and you can hear an engine rev up at the same time. Which has created two camps, those who are certain that Stewart was only trying to avoid Ward and blaming Ward for getting out of his car and those who think Stewart was trying to "dust" the driver.
Many have noted Ward's black fire suit which could have played at part in the accident. But the track website claims that the track is fully lighted so that "none of the action is missed".
From the video and audio CP is going with the latter. It clearly looks like Tony "The Terminator" Stewart kicked his car to the right trying to toss a little dirt in the face of Kevin Ward.
Still many say they couldn't imagine Stewart intentionally hitting another driver outside of his car regardless of the confrontation. Again CP doesn't think it was intentional, in fact he was most likely having a good time, laughing at Ward. Just having a little fun.
But Stewart's words have come back to bite him in the ass:
Stewart was still angry after the famous helmet throwing incident two years ago at Bristol and is quoted as saying, "I checked up twice not to run over him. (Matt Kennseth) And I learned my lesson there, and I'm going to run over him every chance I got until the end of the year. Every chance I got."
Of course Stewart was taking about running over Kennseth while the driver was still in the car, not mowing him down on pit row.
Ward had been enduring a weeks long run of "bad luck" and near firsts but hadn't been able to close out a win. This frustration may had led Ward to exit his car and confront Stewart. But drivers, fans and officials say drivers going after other drivers on the track is not unusual.
Cedar's Take:
Tony Stewart's career as a NASCAR Star is over. There is no sponsor who can afford to be associated with a driver known as "Tony the Terminator".
Regardless of guilt or lack of intent, the fact is someone died and someone should go to jail. There is no free pass by saying "Well, that's racin".
Then there are those who will say it was an accident, but this was no accident it was the consequence of a pattern of behavior Tony Stewart is associated with.
Before I become a target for any more flaming arrows from friends like Charlotte's Logan Stewart who in many words told me I was wrong in tweeting that Tony had deliberately run Kevin Ward down.
(I like Logan and she's right and I was wrong. Minutes after the video was first posted I tweeted that Tony Stewart had "deliberately ran over Kevin Ward" Of course at that time I assumed that Kevin Ward was alive and would return to race another day. Now having watched the video a dozen times, and hearing eyewitness accounts its clear that Stewart's intent was not to run over Kevin Ward.)
Let me say I don't have a favorite driver, though Sterling Marlin, Dale Jr, Jimmy Johnson and Danica I tend to follow. I also owe a slight allegiance to the 24 car team thanks to a business relationship. And then there is the history with Morgan - McClure and Ernie Irvan and the No. 4 car but that's another story from way back.
I don't hate Tony Stewart, in fact I think he's a darn good driver. Or at least was.
At this point I would hope that Stewart comes forward to tell the truth and explain what he did, it won't save his career but it will save his soul.
9 comments:
Kevin Ward had no doubt grown up watching drives in NASCAR who get wrecked, getting out of their cars, pointing and throwing their helmets, figuring this is what you are suppose to do. Unfortunately, he had never gone up against an asshole like Tony Stewart.
Mr. Stewart should be charged with at least manslaughter. That maneuver was inexcusable!
Maybe Tony the Killer can hire Rick Hendrick's lawyer, and claim some sort of curable cancer to avoid jail time?
Unless that video has been edited it sure looks like Stewart gunned the engine to send the back of the car into Ward.
You know Tony Stewart punched the pedal cranked the wheel hard and thought he'd cover Kevin Ward with mud.
Tony come'on man lawyer up, speak the truth lets get pass this, I know you thought it would be cute to teach the little punk a lesson.
It didn't work out so well but better to tell the truth, face the music rather than to hide behind lies.
So Tony are you man enough?
Looks like Stewart was being a total dick, and it just killed the guy.
My money is that NASCAR goes along with Stewart's
"Opps my bad"
Stewart is just a bully, doing just what a bully would do and it should cost him his job. Maybe a little prison time.
Stewart has always been a spoiled puke. That bad boy image is simply a facade hiding the fact that he is a sissy little punk.
From the video, it is easily heard and seen that Stewart throttled up the engine and swerved the car towards his victim. Stewart must have (still again) thought that he had to uphold his (false) bad boy image, so he simply ran over his victim and killed him.
The lawyers are now lining up behind the family of the victim. If Stewart is not convicted of felony manslaughter, he will absolutely be convicted in a civil trial for wrongful death. Damages will be in the million$, just like in the OJ trial.
Stewart tried to "stone" him plain and simple. Ward charged the groove and these two movement combined to kill Ward. A couple of jackasses who should be banned from racing for life.
Ward, can now race anytime he wants, Stewart he'll need to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger first and he should.
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