Tony Stewart Hits Walking Driver and Flings Him 150 Feet

[MrBill]

The guy is a fucking idiot for getting out of his car and approaching Stewart's car like that either way.

True, this is also something Tony Stewart has done many times over his career.

[ralaw]

I don't see Stewart being charged with anything, because he certainly wouldn't admit to anything but trying to avoid an irate driver who got out of his car on a track. I don't see how anyone could prove Stewart was negligent or purposefully hit Ward when the video shows Ward irate and negligent himself.

In that moment Stewart is the only one who knew what he was trying to do. He'll take a short leave of absence and return when the story dies down.

[SethMode]

I don't see Stewart being charged with anything, because he certainly wouldn't admit to anything but trying to avoid an irate driver who got out of his car on a track. I don't see how anyone could prove Stewart was negligent or purposefully hit Ward when the video shows Ward irate and negligent himself.

In that moment Stewart is the only one who knew what he was trying to do. He'll take a short leave of absence and return when the story dies down.

I agree with the overall sentiment.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Has this ever happened before ?
Just seems too hard to prove given the bootleg quality of all this. Its not like HD cams and mics in the stadium and in the car caught every moment and sound. Awful result but jeez dude went out and almost got hit once and stood in front of a race car...you're going to have to prove alot of intent there.

[MrBill]

I don't see Stewart being charged with anything, because he certainly wouldn't admit to anything but trying to avoid an irate driver who got out of his car on a track. I don't see how anyone could prove Stewart was negligent or purposefully hit Ward when the video shows Ward irate and negligent himself.

In that moment Stewart is the only one who knew what he was trying to do. He'll take a short leave of absence and return when the story dies down.

Agreed that this is how it will likely play out. My personal opinion, Tony Stewart is known for having a bad temper. He saw that kid coming down the track at him and wanted to teach him a lesson by giving him the equivalent of a brush back pitch in baseball and it went bad when the kid was already too close to the car to avoid being hit. I'm not sure how anyone will ever prove intent and Stewart will race again but this is going to be something that follows him the rest of his career.

[the Brain]

Don't those guys have radio communications w/their pit crews? They don't record them?

[SethMode]

Agreed that this is how it will likely play out. My personal opinion, Tony Stewart is known for having a bad temper. He saw that kid coming down the track at him and wanted to teach him a lesson by giving him the equivalent of a brush back pitch in baseball and it went bad when the kid was already too close to the car to avoid being hit. I'm not sure how anyone will ever prove intent and Stewart will race again but this is going to be something that follows him the rest of his career.

Totally agreed. Sorry for the groan.

[Tailback U]

I don't think he saw him until it was too late. How fast are those cars going by him? I can't believe that kid ran out onto the track like that.

[Steel Mamba]

What should the punishment be for accidentally hitting a guy who gets out of the car during a race on the track?

I think it's more about them showing some form of decency and respect for the situation. Regardless of who's at fault, someone died and nothing should ever be "business as usual" following someone's death. As if nothing happened. They could have handled the situation more gracefully imo.

[Garrett67]

When U are on that track, you are given permission to do things with a car you can't do anywhere else, because you are expected to be an expert in handling the car & yourself.

True, but generally there aren't pedestrians.

[the Brain]

True, but generally there aren't pedestrians.

I hardly ever watch car racing. But this has to be the 10th, 20th time I've seen video of an irate driver getting out on the track during a caution. i remember a deer running out onto a formula 1 track & not get hit. I think there was a toddler who got loose to & didn't get hit. This ain't normal, but it ain't uncommon either. The reason why this is getting noticed is because this is the first one where someone got hit. As stupid as it is for us, these guys trust that every driver has supreme control of his vehicle. It's like crowding the plate when you know someone throws in the high 90's. You know the guy on the mound has great control and is not going to hit you, certainly not in the head. That's why batters used to call Pedro Martinez a headhunter cause he hit too many guys high w/the supreme control he had. He claimed he lost the pitch. Hard to believe. As is the case w/Stewart.

[BigBucs]

other video post is down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QJdBd0437U

First I have heard and seen of this. Getting out and walking on the track during a race is idiotic.

What would happen to a police officer who lost his cool & needlessly killed someone he was trying to arrest? I think the crimes are similar. When U are on that track, you are given permission to do things with a car you can't do anywhere else, because you are expected to be an expert in handling the car & yourself. Same for a cop w/a gun. He can't control himself, he can't participate in the sport. He isn't qualified.

I get what you are trying to say but that's a terrible point considering how much cops get off with killing innocent citizens.

[Golden Taters]

Tony has been on the other side of it before.

Approaching another car still driving happens in NASCAR, rarely, but this isn't the first time this has happened. The difference with a car racing on dirt is sprint cars fishtail to turn as they slide on the surface, a lot less control over a car on asphalt. Plus the rear tires are massive on these things, I assumed with how much of a hot head Stewart is, if he did indeed see him, he was just trying to stand his ground and brush him back. There is zero chance Tony meant to hit this guy. If his rage was going to get the best of him, it would have happened in his Indy Car or NASCAR career, not against some random kid at the local dirt track.

[Senser81]

It looks like Ward comes awfully close to getting hit a couple times...when he first gets out of his car at the 0:31 mark, and then at the 0:35 mark with the blue and white #45 car. The 'evidence' against Stewart IMO is that it looks like his car is going faster than the #45 car was going, and he was going way faster than the two cars that were following him.

[Pitty]

Why is this in the Locker Room?