Tony Stewart is an American stock car racer, businessman and NASCAR team owner. He returned to NASCAR [The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing] just under a month after the death of fellow racer, Kevin Ward.
On Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, Ward was killed after he was struck on the track by Stewart during a Sprint car race. Ward, a hometown favorite, walked on the track after his car was pushed into the wall by Stewart. After getting out and dodging another racer, Ward was hit by the back right tire of Stewart’s car.
Stewart took off three NASCAR races before returning to the track. Was it too soon for the three-time Sprint Cup Series Champion to return? I think not.
Racing is a dangerous sport and death is not uncommon in any competitive racing. “When drivers feel as if they’ve gone through something really tough, the best therapy is to get back in the car as soon as they feel ready to do so,” Nate Ryan, a reporter for USA Today said. He added, “Everyone saw this as Tony Stewart needing to get back in the car to have the healing process begin.”
The accident is being investigated by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department, who said Stewart was cooperating. No criminal charges have been filed. Even if Stewart hit Ward intentionally, Ward should have never left his car.
When in a race, the safest place to be is strapped to your seat with your helmet, fire resistant suit and roll-cage protecting you from all other cars on the track. The race was not fully stopped at the point in which Ward left his car. People get hurt all the time and accidents happen, but you cannot ask someone — in this case, Stewart — to stop doing what he has done all his life. In addition, people who barely follow NASCAR still know the name Tony Stewart. He is one of the biggest names in all of racing. He grew up racing go-karts and was successful very early in his life.
Accidents happen and yes, I do believe this was an accident. “I think, among drivers — there is this sort of accepted philosophy that after you get thrown off of a horse, you get back on it,” Ryan said. And the same attitude, I think, applies to racing in that racing NASCAR is Stewart’s livelihood. It is how he provides and cares for his family. The man has to do what is best for him and in this case that means getting back on the track. Unfortunately, racers get out of their cars far too much. In 2012, Stewart himself walked onto the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee after a wreck with Matt Kenseth and threw his helmet at Kenseth’s racecar. Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards and Jimmy Johnson, voiced their support for Stewart. “I know what I believe happened. I think it was completely an accident. So, in time we’ll see; when Tony is able to talk and how things go from there,” Johnson said.
I personally think it is crazy to be questioning someone’s career who has not yet been charged. If they are innocent, then let them make their own decisions.
I truly believe this story would not be this popular if the driver whose car hit and killed Ward was any other racer on that track.
This is a tragic story and it is sad when anything like this happens. For that exact reason, until all the facts are together and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department makes their decision, no one should question Stewart for doing what he does best — racing.
Cyrus Lyons can be contacted at clyons@keene-equinox.com
