Kevin Ward dead at 20

[Planedude]

Sad for the family, but it was Wards fault and he should have stayed in the race car. Arguments should have been saved for the pits. What happened was just sprint car racing, bumps and spins are a fact of racing life.

We all can wish that the young man had made a far better choice. RIP young Mr. Ward.

[codegeek]

Ummm yea. Staying in the middle of a race track during a race is a bad idea.

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[codegeek]

double post.

[Dave800]

reading some comments on the interweb from people who were there (supposedly)
tony stewarts car had a go pro camera on it - we will see if thats true and the pit crew supposedly changed his right rear tire in the pits after the accident

yes, the kid shouldnt have been out on the track being a hothead, it cost him his life, but is Tony Stewart at fault somewhat?
time will tell

[ltxi]

Ummm yea. Staying in the middle of a race track during a race is a bad idea.

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.....and running further into it, especially in the dark wearing a black track suit. I do understand where Ward was coming from. I've been there. His choices, tho, were particularly young, adrenalin fueled bad.

[tv_racin_fan]

Watch the video closely. Learn about sprint cars.

No transmission, no clutch, no starter.

Some people claim Tony hit the gas from the sound on the video. How they can tell which car revved from across the track I got no clue. Watch the video closely.

Comments from people who got no clue is quite interesting.

[Planedude]

Sprint cars are rocket ships on tires. The entire suspension is designed to get the car to turn left under throttle. Goosing the gas was Tony's best shot at turning down (left and away )from the young man.

Think jet boat/ski, no throttle = no turn...

[Longitude Zero]

Sprint cars are rocket ships on tires. The entire suspension is designed to get the car to turn left under throttle. Goosing the gas was Tony's best shot at turning down (left and away )from the young man.

Think jet boat/ski, no throttle = no turn...

Precisely.

[ltxi]

x3.....

[tv_racin_fan]

I dunno what Tony saw or why he did what it appears he did.

I admit I don't want to believe that he did it on purpose and it might color my opinion.

I had to go back and re watch the video or another one or something and it sure looks to be Tony who hit the gas..

Perhaps he was coming around, saw which car was "in the wall" and was looking to see how the driver was. Not expecting that driver to be out on the track. He's looking at the car, perhaps higher on the track than he would have been otherwise. When suddenly he sees something and hits to gas to attempt to avoid it. I understand you steer these things with throttle quit a bit.

Just the same I don't want to believe it so maybe I don't believe it...

Way back in the day. Richard Petty went drag racing. Was not a long career doing so and there was an accident where someone was killed. A spectator.. I imagine that that is very hard to live with.

[SlowBurn]

I don't know anything about racing, particularly these cars. The only thing I'd point out is that Ward was "aiming" at Stewart, moving deliberately toward him, not the others. So other drivers who avoided Ward were not necessarily in the same situation as Stewart.

[DeaconKC]

I have seen this several times and I keep coming away with the same thought. If you are so stupid to run into traffic, you deserve to get run over.

[knkali]

the attorneys are saying that 2nd degree manslaughter is probably gonna be levied on him. He will probably get off criminally but will be sued into the ground in the civil matter.

[Planedude]

It saddened me to see young Kevin's Father lashing out at Tony for racing his son "that way". He was, in effect saying that Tony (and I assume all the other "adults" on the track) should have shown Kevin the curtsy and giving him extra room when passing him? Sprint cars have somewhat random numbers painted on them, not drivers ages. Kevin Ward was a remarkable, but very young driver. He ran the front straight hot and carrying that extra speed into turn one, pushed high through the corner. He left the door open and he got "Smoked". With two cars bouncing in the rough, rutted and potholed corner, who knows who's move caused the touch of spinning wheels that caused Ward to go around. Tony has been on the wrong end of open wheels clawing at each other before and he would never choose to do that on purpose.
I understand the terrible grief that the Ward family has to live with and they will remain in my prayers this week. I do however feel this latest attack on Tony by the boys Father is out of line with the facts and is something of a disservice to Kevin's memory as a racer. I'm sure that Kevin would demand that no one race him a boy, but as a fellow, equal, racer. I will give the young man that do and we will all stand fast in the wish that Kevin had just stayed in his car...
Charges against Tony in this matter, criminal or civil, are absurd and in my opinion a waste of the courts time. If any sort of trial happens here, it will be all about politics and money. No justice would be served.

[knkali]

if this goes to court, the race world will be forever changed. I can see it now---blinkers on race cars and ads on TV....If you have been injured in a race car during an event...call 444 4456 for justice now!.................................