NRR: Tony Stewart ran over a guy on a racetrack

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

Although you couldn't be more wrong, the sad probabilty is that this will likely be the popular opinion by the end of the day. ESPN is running the crap out of the story even though there are few updates, they have some washed-up "never was" NASCAR driver making speculative comments, and they even had a legal consultant come on and discuss whether Stewart could be charged with anything from murder to involuntary manslaughter.

It's completely ridiculous. What really happened is this: In a moment of anger and competitive passion, a young driver made the mistake of walking toward race traffic and getting too close. Period.

Nevertheless, all the self-righteous boneheads will be pleased to know that Stewart is NOT racing today.

Poll wrote:

Another Man's Shoes wrote:

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!!

I'll be sure to remember that if I'm ever driving down the highway and some dude comes running across the road aparently intent on kicking my car, I'm a MURDERER if I fail to keep the bonehead from actually contacting my vehicle.

I'd think that a runner was completely insane if he acted like that after being tripped. To pull that move on a track full of cars is just a special kind of stupid.

Maximus wrote: Whether it was on purpose or not, he did KILL the guy. How are you not understanding that.

What YOU are failing to understand is that using "kill" in this context implies that there was some sort of intent or neglect on Stewart's part. Not the case. I don't mean to be insensitive, but the reality is that Ward made the mistake. It was an accident and no one should be blamed, per se, but one could accurately suggest that Ward himself neglected to execute proper caution.

Let's say you are driving through your neighborhood and abiding by all traffic laws when suddenly a small child darts in front of you from behind a tree or parked car. You run over the child and the child dies. Are you seriously going to go through life calling yourself a KILLER? By your own rationale, you would have to. Personally, I'd give you a pass and blame the kid's parents for neglecting caution on their child's behalf.

Uh....what was the guy doing walking on a track during a race, or practice session, or whatever it was? There were lots of cars going at high speed, not just Stewart's.

knife to a gun fight wrote:

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.

It's rare, but does happen. Most wait until the pits. Here's Stewart himself getting too close to a moving a car in fit of rage.

Another Man's Shoes wrote:

Let's say you are driving through your neighborhood and abiding by all traffic laws when suddenly a small child darts in front of you from behind a tree or parked car. You run over the child and the child dies.

That's not what happened though. Lets review the video.

Almost all of the cars go to the bottom of the track to stay clear of the wrecked vehicle & Ward who is on foot.

When Stewart approaches, he if further up the track (closest to Wards car) than any other driver. (That should get Stewart a fine.)

Stewart accelerates/guns it when he is approaching the wrecked car & Ward, whereas every other car coasts through or slows down.

People say that Stewart couldn't see Ward, but Stewart was further away from the other drivers & had more time to react. How do you not see a wrecked car on the track? Especially after they call caution & especially a driver who is as good as Stewart & plans ahead for everything while on the track. It wasn't that dark either. The other drivers could see him.

This should at least be investigated more.

What I believe happened is that Stewart was ticked off, which is very common for him because he has a hot temper (youtube Tony Stewart to see all the fights he has been in for those of you who don't follow the sport). He saw Ward out of his vehicle & tried to scare him or mess with him by getting close to him or kicking up some dirt on him. He ended up getting too close & killed him. I don't believe he intentionally saw Ward & gunned it for him.

I read an article where another driver said that where the incident occurred is very poorly lit and that PERHAPS, with the victim being in all black, Stewart never really saw him.

I'd agree it's a classless move by Stewart to race today.

Just read on ESPN where he won't race today. Wise choice.

I think, at the least, Stewart should be charged with motor vehicular homicide and let the jury decide. That's what our legal system is for anyway.

Plus with the Oscar P trial wrapping up we need a new celebrity trial to look forward to.

charity wrote:

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.

Dont misquote articles and mislead people. He said he's not racing today

For those of you who don't know, Stewart has a history of a short temper and aggression. Drivers on the track don't walk in front of cars, they gesture from the side. The fact that Stewart gunned it precisely when the killed driver was beside at least warrants a trial. Stewart could go to jail.

HonestThief wrote:

charity wrote:

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.

Dont misquote articles and mislead people. He said he's not racing today

Hey dick. At that time (3 hours ago) it was announced he Stewart was going to race to race today. Stewart just changed his mind. That article I linked above has changed has updated their content. See ESPN article.

"Earlier Sunday, Zipadelli had said Stewart would race, calling it "business as usual." The race is critical for Stewart's"

Watchsocks wrote:

charity wrote:

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.

Yeah he was on the complete other side of the track. There is absolutely no way that one would be able to pick out the sound of his engine among all of the other much closer cars.

You don't need to hear the sound of his engine. Watch the video & you can see Stewart clearly & intentionally speeds up. Stewart is driving much faster than the other cars as he approaches Ward. He was trying to intimidate Ward & got too close & killed him. Perhaps he thought Ward would back off, but Ward kept getting closer. I've read comments (take that for what it is) from those at the track who said Stewart actually slowed down at first at the caution & then sped up when he saw Ward get out.

All NASCAR should be abolished. It is a dangerous sport with too many yahoos who don't know how to handle themselves. I won't even get into the morons who actually watch this crap. Hopefully this is the beginninbg of the end of the sport. Maybe these guys (and spectators as well) should take up a real sport, like golf.

Darwin award winner!

Regardless of whether Stewart did anything the guy trying to settle a grudge in the middle of the track is an idiot and deserved to get run over.

F one guy wrote:

All NASCAR should be abolished. It is a dangerous sport with too many yahoos who don't know how to handle themselves. I won't even get into the morons who actually watch this crap. Hopefully this is the beginninbg of the end of the sport. Maybe these guys (and spectators as well) should take up a real sport, like golf.

This didn't happen at a NASCAR event!

No headset audio yet? That'll be interesting to hear.

The guy played with fire and he got burned.

Darwin wins again.

Sometimes you get bumped when you are in a race, sometimes you get knocked out, that's racing.

What that guy did was the equivalent of Mary Decker wailing on the track instead of getting up and either finishing or walking off the track.

He could have confronted him after the race, but no, the guy got knocked out and was determined to get himself noticed......well, he sure did....and his showboating cost him his life.

Tony Stewart is a MURDERING THUG