Having raced many times in my life, I know only too well about getting pissed during a race (I know that comes to a shock to everyone here - me getting pissed at something). I've been on the receiving end and on the giving end. I only raced in 2 winged sprint car races. I actually finished well, but had no money nor sponsors. Therefore, I feel as if I can speak with some sort of familiarity of being in a sprint car.
First, and foremost, I have followed Tony's career since he raced quarter midgets and know he has always been a hot-head, but not a dirty racer. You race him dirty, you bet he's going to give it back. Otherwise, he's just one of those guys who has a tremendous skill at racing anything on wheels. He has had to attend anger management courses in the past for punching a photographer. Still, that is quite different from killing someone.
Here is my take on the incident based on 1) what I know from being in a sprint car race, 2) what I know from watching Tony race for decades, and 3) what I have seen on the replay of the tragedy. First, it appears as if Tony drifted up and pinched Kevin's front end against the wall in the middle of turn 1 and 2. That was purely a 'racing thing' and it caused Kevin to crash. Then, like what happens every single summer night across the country, Kevin exited his car to point out what driver he felt did him wrong and perhaps flip him the bird; also, in his mind, showing that he was not going to be intimidated by the nationally known and infinitely more famous Tony Stewart. Tony, having raced in thousands of sprint car races, was going to do like he has done before and snap the throttle as he passed the guy on the track; throwing tiny bits of dirt at the guy for having the audacity to try to make a scene out of the wreck.
That is when something went terribly wrong. Not for an instant do I believe Tony did not see the kid. I've been there, done that, got the tee shirt. It happens all the time; the wrecked driver points at the 'offending' driver and flips him off, waives his arms in frustration or turns his rear towards the driver and pats it in the racing world known as "kiss my ass". Drivers almost expect that to happen. Tony would not have been surprised in the least. What went horribly wrong was that Tony just slightly misjudged things, the track was more slick than he thought, Tony's repaired leg hit the throttle slightly too hard, etc., and the rear of Tony's car snapped just a bit too far and hit and killed the kid. That is my personal take on the matter. However, there is no way in hell anyone will ever convince me that Tony ever intended to hit the kid. People will say "But Tony is a proven master of controlling his car". Well, guess what?, even the best make slight miscalculations.
Again, IMHO, new rules will be established forbidding drivers from entering the racing surface after an accident (which may save future lives) and Tony will either never race again, or he will never be a contender again. Tony is a hot-head, no doubt, but he is not a malicious guy and killing a young guy will haunt Tony for the rest of his life. Tony is a tenacious competitor, is a true winner, is a known hot-head, but is also an emotional guy and this is tearing him apart from the inside. I personally would be absolutely shocked if Tony Stewart goes anywhere near the NASCAR race not only today, but for the near future. He really is not a bad guy and this is horrible for Kevin Ward Jr., Kevin's family and friends, and for Tony Stewart as well. What a tragedy.
