Stewart Involved in Deadly Racing Incident, Should Remove Himself from Watkins Glen Race

I’ll start by saying it’s hard to report on news that’s so recently breaking and more importantly an incident that’s details surrounding it are murky at best.

But, let’s start with what little facts we know.

On Saturday night, three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was involved in an incident during a dirt track sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Ontario County, New York in which 20-year old driver Kevin Ward was killed.

The two were competing against each other in the race when Stewart made contact with and wrecked Ward. An angry Ward exited his wrecked car and attempted to confront Stewart on the track. Stewart’s car made contact with Ward and threw him some distance across the track. Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero announced that Ward was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Povero said “this is an ongoing investigation of an on-track crash” and according to USA Today indicated that Stewart was cooperative with authorities and there were no charges pending at this time.

According to Charlotte Observer reporter Jim Utter on Twitter at 2:04 a.m.: “Sources close to Stewart say at this time, Stewart still plans to compete in Sunday’s [NASCAR Sprint Cup Series] race at Watkins Glen International.”

This is basically were the facts end for the time being.

The incident set fans ablaze on Twitter debating whether or not Stewart intentionally or accidentally hit Ward. Shortly before the announcement of Ward’s death, video of the incident was uploaded onto YouTube, which further incited the online debate. I decided not to review this video due to the graphic nature of its content. Shortly after Ward’s death was announced the video was removed.

Without seeing the video or knowing all of the facts surrounding the incident I can’t make a sound judgment on whether or not I believe Stewart had intent on hitting Ward, but eyewitness reports from both at the track and those who did view the video seems to suggest that Stewart gunned his engine upon approaching Ward which caused his car to swing out and hit Ward.

Whether Stewart intended to hit Ward or whether other reckless actions on either driver’s part ultimately led to the unfortunate death are to be determined at a later date, but what I do know is that Stewart should not be competing in today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen.

According to Sheriff Povero: “[Stewart] is very upset and confirmed his continuing cooperation.”

If Stewart is truly “very upset” I believe he should remove himself from the race that is set to begin in just hours. It doesn’t look good for Stewart or NASCAR for him to be competing in a race while simultaneously being investigated in the death of a local dirt track racer from an incident the night before.

Ideally Stewart will announce later this morning that he is going to remove himself from the race, but if he doesn’t NASCAR really should think about asking him or forcing him to step aside for the time being out of respect for Ward and his grieving family.