Official NASCAR Thread

[I cucked Alex Jones]

People are saying Tony hit him on purpose, no he didn't.

 

Kevin Ward got out of his car and ran on the track and ran in front of Stewart's car.

 

This sucks but Tony did nothing wrong. I wonder how this is gonna affect the race tomorrow, as I doubt Tony will be in the race.

If you watch the video and listen to the audio of the incident, the car in front of Stewart swerved out of the way while Stewart gunned his engine and fish tailed into him. Tony may not have tried to hit him on purpose, but whatever he tried to do to scare backfired and ended up killing this man.

[GunWrath]

Stewart was going fairly fast during that caution while the other car was slow enough.. but you'll notice how the dude jumped back to avoid Stewart but it was too late.. though he didn't have to fear being hit by the other driver. Tony obviously tried to scare or intimidate and it didn't end well. The track was lit up well enough for Tony to see the guy.. but the driver that is dead is also at fault for trying to track down Tony.. he should have stayed by his car/wall in safety.

 

We'll see what happens..

Edited August 10, 2014 by GunWrath

[Max]

I saw this video earlier and my instinct was that his actions appeared deliberate. Probably tried to scare him, but miss calculated. A complete tragedy but surely that means he could be prosecuted for manslaughter?

[SingingEwe954]

In dirt racing where you are drifting the corners like that you can't really blame anybody when you go into a drift like that you don't have much control. Its just a way for the family to sue and try to get millions of dollars

[Fraizer]

Whatever comes of the investigation, it's probably gonna force Tony Stewart into retirement. I couldn't imagine all the backlash coming from people that sponsors would want to keep supporting the team if Tony Stewart is a part of it.

[DarrinPA]

In dirt racing where you are drifting the corners like that you can't really blame anybody when you go into a drift like that you don't have much control.

This was under a yellow flag. They aren't drifting around corners as the speed of the cars at that point are much slower.

 

Tony accelerating at the point of impact is clearly enough evidence to know he tried to do something out of the ordinary under a yellow flag. Watching all the other vehicles pass by shows the relative speed and path they should be taking.

 

This wasn't an accident, but a stupid move that turned deadly. Holding down the accelerator while running somebody over is much different than pressing the brakes.

[Ruuussia]

R.I.P

Edited August 10, 2014 by Ruuussia

[El Dildo]

the investigation will work itself out, but this dumb kid has no one to blame for his death but his own dumb ass.

anyone who is even remotely familiar with Tony Stewart and/or the world of autosports knows that he did not try to hit that kid.

 

anyone who thinks that he did it on purpose is an ignorant imbecile.

you should probably learn something about auto racing and Mr. Stewart first. people love to say that he's got a legendary temper, but his antics are utterly juvenile compared to someone like Mike Tyson for instance. Stewart doesn't have a history of violence outside the track or a criminal record to speak of. he would have to be tripping acid to think it was cool to clip a 20 year old amateur driver in front of the whole world, just to teach him a lesson.

 

the legal and financial ramifications he's going to face in civil court are potentially staggering as it is.

after watching the video again a few times, I think it's funny how so many people are hanging on this "revving" sound that occurs just prior to the incident itself. everyone seems to think they're an audio expert and the 'rev' is proof that Tony drove into the kid. yes, there's a revving sound that seems to coincide with Stewart coming around. but the footage is not super high quality to begin with and you would need at least 1 or 2 other camera angles / microphone positions to figure out which vehicle made the sound.

 

from that video alone, it's actually impossible to tell which vehicle is revving in that moment.

if anything - based on where the crowd was standing - it sounds like the 'rev' is coming from one of the vehicles MUCH closer to the cameraman, down in front of the seating, out of view of the shot.

Edited August 11, 2014 by El_Diablo

[SingingEwe954]

 

In dirt racing where you are drifting the corners like that you can't really blame anybody when you go into a drift like that you don't have much control.

This was under a yellow flag. They aren't drifting around corners as the speed of the cars at that point are much slower.

 

Tony accelerating at the point of impact is clearly enough evidence to know he tried to do something out of the ordinary under a yellow flag. Watching all the other vehicles pass by shows the relative speed and path they should be taking.

 

This wasn't an accident, but a stupid move that turned deadly. Holding down the accelerator while running somebody over is much different than pressing the brakes.

 

It wasn't is fault that's the thing, if the dumb ass kid would have stayed in his car he wouldn't have been killed simple as that even under yellow flag when those cars turn corners the rear ends drift out and nobody can prove that the accelerating came from Tony it could have been another driver, and its not NASCAR where computers track your every move they can't look at one and see if he was accelerating at the time. Edited August 11, 2014 by SingingEwe954

[Funktipus]

I keep hearing there might be rules changes to penalize drivers who get out of their cars while on the track.

 

You know this is a huge story when even the sports talkies in NYC are discussing it. According to WFAN, no criminal charges will be filed against Stewart.

[Jonesizzle]

Guys have been getting out of their cars for years and years, and to be honest I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner.

 

Nobody blames the bull when the matador gets hurt or killed... getting out of your car is a huge risk regardless if Tony tried to scare the kid or not. When there is a red flag guys cannot exit their vehicle, but when their pissed and car is wrecked they can jump out, give someone the bird, throw their helmet or even worse try to approach a moving vehicle... and not get in trouble.

 

Hopefully they will tweak some rules so this doesn't happen on a bigger stage.

Edited August 11, 2014 by DOOM!

[DarrinPA]

It wasn't is fault that's the thing, if the dumb ass kid would have stayed in his car he wouldn't have been killed simple as that

And if Tony hadn't accelerated the kid wouldn't be dead, simple as that. You press the brakes, not the gas.

 

and nobody can prove that the accelerating came from Tony it could have been another driver, and its not NASCAR where computers track your every move they can't look at one and see if he was accelerating at the time.

The sheriff said they have about 4 or 5 videos so far, which should be more than enough to prove that the engine that accelerated was that of Stewart's.

 

getting out of your car is a huge risk regardless if Tony tried to scare the kid or not.

If Tony tried to "scare the kid", he acted negligently and caused the death.

 

Had Kenseth fishtailed and Tony been ran over here people wouldn't be so quick to blame the pedestrian.

Edited August 11, 2014 by DarrinPA

[Ryan]

Before being so quick to point fingers surrounding a subject some of of you know nothing about (not saying I do either), perhaps you should consider all the facts, such as the points raised in this article.

 

 

 

Indeed, Stewart may have hit the gas, but you steer sprint cars with the throttle more than with the steering wheel. I have driven winged sprint cars, and as you can imagine, visibility to the side is horrible. Ward was wearing a mostly black fire suit and a black helmet. The idea that any driver would purposely hit another over what was a comparatively minor, that’s-racing incident is hard to swallow.

At the end of the day though, regardless of how the incident unfolded, it would have never happened had Ward not exited his car mid-race. It's unfortunate that he lost his life but Ward shoulders some of the blame for placing himself in that situation.

[The Pizza Delivery Guy]

Tony didn't accelerate. That's what a downshift sounds like. Plus he was wearing a black fire suit in a dimly lit dirt track, AND if you saw two other cars barely hit him before Tony did.

 

This is nothing more than a dumb, preventable accident that didn't need to happen.

[DarrinPA]

Ryan - here's a quote from another driver of those vehicles that was actually there.

 

Tyler Graves, a sprint-car racer and friend of Ward's, told Sporting News in a phone interview that he was sitting in the Turn 1 grandstands and saw everything. Here's the link

 

"I know Tony could see him. 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."

Graves said he didn't believe it was intentional.

"You never mean to do something like that," Graves told Sporting News. "Kevin was pissed and he let Tony know. And Tony was trying to give the message back that he wasn't happy either. He went over the line with it."

So, both are drivers. Yet completely different views on the situation.

 

Plus, your story says "Stewart may have hit the gas, but you steer sprint cars with the throttle more than with the steering wheel." Why was nobody else accelerating a much as Tony was? They were all able to steer perfectly fine around the track without flooring it. I don't buy what he's selling.

Edited August 11, 2014 by DarrinPA

[El Dildo]

Ward shoulders some of the blame for placing himself in that situation.

there's no reason to tip-toe around the issue.

 

Ward shoulders virtually all of the blame for what transpired.

[Jonesizzle]

 

 

It wasn't is fault that's the thing, if the dumb ass kid would have stayed in his car he wouldn't have been killed simple as that

And if Tony hadn't accelerated the kid wouldn't be dead, simple as that. You press the brakes, not the gas.

 

and nobody can prove that the accelerating came from Tony it could have been another driver, and its not NASCAR where computers track your every move they can't look at one and see if he was accelerating at the time.

The sheriff said they have about 4 or 5 videos so far, which should be more than enough to prove that the engine that accelerated was that of Stewart's.

 

getting out of your car is a huge risk regardless if Tony tried to scare the kid or not.

If Tony tried to "scare the kid", he acted negligently and caused the death.

 

Had Kenseth fishtailed and Tony been ran over here people wouldn't be so quick to blame the pedestrian.

The guy was walking around a active race-track, if anyone was acting negligently it was Ward.

[El Dildo]

kids probably need to learn sometime. I'm sure they grew up watching guys just like Tony Stewart himself exit their vehicles and throw temper tantrums trackside. I'm sure it influenced Ward's decision to get out that night, because he saw his role models doing it. but it doesn't change the fact that you should NOT be running around so close to speed machines in the middle of a race.

Edited August 11, 2014 by El_Diablo

[Ryan]

Ryan - here's a quote from another driver of those vehicles that was actually there.

 

Tyler Graves, a sprint-car racer and friend of Ward's, told Sporting News in a phone interview that he was sitting in the Turn 1 grandstands and saw everything. Here's the link

"I know Tony could see him. 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."

Graves said he didn't believe it was intentional.

"You never mean to do something like that," Graves told Sporting News. "Kevin was pissed and he let Tony know. And Tony was trying to give the message back that he wasn't happy either. He went over the line with it."

So, both are drivers. Yet completely different views on the situation.

 

Plus, your story says "Stewart may have hit the gas, but you steer sprint cars with the throttle more than with the steering wheel." Why was nobody else accelerating a much as Tony was? They were all able to steer perfectly fine around the track without flooring it. I don't buy what he's selling.

That driver is not Tony Stewart nor was he in Stewart's car so he has no idea what he could or couldn't have seen. As for the other drivers avoiding Ward, Stewart was the one Ward was after and was who's car he basically ran in front off, not the other drivers, hence why they were able to avoid him.

[DarrinPA]

That driver is not Tony Stewart nor was he in Stewart's car so he has no idea what he could or couldn't have seen.

Nor was the writer/driver that you linked in your article. That was my point. But being at track does give a bit more legitimacy to his case of being able to say that Ward was visible even though he had dark clothes on.

[El Dildo]

we can argue about intentions and visibility all day long.

 

when all is said and done, there is only one indisputable fact about this case.

if Kevin Ward had not gotten out of his vehicle and gone walking towards speeding vehicles on a racing course, Kevin Ward would still be alive.

[Ryan]

 

That driver is not Tony Stewart nor was he in Stewart's car so he has no idea what he could or couldn't have seen.

Nor was the writer/driver that you linked in your article. That was my point. But being at track does give a bit more legitimacy to his case of being able to say that Ward was visible even though he had dark clothes on.

 

The article I linked to was simply pointing out how those types of cars are operated and the limited visibility drivers have operating those cars. The author doesn't make accusations that he could or couldn't have seen him like your interview does.

 

As I already said, the bottom line, regardless of how the incident unfolded, it would have never happened had Ward not exited his car mid-race. While Stewart's actions may or may not have voluntary or involuntarily resulted in Wards death, Ward shoulders some of the blame for exiting his car when he did.

[Choymz]

Worker on car #45 (The one that just missed ward)

[GunWrath]

Looks like Carl Edwards is moving over to Gibbs Racing now.. hmm.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/08/19/carl-edwards-joins-joe-gibbs-racing-expansion-nascar/14279013/

Edited August 20, 2014 by GunWrath

[theGTAking101]

It seems like Roush is pretty much f*cked now.

[GunWrath]

Something seems odd about the change of teams. We'll see what happens but I think Roush will still be fine.

 

Also

 

 

Too bad it wasn't a white t-shirt..

[.Ryan.]

First round of the chase done and dusted. My opinion? It's going to be between Keslowski and Gordon.

[theGTAking101]

They seem to have strong cars every week, but I don't know what's going on with Jr., he's gone 4 weeks without a top 10. Hopefully things get better for him.

 

My predictions for the final 4 are Gordon, Keselowski, Earnhardt and Logano. Johnson and Harvick could also be a threat but hopefully Dale Jr. wins it all.

[theGTAking101]

Holy 1 year bump, but hey it's better than starting a whole new topic.

 

Is anyone else on this forum watching the races? Who are you keeping an eye on? What are your predictions for the final 10 races?

[kk9fan97]

Holy 1 year bump, but hey it's better than starting a whole new topic.

 

Is anyone else on this forum watching the races? Who are you keeping an eye on? What are your predictions for the final 10 races?

 

I know this is a month and a half later but....

 

I am still watching the races and all I know is it is fully out of control with everything that has gone on the last few weeks, and if I had to guess Logano, Kyle Busch, and Truex will be joining Gordon in the final four at Homestead, and I would like to see Gordon take it all at Homestead.

 

the only obvious thing is NASCAR and race control have lost all control over what is going on, on the track with everything that has gone on with the restarts (no call on Gordon jumping it by a mile at Chicagoland and then penalizing Keselowski for barely jumping it and not gaining anything at New Hampshire), and changing the rules in the middle of the race (Talladega when they called the first and only attempt at the G-W-C a non-attempt when the flagger was waving the green flag and the green lights were on, when Johnson, Kahne, Larson, and couple of others got wrecked by Stenhouse, which then led to Harvick wrecking basically the entire field on the next and last attempt so he would not be eliminated) and now the Kenseth and Logano feud that has gone on for three races now.

 

no matter what NASCAR does or does not do in response to the Logano-Kenseth crash this weekend they will look bad no matter what - they would be hypocrites if they penalize him (because of the no calls on Logano at Kansas, Harvick at Talladega and if they don't to anything to Danica for intentionally wrecking David Gilliland this past weekend after saying multiple times on the radio that she was going to do it), and if they don't they basically send a message to all the drivers saying it's ok for a lapped car to intentionally wreck the leader.

 

and lastly, Logano did have it coming how dumb he has been racing the last few weeks, and it was about time that someone finally got him back.