Tony Stewart - Did he intend to do it?

First, I think this is a inappropriate discussion.

 

Unless any of you have ever driven a sprint car and are familiar with the offset of the rear and what happens when the tires strike any object, you have no right to comment.

Jim i strongly disagree, unless i am basing my opinion on something that requires knowledge of driving a sprint car. I am not making any assumption about what he did or did not do or what he could have done differently. I do not need to be a brain surgeon to know when a brain surgery goes bad. Not rendering an opinion about why  what happened happened  I am saying that its likely not going to be a conclusive finding to impose a criminal penalty. And I am saying that i totally disapprove of the way the pros conduct themselves at times on national TV and maybe they will impose rules to punish conduct like getting out of a car and pointing fingers.

 YOU NEVER GET OUT OF A RACECAR ON A HOT TRACK unless you are on fire or directed to do so by an official.....

 

 

That there is some really good advice.  

First, I think this is a inappropriate discussion.

 

 This is a sad situation for all.

 

THIS - NOTHING ELSE. 

How about Robin Williams Suicide, since we're on creepy news.

http://news.msn.com/...pparent-suicide

J~

How about Robin Williams Suicide, since we're on creepy news.
http://news.msn.com/...pparent-suicide
J~

Besides the "Like this" tab we need another way to curb the thread jacks, idiotic and "think before you hit post" posts!

Besides the "Like this" tab we need another way to curb the thread jacks, idiotic and "think before you hit post" posts!

 

Please no thread jacking about idiotic tabs, please.

J~

After watching the video during the green flag lap, the 13 car was riding the cushion and the 14 car was mid track on a what looked like a hard slick (shiny) surface. The 14 car was attempting a pass steering into the normal loose car condition and drifted to the cushion/outside track. Normal dirt track racing slide job.

Under yellow, it seems quite obvious what the driver of the 13 cars intentions were, upsmanship with the 14 car, he paid the ultimate price. The thoughts of the driver of the 14 car are locked within the drivers brain and he will suffer for life for his part in this tragedy.

I did read the information article posted by Jim Drago.

Everything in this deal was typical short track dirt racing, right up until the kid stepped down onto the middle of the track.  A tragedy but not totally surprising that he got hit by someone.

If you look at the video frame by frame, Ward actually steps in front of Stewart, then tries to step back (towards outside of track).   You also see Stewart's car turn right.  

Study seconds 33 through 36 several times and you may see why the (front of car) 14 car turns sharply right.

Study seconds 33 through 36 several times and you may see why the 14 car turns sharply right.

The back end steps left due to the collision.  Tony will have to deal with this for the rest of his life.  Kevin Ward's family will have to do so as well.  Just sad on so many levels.  I really hope that this helps folks think about the Red Mist from all aspects.  It seems like many of the big series racing incidents are caused by tempers out of hand.  It is our choice.  Do you want  auto racing to be the next pro wrestling?

I preface everything I will say here with a heavy heart...for the young man and his family and to something Tony Stewart will live with forever.

First off...always been a huge Stewart fan. But not going to defend or condone his actions here...mostly because my opinion doesn't change anything . There is only one fact that is indisputable...the choice of 1 driver has tragically changed the lives of many others.

The crazy thing for me is the irony of the whole situation. The old saying "monkey see monkey do" is something we all grew up with. It's not intended to be derogatory but descriptive...like "can't teach an old dog new tricks". You have a young guy who probably grew up spending all his time at some form of racing event. More than likely, he watched time and time again grown men acting like something other than...from the local crowd to the guys who make the big bucks. And now, those actions which probably seemed so normal to him have gone terrible wrong...and involved no less was one of the guys who is a poster child for bad behavior at times. NASCAR and any other organization who allows out of control testosterone have some serious thinking to do IMO

Please no thread jacking about idiotic tabs, please.
J~

Pretty funny! Proves the blind squirrel does find an occasional nut

 

 Do you want  auto racing to be the next pro wrestling?

Absolutely not. Have you seen how big Mike Collins is?

http://www.nascar.co...ule-change.html

J~

Do the famed NASCAR bunch really need a rule, to behave like the professionals they are supposed to be? Seriously, if I were in charge I would not tolerated the BS. Guys would be sitting out and watching.

It's sad that it fakes a tragedy, but maybe something good can become of it.

There was a show out there not too long ago that dealt with analysing disasters. I have also been told this from other people too; Usually, for something to go disaterously wrong, at least three things have to fail. In this case, exactly three things happened wrong and as a result a kid is dead.

 

1. The organizers should have known better than to continually allow this type of behaviour. It is common in NASCAR and Sprint cars.

2. The kid regardless of the rules allowing it, should have never approached another car and driver like he did

3. Tony should have been more mature in his response to Ward acting like an ass.

 

Now the kid is dead so I think he paid more than his fair share of responsibility. That leaves the organizers and Tony. If Tony is charged with negligence, then the executive officers from the orginizing body also need to be charged with negligence and go to jail right along side Tony. And in my opinion, of the 3 responsible for this, the organizers hold the most responsibility. They have absolutely turned a blind eye to this type of thing. It is no coincidence that they have since rapidily changed the rules to account for this. I am a personal accountability guy and don't usually turn the blame on good people that want to help people enjoy their hobbies. But it wouold be total bullshit to say that the organizers didn't know this was bad from a safety perspective. They purposely turned a blind eye to this in the name of the spectacle. The last dirt track I attended there was a fight on the podium at the end of the night!!!! NASCAR and sprint car guys in general are the poorest examples of sportsmen out there. And NASCAR is culpable in their child like behavior.. When people act like spoiled children, parents need to step up and act like parents. Does that absolve the child from responsibility? NO. But when your prime responsibility is to set things straight when the other party hasn't, nor do you get a pass on neglecting your responsibility in stopping it.

 

NASCAR and USAC should be ashamed and somebody should be resigning.

 

NASCAR and USAC should be ashamed and somebody should be resigning.

 

Does it matter that neither NASCAR nor USAC was the sanctioning body at the event where Kevin Ward, Jr., died?

 

(It was an Empire Sprint Series event)

No it does not matter. The proof in that is NASCAR immediately came out and changed their rules based on this even though it wasn't their event. NASCAR and USAC set the tone for how the lower tier sanctioning bodies behave. If the big boys act like morons, the little boys will too. Not only that, NASCAR and USAC have purposely left this behavior alone for the spectacle factor. The little guys are only emulating that behavior.

 

If the MLB promoted clearing of the benches in all out brawls, do you think they would have culpability in a injury of little league player that allowed the same thing? Are the majors role models or are they not? They need to be setting the examples and driving towards greater safety. That is supposed to be the unwritten benefit of the cutting edge of every sport. That 2nd tier levels are able to benefit from the good practices that were explored and implemented in higher levels where funding exists to implement new things. This is why I admire NASA. They didn't have to mandate hans and they knew that it would probably drive away some competitors. But they did it anyway because they saw it being implemented in higher levels of road racing and that is was categorically proven to save lives.

 

NASCAR and sprint car guys in general are the poorest examples of sportsmen out there

 

As opposed to Formula 1

https://www.youtube....h?v=zPOXvyOUA6Y

 

Toyoto should be held accountable for GM ignition switches - after all they both make cars.

On a less loaded issue, there was talk a few days ago about new video of the incident from a different viewpoint -- has anybody seen it, or even heard what insights it might offer?