darksabre Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Tony Stewart decided to do a little old school dirt track racing last night before the Watkins Glen race today, bumped another racer, and racer decided he needed to try to fight Tony's racecar. He lost. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-tony-stewart-kevin-ward-accident-20140810-story.html "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." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I'm taking that quote with a big grain of salt. I won't watch the video of that incident but I cannot believe that Tony Stewart would hit him intentionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I'm taking that quote with a big grain of salt. I won't watch the video of that incident but I cannot believe that Tony Stewart would hit him intentionally. I can't either, but everyone is accusing him of kicking the back end of the car out on purpose. We'll find out soon enough what investigators think. Deadspin has video, but it's not very clear. That said, Tony's car doesn't appear to have the back end kicked out when the car strikes the other driver. http://deadspin.com/reports-tony-stewart-ran-over-opposing-driver-during-1618893708?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I can't either, but everyone is accusing him of kicking the back end of the car out on purpose. We'll find out soon enough what investigators think. Deadspin has video, but it's not very clear. That said, Tony's car doesn't appear to have the back end kicked out when the car strikes the other driver. http://deadspin.com/...dium=socialflow Are you familiar with Sprint cars? They are direct drive, no clutch. And don't run well at low speed. When going around the track at low speed the drivers need to goose the throttle periodically to keep the vehicles running. And the part you quoted about the cars kicking sideways when you do is correct. They are purposely set up to kick sideways under throttle to assist drifting through left hand turns. Tony may very well have hit the throttle as he approached the other driver. I can't see it being malicious. I'm not even sure it would be negligent on the part of Stewart. Fer cryin out loud, this guy was a local, could they even have a history to warrant ill will? I can't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted August 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) I'm not saying he should or shouldn't race today; that's up to him. But I'll say there's no way I could do it. I'd be too messed up. EDIT: Just heard a report on the radio that he has decided not to race. Edited August 10, 2014 by Eleven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Are you familiar with Sprint cars? They are direct drive, no clutch. And don't run well at low speed. When going around the track at low speed the drivers need to goose the throttle periodically to keep the vehicles running. And the part you quoted about the cars kicking sideways when you do is correct. They are purposely set up to kick sideways under throttle to assist drifting through left hand turns. Tony may very well have hit the throttle as he approached the other driver. I can't see it being malicious. I'm not even sure it would be negligent on the part of Stewart. Fer cryin out loud, this guy was a local, could they even have a history to warrant ill will? I can't see it. Why do they even let him race, though. It would be like an NFLer going back home and being allowed the play for his high school team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted August 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Why do they even let him race, though. It would be like an NFLer going back home and being allowed the play for his high school team. If you had a chance to have an NHL player take a spot in your beer league game, you'd turn it down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 If you had a chance to have an NHL player take a spot in your beer league game, you'd turn it down? Probably not,… and I wouldn't get mad at him when he owned me, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Probably not,… and I wouldn't get mad at him when he owned me, as well. I've played puck with plenty of morons who would though. That's the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I've played puck with plenty of morons who would though. That's the problem. Absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) He absolutely shouldn't race. Out of respect of the investigation, the driver he killed (purposely or not, his reckless driving took another man's life), and the driver's family. I think he should be suspended for the rest of the year regardless of intent. If it's found to be on purpose then it will matter not because we'll never see Tony Stewart again. I think any assumptions that he wouldn't do it on purpose are silly. Why does he have apologists already? Because he drives a racecar and is known for a bad temper? That doesn't make much sense. Innocent until proven guilty, I guess. Edited August 10, 2014 by Tankalicious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny DangerFace Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 This is no different than when you hear a story of a person jumping over the lion fence, petting a lion, and then getting attacked by the lion. Who would blame the lion? It's clear who was reckless, and it wasn't the racecar driver racing on a racetrack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) This is no different than when you hear a story of a person jumping over the lion fence, petting a lion, and then getting attacked by the lion. Who would blame the lion? It's clear who was reckless, and it wasn't the racecar driver racing on a racetrack. Sure, the kid had a hand in this. I think that racing leagues need to put mandatory fines and/or suspensions for those who exit their car and approach others. However, Stewart is a professional who knew EXACTLY what he was doing. Maybe he did not intend to hit him, but instead just startle him, but his reckless actions took a life. Period. It's not like Stewart is considered an even-tempered man who can easily keep his emotions under control. (Comparing humans to lions is also pretty weak. Lions are aggressive animals who are known to attack when confronted... Humans are supposed to be more than beasts) Edited August 10, 2014 by Tankalicious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I'm taking that quote with a big grain of salt. I won't watch the video of that incident but I cannot believe that Tony Stewart would hit him intentionally. The quote reads to me a lot like the magic loogie quote from Seinfeld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobody Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 If you had a chance to have an NHL player take a spot in your beer league game, you'd turn it down? I'd bet the goalie that had to face Patrick Kane a week or 2 ago in Buffalo might think twice now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Sure, the kid had a hand in this. I think that racing leagues need to put mandatory fines and/or suspensions for those who exit their car and approach others. However, Stewart is a professional who knew EXACTLY what he was doing. Maybe he did not intend to hit him, but instead just startle him, but his reckless actions took a life. Period. It's not like Stewart is considered an even-tempered man who can easily keep his emotions under control. (Comparing humans to lions is also pretty weak. Lions are aggressive animals who are known to attack when confronted... Humans are supposed to be more than beasts) …Somethin' about making assumptions,… or somethin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 I'd bet the goalie that had to face Patrick Kane a week or 2 ago in Buffalo might think twice now. I would do that every time. As long as my groin was still in one piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 …Somethin' about making assumptions,… or somethin'. You're right. I shouldn't go as far as to say that he knew what he was doing. I will stand by the concept that he acted recklessly. The kid did, too, but Stewart acted recklessly with a loaded gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny DangerFace Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Sure, the kid had a hand in this. I think that racing leagues need to put mandatory fines and/or suspensions for those who exit their car and approach others. However, Stewart is a professional who knew EXACTLY what he was doing. Maybe he did not intend to hit him, but instead just startle him, but his reckless actions took a life. Period. It's not like Stewart is considered an even-tempered man who can easily keep his emotions under control. (Comparing humans to lions is also pretty weak. Lions are aggressive animals who are known to attack when confronted... Humans are supposed to be more than beasts) All your doing is making assumptions and jumping the gun. Stop acting like you know what people were thinking. Also I didn't compare lions to humans. I compared going into a lion den to standing in a middle of an active racetrack. So I don't think my analogy is weak at all. Both are putting yourself into incredibly dangerous situations for no reason. Darwin baby!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 You're right. I shouldn't go as far as to say that he knew what he was doing. I will stand by the concept that he acted recklessly. The kid did, too, but Stewart acted recklessly with a loaded gun. Again, we don't know if this is true, I mean, other than he is a race car driver on a racetrack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny DangerFace Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Again, we don't know if this is true, I mean, other than he is a race car driver on a racetrack. Scary where we get our jury members from. Iv always been in favor of a panel of judges instead if a jury. People jump to conclusions with zero evidence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabres Fan in NS Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 All I will say is this ... Something happened which caused someone to make a reckless decision and he died as a result of it. A tragedy. Bottom line, end of discussion, nothing else really matters. At least for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 How much of the incident can be filed under "it's part of the game"? Do the participants accept a certain amount of risk and are the participants immune to prosecution? No one would want Zdeno Chara charged with murder if he killed someone in a boarding incident. OK, bad example. Tyler Myers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 Why do they even let him race, though. It would be like an NFLer going back home and being allowed the play for his high school team. The tracks love these stars coming to these events. Its a huge promotional oportunity for events that generally are barely financially viable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 10, 2014 Report Share Posted August 10, 2014 How much of the incident can be filed under "it's part of the game"? Do the participants accept a certain amount of risk and are the participants immune to prosecution? No one would want Zdeno Chara charged with murder if he killed someone in a boarding incident. OK, bad example. Tyler Myers. You absolutely accept risk. At all levels of motorsport. You do what you can safety wise to reduce incidents that might be preventable. But you can't control people. This guy would probably be alive right now if he'd have bothered to think about what he was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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