General Motors played a role in is said to be standing behind three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart’s decision not to race this weekend after the sprint car he was driving struck and killed a fellow driver during a short track sprint car race, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Stewart was involved in an incident last Saturday in which 20-year old Kevin Ward Jr. tried to confront him on the track during a sprint-car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York. Ward, shaking his fist in anger at Stewart as he drove past him, was clipped by Stewart’s back right tire and killed.
The incident prompted Stewart to pull out of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen. Brett Frood, executive vice president of Stewart-Haas Racing, was originally quoted in saying things were “business as usual” for the driver, however the team changed their minds shortly after and announced Stewart would not race.
Stewart’s team was in touch with GM officials as they decided whether or not Stewart should participate in the NASCAR event. WSJ says GM didn’t demand that he pull out of the race but supported his decision to do so. GM was also contacted the morning of the race by Stewart-Haas racing notifying them Stewart would not participate.
GM has strong ties with Stewart and the team he co-owns, Stewart-Haas racing. Stewart drives a Chevrolet SS in Sprint Cup competition and even had a special-edition 2014 Chevrolet Silverado concept bearing his name made up by the automaker. Stewart-Haas spokesman Mike Arning stressed that “no corporate entity played a role in Tony’s decision to sit out Sunday’s race,” however.
An investigation into the fatal accident is still ongoing and will take “at least another two weeks,” Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero told WSJ. As of right now, police say there is no evidence suggesting criminal intent on Stewart’s part.
Update: an earlier version of this story claimed GM played a role in Stewart’s decision to not race at The Glen this weekend. The new version highlights that GM only reportedly supported Stewart and his team, rather than forcing the team’s hand.
Comments
I am tired of all this media and misleading web headlines.
In the case any driver pulls out of a race they have to consult with the sponsors. They also have to present a replacement for their approval.
The big hub bub last Sunday about Tony pulling out of the race was just normal. He had to wait till they got the ok and to get Regan Smith back to the track before they could announce anything official.
As for the crash. the first incident was just dirt track racing and this happens every week. Yes Tony did not have to squeeze him but Ward was not hardly even half way up on Tony and could have just as easy backed off till the next lap for a better run. That is the risk to being outside.
As for when he got hit. Everyone agrees he should have not charged the line out of the car. I have had fears of this happing in other series as much as here. Second Tony cut the wheels to the left and gunned the car as that is the only way you can turn a sprint car. The front wheels will not grip the smoothed clay and turn like a normal car. Anyone who has spent time at a dirt track will agree. The bottom line is Tony did not hit him on purpose and if he was waiting to dust him he turned the wheels the wrong way.
The kid just was pissed and walked into the rear tire. I have even hear but unconfirmed that his head was hit by the wing that sticks out before the tire got him. This may have been some of the blunt force injury.
There is even a friend of Ward that was behind Tony who spoke out he other night saying there was nothing more Tony could have done.
This was just a racing accident and the kid screwed up and paid the price, sad but true.
Then the idiot Dan Patrick is now wanting Tony to speak out? In this legal system anymore you can not afford to speak out. Tony will be cleared but will still face a civil suit by a revengeful family with a preying lawyer. Anything he says now can and will be used against him in any way possible. They will settle out of court and this will vanish.
The fact is you take a risk every time you get up out of bed or enter a race track. You get out of the car you increase the risks.
FYI I am not a Tony fan. I respect his skills.
well said scott, the kid was too upset to realize what he was doing, open wheelers are just plain dangerous ,very sad incident, my prayers go out to the family.
Scot3
This is by far the best article I have read. It covers everything in a calm solid manner. I have been appalled by some of the things I have read (actually scary). I really have nothing to add you covered it all. I wish you could send this everywhere! Very very well done. Thank you.
Thank you!
I am in the racing industry and have to deal with racers of all types. I understand what they are dealing with and I understand a driver like Tony. He may have a temper but he is not homicidal like some of the media is trying to make it appear.
I have been hit with questions all week about this and Tonys career and how so many want to claimed he is doomed.
The reply to them I have had is did you know Richard Petty had an accident in a Drag Car in the 60’s that hurt a group of people and killed a kid and injured 7 others in the crowd, It made headlines everywhere but Richard made it through.
I just am tired of the media anymore. Be it the twisted reporting of the GM defect. As I have said before if I bleeds it leads is how they report anymore.
Keep up the good reporting. I hope you can get your knowledge out there for people to read. I wish people could be more rational when something tragic happens. There does not need to be blame put anywhere, sometimes it’s just an accident. I think Tony should race at michigan? Your thoughts? There will never be a “perfect” time to come back.
Sitting out last week was the right thing as he did not have it all together at that point. Also out of respect for the other driver.
He is out of the chase anyways and he will have to win his way in as it is so there should have been no conflicts with the sponsors anyways. He is very good friends with Johnny Morris of Bass Pro and he would not have ever questioned it.
The fact is the racing will resume in NY this week so there is no reason for him to sit out. The media just needs to let him alone and do his job. The NASCAR Media will be ok but the other news outlets will be an issue.
As for the father I know he is hurting and hurting bad but someone needs to keep him quiet and let this work its way out. As it is he may say something later he will regret and that is why he need to be quiet for now. Tony I am sure would like to speak with him but the legal system prevents doing the right thing anymore it is sad to say.
No matter who you are if you have accident you should never say anything other than to the investigators. If things go south any comments you make can and will be used against you by a scum bag lawyer.
The Father here blaming Tony is like those who blamed Sterling Marlin for Earnhardt’s death. That was wrong then and this is wrong now. I was as big of an Earnhardt fan as you could get.
I hope in time he can get the facts and rationalize them and be at peace with it. If he can not find piece on this it will eat him up.
tony hothead stewart……
slipped back into his old habits.
Impy you’re entitled to your opinion but try to educate yourself! Tony and ward didn’t even “collide” as being written about. I’m not sure they even touched regardless ward put himself in the middle of the track and actually grabbed stewarts wing and was flung away. Past behavior has no relevance here at all. I’m praying as the dust settles clearer head will prevail.
My prayers w/the family. Most everything is twisted. Why is all the so call racing experts can’t see the pic? My opinion. The question that needs to be answered, Did Tony just not see him, or was the intent to throw little dirt on Driver or send a message. No way Tony meant to hit in my opinion. None of us knows. So why speculate. Let the investigators do their jobs now, and the facts comes out, then hopefully we will know.
Kevin grabbing the right wing of the car certainly didn’t help.