US Racing Driver Killed In Track Rage Row

[Jazzy]

A driver has died after being struck by a Nascar star's car during a row on a race track in New York.

Video shows Kevin Ward Jr's car hitting a wall after colliding with three-time Nascar champion Tony Stewart's vehicle at Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old, wearing a black firesuit on the dimly-lit track, got out to confront rival Stewart during the sprint-car race.

Ward Jr was hit by Stewart's car, sending him 50ft through the air.

Paramedics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital later that night.

Police said they are not investigating the incident as a criminal matter.

Stewart, 42, was "'fully co-operative" while being questioned and later released, they said.

Officials immediately stopped the race and posted a message on social media encouraging fans to "pray for the entire racing community of fans, drivers, and families."

"People that witnessed it were horrified," said Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero.

"They were extremely shocked."

Viewer discretion advised: Source with video

Sad but he made a deadly choice to get of of his car.

What do you think?

 

[beowulf]

his fault entirely..........you dont go wandering around on a race track!

 

[DrLeftover]

Ward is at least partially complicit in his own death as he not only was walking on the track, he was impeding the flow of the traffic, Yellow Flag or no yellow flag. You can see the car in front of Stewart swerve to miss him.


It will be for the Sheriff to decide, on a frame by frame review, but it looks as though Ward even attacked Stewart's car a split second before he was hit.

 

[Nebulous]

The incident was entirely on him. He'd still be alive today if he stayed put.

 

[GoldenBlade]

The incident was entirely on him. He'd still be alive today if he stayed put.

Absolutely! Kevin Ward was wrong to just walk onto the track at night, wearing a black racing suit. I understand he was mad, but what a way to take it out...

 

[GoldenBlade]

Those cars are very difficult to control.

Got that right!

 

[DrLeftover]

15 August

Tony Stewart was the center of conversation Friday at Michigan International Speedway even though the three-time NASCAR champion was not at the track.

Stewart withdrew from this weekend's race after a fatal incident a week ago when his car struck and killed 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. while Ward was on foot during a sprint-car race in upstate New York. Ward had climbed from his wrecked car, walked on the track and apparently was angrily gesturing toward Stewart when he was struck by Stewart's car.

Stewart's race team said Friday he was grieving at an undisclosed location and had not decided when to return. It's the second consecutive NASCAR race he will miss since the incident.

Stewart, 43, has not been charged with any wrongdoing; an investigation by the Ontario County sheriff's office is ongoing.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nascar-michigan-stewart-20140816-story.html