LGP NASCAR Thread

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

I dont think so, why would anyone else rev like that during a caution? The reasoning for it would be the only thing to debate.

Logically that makes sense but were also talking about a race where some idiot walked on the track during the race. Someone revving their engine during a caution is entirely less stupid and more probable.

[shafnutz05]

Somewhat overshadowed is a great win from AJ Allmendinger today. What a path back

[Pavel Bure]

Pretty sure it's a good idea for drivers to get away from a flaming gas tank.

Exceptions to every rule. The guys car wasn't on fire.

[dodint]

Getting out of the car is fine. That's the point of the caution, to create a safe environment for the driver to extract themselves and for the safety crew to work without creating more havoc. Walking down the bank and into the racing groove is the exact opposite of the rule. Especially if you're wearing all black. At night. At a dirt oval.

[shafnutz05]

The more I think about this in hindsight, the less I am inclined to blame Stewart. Really stupid decision by a young driver. And I wouldn't be surprised if the fact it was Tony Stewart led Ward to puff his chest out even more.

[meow]

I keep thinking, "what good comes out of walking aggressively towards Stewart and pointing at him?" What's the point? Show you're some Johnny Toughnuts or something?

[shmenguin]

If Stewart killed the guy because it was a dirt bath gone wrong or whatever, and he has any humanity in his blood, this is going to screw him up. A lot.

The deceased put himself in a bad enough position that he's responsible for what happened, but I would be surprised if there wasn't a civil suit. And a settlement.

[Idoit40fans]

I dont see the need to condemn the kid for his stupidity, that has nothing to do with stewart. Either he was trying to show him up and ended up murdering him or he couldnt react quickly enough and accidentally killed him. It doesnt matter why he was there.

[shafnutz05]

From a racing perspective, yes, that does matter. It's not "condemning" him, it's acknowledging that he made a very bad mistake and had no business running down onto the track. Especially on a dirt-racing course. I've seen similar actions in NASCAR, but that's a whole different animal considering they are running on pavement.

[Idoit40fans]

Well...is anyone arguing that he wasnt stupid for being there? I dont understand why so many people bring it up when no one is arguing otherwise.

[CBear3]

Great racing by AJ. I'm admittedly biased against Ambrose, but I was supremely impressed by how AJ hung on and fought back(especially after Marcos drop kicked him in the carrousel).

As for Tony, unless the GoPro was on, there's no way charges get filed, and no way he'll ever be cleared in the eyes of the public. Civil suit or not, I'm sure the Ward's will receive a substantial gift in memorium. Racers usually have each other's backs.

[shmenguin]

LGP's official statement regarding this guy and the facebook gasoline kid:

Spoiler:

[Letang Is The Truth]

from the one video i saw on sportscenter, intent to harm was there on stewarts part. yes the kid did put himself in a bad position; however, i cannot fathom an instance where someone would not dive out of the way of an oncoming car unless that driver made a last minute effort to hit him

[Troy Loney]

In the video, it looks like stewart was playing chicken with the guy, it's not like he darted right in front of the car, he was standing there in that spot for a few seconds before stewart ran into him. I don't think he intended to hit him, but he definitely didn't try to avoid him. Arrogant, pompous move in the least. I think legal action is necessary.

[DropEmJayBird]

Plant and Grow.

Nothing good comes out of running out onto the track, nothing good comes out of trying to spray mud on a guy with a 1 ton vehicle.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

When you plant corn, you get hit by a racecar.

[count2infinity]

You plant corn, you deserve to get hit by a racecar spelled backwards.

[CBear3]

With each hour, the "Mud Bath" thing makes less and less sense. He doesn't have enough time to know Ward is after him. They never made contact, he had no idea that Ward was still up high because you don't have spotters, mirrors, or any view out the right side of a sprint car. So there was no reason for Tony to be mad or try to put the kid in his place.

He tried to use the throttle to veer left at the last second (because that's how a sprint car works). He hit's Kevin with the RF first jerking the car back up the track where Kevin's sucked under the spinning RR tire. It's a tragic accident. Tony's culpability only goes as far as doing what Kevin did in front a national audience on Sundays.

[dodint]

For me, the fact that the blue/white narrowly missed him and Stewart who was directly behind that car hit him is what makes me think it was just wrong place wrong time. Really interested to see another angle.

[TheHammer24]

A few thoughts:

(1) Getting out of your car and gesturing towards another driver isn't that remarkable. Stupid? Yes. But it happens frequently enough that when I initially saw the video, I didn't think "why is he getting out of his car" or "that was dumb." I can see why non-racing fans would be shocked by it, but, again, it's fairly common.

(2) I agree 100% with idoit. Who cares how stupid the move is? Either Stewart screwed up and killed the guy or it was a tragic accident. Walking through the projects at night is dumb, but that doesn't affect our analysis of a shooter's culpability. Getting drunk is dumb, but that doesn't affect our analysis of a rapist's intent. At least, it shouldn't. I don't see the point in discussing the kid's "stupidity" at all.

(3) I thought the mud bath made the most sense, but CBear really just changed my opinion. The driver in front of Stewart, who has no ulterior motives, said he saw Ward at the last second. There's no reason to think Stewart saw him sooner. And if that's true, he doesn't have time to do the mudbath move. Moreover, visibility would have been awful with the dirt and lighting. It's not like a NASCAR track in the daytime. Finally, some might find it odd that a driver would do anything but hit the brake in that situation, but the best drivers in the world like Stewart instinctively hit the gas when it presents the best opportunity -- as here -- to avoid a situation.

(4) The one thing that befuddles me is that no one from the media has inquired and no one from the police have reported whether Stewart said anything to his crew chief or spotter with whom he would have had radio contact between the initial contact and the fatal accident. (I assume they had spotters, but I don't know.) Stewart may very well have said nothing. But the spotter should have said "Ward is out of the car and looking for you." That is something spotters always say to their drivers. And it's certainly possible that Stewart said something like "F this guy, I'll spray him." Again, this doesn't likely hold the answers. But if he did say something -- before or after the accident -- it may solve the inquiry.

(5) The last third of the Watkins Glen race was amazing. I could watch Ambrose race Almendinger at that track every week. The second to last restart was amazing. So was Amrbose's effortless charge from 7 to 2 in a few laps.

[dodint]

There is some drama in that Stewarts team changed the tires when it came back to the pit after the race.

[count2infinity]

so what does that mean exactly? they're trying to hide evidence or something?

[dodint]

Just twitter ****, it doesn't mean anything to me but someone tweeted a pic of the #14 with street tires on it while the sheriff was poking around and the tin foil hat brigade took off with it. I'm not sure what forensic value the tire being left on the car would have. For lack of better phrasing, Wards injuries never left his suit so its not like there were bodily fluids to hide. If I had to guess he died when his hips turned all the way around.

[TheHammer24]

Right. And crews customarily change the car's tires after the race before loading it on the truck. The crew was just acting out of habit without suspecting the tires showed any evidence of anything (which they likely didn't).

[count2infinity]

I figured as much... people are crazy.