NRR: Tony Stewart ran over a guy on a racetrack

The driver, reportedly Kevin Ward Jr, has been confirmed dead. I watched the video before I knew the guy died and I wouldn't recommend it. Truly tragic for everyone involved.

Video on Deadspin.

http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708

Horrible and sad. Really stupid for the kid to run in front of cars on a racetrack, but if every stupid thing I did at age 20 was fatal...

Now Stewart is going to race again today. "It's business as usual" said his manager.

I'm not sure I'd be able to get back in a race car the next day after killing someone.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2721039/Manager-Tony-Stewart-race-NY-accident.html

Plus he's not even having that good of a year since he's in 22nd. Take the weekend off.

That is pretty sick that he is racing today. Kill someone yesterday, go to work today. Very classy sport. I don't care if it was an accident, you don't race the day after killing someone.

He needs to be arrested!!

HE MURDERED THE GUY. Why HAS HE NOT BEEN ARRESTED???!!

Maximus wrote:

That is pretty sick that he is racing today. Kill someone yesterday, go to work today. Very classy sport. I don't care if it was an accident, you don't race the day after killing someone.

Doesn't sound like it was an accident. Witnesses seem to mostly be reporting that he gunned the engine to kick the back end of his car into the guy.

Another thing. I watched the video about 15 times because it sounded like Stewart accelerated when he approached Ward who was on foot whereas all the other drivers coasted by. That's not a good sign in Stewarts defense (even though the police have released him already). Maybe I'm wrong & it was the sound of another car.

Well I don't think stewart will be doing anymore stupid commercials. Thank god.

charity wrote:

I'm not sure I'd be able to get back in a race car the next day after killing someone.

not his fault. so for him it's just a dead competitor. very sad though!

* in case it's not his fault! sorry

Is it standard practice in auto racing to confront a vehicle while you are on foot? As the saying goes, never take a...wagging finger to an automobile fight.

Tony has always had a temper and it would not surprise me in the least if it was "heat of the moment" intentional. Will be difficult to prove, but after watching the video several times it could very well have been intentional. Caution was out, other cars seemed to drop to inside of the track while Stewart stayed on the high side, just seems very strange.

I don't understand what the guy thought he was going to accomplish. It looked like he expected Stewart to stop short with cars behind him presumably being required to dodge both of them or stop immediately.

He even looked like he was going to try to punch or kick the car.

I honestly think that he would have been hit by someone else no matter what happened.

Maximus wrote:

That is pretty sick that he is racing today. Kill someone yesterday, go to work today. Very classy sport. I don't care if it was an accident, you don't race the day after killing someone.

Don't be so quick to judge. Bear in mind that people who compete at the highest level of any sport are extremely adept at compartmentalizing. Perhaps racing is his way of dealing with his feelings. Perhaps he wants to honor Kevin Ward, Jr. (in some very small way) by racing.

What would you have him do, sit around all day drinking himself in to a depressed stupor? Imposing his presence on the grieving family? Leading a candlelight vigil at the dirt track?

Besides, despite all the ridiculous speculation, Stewart didn't kill anyone. Saying that Stewart killed Ward is just as absurdly inaccurate as saying Ward committed suicide. It was nothing more than an accident that tragically resulted in the death of a young man.

Out of respect for Kevin Ward and his family, Tony Stewart should not race today. Tony Stewart's camp says "Business as usual"... are you kidding me?

Another Man's Shoes wrote:

Maximus wrote:

That is pretty sick that he is racing today. Kill someone yesterday, go to work today. Very classy sport. I don't care if it was an accident, you don't race the day after killing someone.

Don't be so quick to judge. Bear in mind that people who compete at the highest level of any sport are extremely adept at compartmentalizing. Perhaps racing is his way of dealing with his feelings. Perhaps he wants to honor Kevin Ward, Jr. (in some very small way) by racing.

What would you have him do, sit around all day drinking himself

Besides, despite all the ridiculous speculation, Stewart didn't kill anyone. Saying that Stewart killed Ward is just as absurdly inaccurate as saying Ward committed suicide. It was nothing more than an accident that tragically resulted in the death of a young man.

He DID kill that guy _ he gunned his engine and targeted that guy. MURDER!!

Whether it was on purpose or not, he did KILL the guy. How are you not understanding that. If I killed someone accidentally, I could not do my job the next day and certainly not a job where I am racing a car at high speeds. Auto racing is a joke and this proves it even more. By far my least favorite sport, if you can really call it a sport.

Absolutely he should NOT be racing today.