Tony Stewart runs over and kills another driver.

[Dave Gray]

I'm sure you've all seen the report by now.  The quick version is that there is an on-track incident between Stewart and Kevin Ward, Jr.  Ward crashed, then got out of his car and walked down the track to yell at Stewart.  When Stewart came back around, he struck Ward, killing him.   There are conflicting reports of whether or not Stewart "revved" to try and startle Ward, causing him to go sideways and clip Ward.  Others say that the rev comes from a different car.

I watched the video of the incident and based off it, I don't think you can assign blame to Stewart.  The guy gets run over by the back of the car as its sliding.  I know that Stewart is a hot-head, historically, but it's just hard to put fault on anyone except for the guy running into traffic on a race track.

[RichThrawn]

From what I can see, Stewart is pretty broken up about this.  He withdrew from today's race

[Pappy13]

I feel terrible for the driver, but why walk down the track to yell at him? Get out of the way and talk to him afterwards.

[Brian Fein]

I heard on the radio this morning that it wasn't even Stewart that sent him into the wall, but he thought it was...

Still, you are a professional driver - who runs onto the track during a race?

[Phishfan]

This isn't the first time we've seen someone go after a moving car but it is the first time I can recall a tragedy like this. What a sad event.

[CF DolFan]

I've seen it a bunch of times on asphalt. I wouldn't recommend it and I think adding the dirt track only multiplies the danger.

[Dave Gray]

I hate to say this, but I think a death needed to happen to force change.  This kind of behavior is very common, even at the highest levels of racing.  Guys are constantly running down the track yelling and even throwing things at passing cars.  They've gotten slaps on the wrist in the past, but I imagine a zero tolerance rule is on the horizon.

[Sunstroke]

Racing is already a dangerous business, and bad decisions can cost you.

Running on to a race track to accost a driver in a moving car...bad decision.

Running on to a race track to accost "the wrong driver" in a moving car...really bad decision.

I hate to say this, but I think a death needed to happen to force change.  This kind of behavior is very common, even at the highest levels of racing.  Guys are constantly running down the track yelling and even throwing things at passing cars.  They've gotten slaps on the wrist in the past, but I imagine a zero tolerance rule is on the horizon.

This wouldn't surprise me at all. They may not be on the endangered species list, but someone has to save the rednecks from killing themselves off!!

[CF DolFan]

someone has to save the rednecks from killing themselves off!!

Good luck with that. My wife was an only child and we have two girls. This means my wife has no ideas how boys really are. I tell her the average boy is lucky to make it to adulthood with all the stupid things we did growing up. add in redneck ingenuity and it definitely increases the danger level!

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Good luck with that. My wife was an only child and we have two girls. This means my wife has no ideas how boys really are. I tell her the average boy is lucky to make it to adulthood with all the stupid things we did growing up. add in redneck ingenuity and it definitely increases the danger level!

The advantage of having boys is that with boys you only have to worry about one dick, with girls you have to worry about every dick.

[CF DolFan]

But having that one penis just increases your chances of doing something stupid and dying young

[DZA]

My sympathy goes to the family of Kevin Ward.  But I don't think Stewart is at fault. Why did Kevin get out of his vehicle to run on the track with many fast moving vehicles. It was a dumb move that cost him his life.  I would have dealt with him on the sidelines

[Dave Gray]

I hear news outlets focusing on an investigation and charges filed (or more specifically that charges were not filed).  ...but charges for what?  Even if Tony Stewart saw that guy from around the track, intentionally sped up and ran him over in cold blood, you still can't put him in jail for that.  There's no way we can get into Tony Stewart's head and Ward's actions automatically absolve Stewart of any legal wrong-doing, in my mind.

It's like jumping the barrier and running up to the targets at the gun range.

[Phishfan]

Even if Tony Stewart saw that guy from around the track, intentionally sped up and ran him over in cold blood, you still can't put him in jail for that.  There's no way we can get into Tony Stewart's head and Ward's actions automatically absolve Stewart of any legal wrong-doing, in my mind.

It's like jumping the barrier and running up to the targets at the gun range.

Bwhaaat? You are way off base. You basically just used the, "she asked for it" defense to excuse first degree murder. It's more like having someone jump the barrier at the range and then having someone say, "look at that guy down range, I'm going to shoot anyway."

[Dave Gray]

First of all, it's not first degree murder.   It's not pre-meditated.  It would be manslaughter, if anything.

But even then, I'm not defending Stewart on a moral level; just a legal one.  He has to be given all benefit of the doubt, considering the victim willing ran onto an active racetrack.  What legal ground could you possibly have to prosecute?