The guy almost got creamed by the first car then advanced again onto the track. I don't take his death lightly but there should be no criminal charges OR civil suits. Just like in the streets with everyday folks....you walk out in the middle of the busy street acting crazy and get hit by a car, it is on you.
Actually, a lot of drivers will to keep heat in the tires. Very common. The track was on a yellow caution, not a red. Therefore they can keep going just cautiously. When you see a caution like that - give the wreckers a few minutes, car will be off the track and race will restart. It's a terribly sad situation for everyone involved - both sides, the fans who witnessed it, and the track owners. Both were in the wrong - it was a freak thing. I don't think anything was intentional. I'd love to see the GoPro that was in Stewart's car. But as for the honest for spoken truth of what happened, we will never know.
I agree to an extent generally they're not going to do it coming up to the corner with a stalled car. It's all but speculation by anyone. I am intrigued by your comment about the go pro. Can you link a source that he had one. I've heard the questions asked whether a anyone may have had one as thy are widely popular, b it his I the first I've heard Stewart himself may have had one.
If he had a go pro and anything was slightly damning you better believe that thing is broken into a thousand pieces.
cls74 said it perfect. Stewart probably wanted to intimidate Kevin Ward Jr a little. If you think Smoke shouldn't have been in the race, I disagree. Smoke has more dirt track experience than most of those drivers put together. He own's dirt teams and races them as much as he does Cup cars. Each driver made critical errors that lead to the tragedy. I agree there will probably be a civil suit and yes IMO there is some responsibility to be placed on Smoke. I don't think there will ever be enough to criminally charge him. Rules will be likely put in place in at all levels of motor sports for drivers to stay in their vehicles until safety crews arrive, unless there is significant danger from staying in the vehicle. It's all too common for rules to come after the fact. I don't know why they have allowed drivers to exit their vehicles like this for as long as they have. Say a prayer for Kevin's family. The tragedy they are experiencing right now must be unbearable.
I started the thread, but my links didn't post, oh well.. Bad situation. Even if nothing criminal comes of it the civil suit will suck him dry. I also suspect sponsors are thinking of dropping him because he will been seen as a liability.
I agree that someone should not advance onto a track with racecars moving. The lighting on the track, from the videos, leaves something to be desired. Safety should be the first consideration of everyone which would have started with Ward. He advanced onto the track with moving cars in poor lighting. Perhaps Tony should have been more cautious with pedestrian traffic when he recognized he was there. We should let the investigation run its course and find as much information as possible before passing judgement. Once facts are in then corrective action can be taken whether by rules/policy changes or whatever other means necessary.
Just think it was not to wise to try to intimidate Stewart by running at him shaking your finger while the race was going on.
There is no safety In sprint cars! its bahl s to the wall racing if you have never been there, watched or helped its not a kids game. Its fast , it hurts and its done. This is racing!
Yeah but to jump out onto the race track on foot because your angry at another driver is not part of the race. They'll need to fine these guys or throw them out of the series if others are doing this. IMO
Suck him dry? I doubt it...Stewart is worth in excess $100 million. The driver who was killed also played a large part in his own death by leaving his car. My guess is there might be a settlement.
My question is this... Why did he come out of the car in the first place? Its not evident at ANY point that Stewart deliberately spun him out into the wall. My guess is he got wrecked by incidental contact, realized it was Stewart, and wanted to look cool to his buddies because he showed up Tony Stewart. I mean, Stewart hit his car with the back of his car as he slid around the corner... definitely not deliberate. As for the death, It's really hard to tell, I know Stewart is considered a hot head, but I don't see any reason he would try to intimidate him or anything like that...
This is a very sad situation and it is hard to say exactly who's fault everything is but there is one thing that is for certain if he stayed in his car he would still be alive. There is no way there should be any criminal charges or a civil suit.
You see it every weekend in racing. One mistake by a driver causes another to wreck. Most of the time there's no intent but the other driver doesn't know this. They get angry and think it was on purpose so they have a score to settle. It's racing, just the way it is. Stewart I believe will pay if a civil suit is filed. If Stewart could have done something different he may be found somewhat at fault for the death. That's the difference between civil and criminal court.
Bottom line he's got money so lawyers for the family could hound him for years. Right or wrong hell need to pay something or the media will just demonize him.
