Michael SatterfieldNumerous sources are reporting that racer Kevin Ward, Jr. was killed in an altercation with Tony Stewart at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. After a crash between Stewart and Ward that left Ward’s car disabled, Ward made his way onto the track to confront Stewart. The next few moments as Stewart’s car came back around during the caution lap will be discussed and investigated for days, but from what I can see in the video and according to eyewitnesses at the race, as Stewart neared the young driver, he appeared to step on the throttle. Stewart’s car slides, striking the 20-year-old driver, flinging him to the ground, fatally injured.
According to Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero, Ward was “dead on arrival,” and while the investigation is underway, no charges have been filed. Tony Stewart is described as cooperating and “very upset.”
You can watch the video of the accident HERE. The warning is graphic.
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 that happened.”Tony pinched him into the frontstretch wall, a racing thing,” Graves said. “The right rear tire went down, he spun on the exit of (Turn) 2. They threw the caution and everything was toned down. Kevin got out of his car. … He was throwing his arms up all over the place at Tony for most of the corner.”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.”
Source(s): Associated Press Jalopnik, Deadspin, The Sporting New
Note from the author:
This is a truly tragic event for all involved and the entire team here at thegentlemanracer.com sends our heartfelt condolences to Kevin Ward Jr.’s loved ones. We also hope that Tony Stewart is getting counseling and the support he needs as he processes this event.
