The sports world is in shock right now as reports are flooding in on social media from eyewitnesses at a sprint car race at New York’s Canandaigua Motorsports Park who are claiming NASCAR driver Tony Stewart hit driver Kevin Ward Jr., who was on foot, with his car after the two were involved in an accident on the previous lap.
UPDATE – It has been confirmed that sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. has died after being struck by Tony Stewart’s car. CLICK HERE to see a video of the accident in which you can see the initial accident followed by Kevin Ward Jr. getting out of his damaged care and walking out onto the track to confront Tony Stewart as he drove by on the next lap.
Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said they are investigating the incident, but he emphasized that at this point it is not a criminal investigation. “He was visibly shaken by this accident,” Povero said. “… This is right now being investigated as an on-track crash and I don’t want to infer that there are criminal charges pending. When the investigation is completed, we will sit down with the district attorney and review it. But I want to make it very clear: there are no criminal charges pending at this time.”
It was initially announced that Tony Stewart would race today in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen, but earlier today Tony made a statement officially backing out. “There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr.,” Tony Stewart said in a statement. “It’s a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I’ve decided not to participate in today’s race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
The competition director for Stewart-Haas racing, Greg Zipadelli, said, “[Stewart] feels strongly this is the right thing to do. We at SHR support it and agree with it. It’s a difficult time for both parties. This is what we feel is right and we’re supporting Tony in it.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and fellow competitors of Kevin Ward Jr.,” NASCAR said in a statement Sunday. “We support Tony Stewart’s decision to miss today’s race and we will continue to respect the process and timeline of the local authorities and will continue to monitor this situation moving forward.”
From ESPN:
A video of the crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park showed driver Ward, wearing a black helmet and firesuit on a dimly lit track, walking toward Stewart’s car before being hit and hurtled 50 feet. Povero said the 25-lap race was under caution when Ward was struck. Stewart’s car was behind another before he hit Ward.
“The first car swerved to avoid the driver,” Povero said.
Ward, 20, was pronounced dead Saturday night at a hospital in Canandaigua.
Povero said the 43-year-old Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and frequent competitor at local sprint car events, was questioned and released. The sheriff is asking for people who have video of the crash to contact the office so copies can be obtained for review.
Kevin Ward Jr. (photo above) was only 20 years old.
Here’s a video report from ESPN:
Here are some of the descriptions of what took place by eyewitnesses:
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.”
The Sporting News spoke with another person named Rich Willis, who was present at the track. He delivered a second-hand account from sister, who was in Turn 1 when the incident took place. His story matches up with Graves’ and alleges that Stewart gunned his engines when driving by the other driver. “What happened was the back end kicked out and clipped the guy and the guy flew across the track,”
Meanwhile, Deadline compiled some tweets that seem to confirm the reports, too.
From FOX Sports broadcaster Bob Dillner:
According to a witness on scene at Canadaigua Speedway in NY Tony Stewart & Kevin Ward tangled during a Sprint Car wreck… (cont) #NASCAR
— Bob Dillner (@bobdillner) August 10, 2014
(Cont) Ward got out of car & walked toward Tony Stewart's car to confront him. Stewart's car made contact w/Ward. (Cont) #NASCAR
— Bob Dillner (@bobdillner) August 10, 2014
(Cont) Witness says police secured area, track cancelled rest of racing for the night and everyone was ushered out of the track. #NASCAR
— Bob Dillner (@bobdillner) August 10, 2014
CBS 5 AZ anchor Adam Longo:
UPDATE3: Witness: Tony Stewart apparently fishtailed his car into the other driver. Afterwards, that driver layed motionless on the track
— Adam Longo (@adamlongoCBS5) August 10, 2014
Pic from witness of Sheriff's Deputies at Stewart's sprint car #TonyStewart pic.twitter.com/Dfd8mp27x7
— Adam Longo (@adamlongoCBS5) August 10, 2014
NASCAR radio broadcaster Tyler Burnett:
Direct source at race track, "Prayers are with the ward family right now!!! stewart ran over my best friend kevin ward under yellow"
— Tyler Burnett (@_TylerBurnett) August 10, 2014
Again, this is just another driver calling me, not releasing names. An altercation between Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward.Night has been called
— Tyler Burnett (@_TylerBurnett) August 10, 2014
A different source, Lifelight was on scene….again night has been called. Still looking for more information. Will have some soon.
— Tyler Burnett (@_TylerBurnett) August 10, 2014
More reports, sheriff cars were surrounding Smoke's trailer. Crime scene tape in place at accident. My source has left track.
— Tyler Burnett (@_TylerBurnett) August 10, 2014
To clear things up again, I'm not confirming anything. I am just relaying information from eyewitnesses. My sources have left track.
— Tyler Burnett (@_TylerBurnett) August 10, 2014
And a photo from the track showing numerous police cars:
@espn Tony Stewart just ran over driver after he got out of his car in retaliation pic.twitter.com/R5Gz82EIPX
— logan messerly (@loganmesserly) August 10, 2014
The Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that investigators are on the scene after an accident at the track. Meanwhile, the Canandaigua Motorsports Park posted these statements on their Facebook page:
Tonight’s racing events were suspended due to an accident. Please hold off on any speculation until we have further information to share.
Canandaigua Motorspots Park will not have an official statement on the accident that happened in the ESS race until tomorrow. Please pray for the entire racing community of fans, drivers, and families. Please be respectful in any comments.
According to the Lucky Dog racing blog, “Ward was transported to F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua. A request for his condition was not immediately returned by the nursing supervisor on call.”
