NASCAR champion Tony Stewart hits, kills driver in upstate N.Y. dirt-track race – NY Daily News
NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart Hits, Kills Driver in upstate N.Y. dirt-track race
Kevin Ward Jr., 20, had crashed his car after Stewart spun him out, a video of the race at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park showed. Ward was out of his car when Stewart fish-tailed his car into him, knocking him into the air. Stewart’s racing team manager Greg Zipadelli said Stewart will not race in NASCAR’s event Sunday at Watkins Glen.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: Sunday, August 10, 2024, 1:40 AM
Updated: Sunday, August 10, 2024, 11:37 AM
Jerry Markland/Getty Images Champion NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart was being investigated by authorities after he hit another Driver Saturday night in a dirt-track race at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York.
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart struck and killed a sprint car Driver who had climbed from his car and was on the track trying to confront Stewart During a race in upstate New York on Saturday night.
Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said his department’s investigation is not criminal and that Stewart was "fully cooperative" and appeared "very upset" over what had happened.
"He was visibly shaken by this accident," Povero said.
WARNING: VIDEO BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
Stewart had planned to race Sunday at Watkins Glen, but his racing team announced Sunday morning that the 43-year-old would not drive in the event.
"We feel strongly that this is the right thing to do,"Stewart’s racing team manager Greg Zipadelli said, calling Ward Jr.’s death "an unbelieveable tragedy."
"He’s going through a tough time," Zipadelli said of Stewart. "It’s emotional for him. We as a group support him. We feel like he’s doing the right thing."
NASCAR supported Stewart’s decision and said that it would monitor the situation as the investigation continues. In a statement, NASCAR said that the organization’s "thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow competitors of Kevin Ward Jr."
Initially, Zipadelli said Stewart will race in the NASCAR event, calling the race "business as usual."
[IMG]https://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1898391.1407648294%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/stewart10n-4-***.jpg[/IMG] Kevin Ward Jr. via Facebook NASCAR racer Kevin Ward was outside his car when Stewart struck him, a video of the race shows.
A video of the crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park showed Driver Kevin Ward Jr., 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.
Povero said the Driver was pronounced dead Saturday night at a Canandaigua hospital. Stewart was unhurt.
NASCAR champion Tony Stewart hits, kills driver in upstate N.Y. dirt-track race – NY Daily News