Tony Stewart Sponsors Quiet About Incident - But How Long Until They Move On?

The Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward, Jr. tragedy resonates on so many personal levels, it’s easy to forget that there are enormous business implications involved.

Those implications should be forgotten during the appropriate mourning period for Ward, 20, who was killed 11 days ago when he was struck by a sprint car driven by the three-time NASCAR champion, who has always loved to moonlight at his first love, dirt-track racing. Ward apparently blamed Stewart for a crash that flattened Ward’s right rear tire at a race in Canandaigua, New York, the night before Stewart was to race his NASCAR Sprint Cup car at Watkins Glen.

As you likely know, an upset Ward left his car and approached Stewart’s still-moving car on the racing surface. One of three things happened next: Stewart saw Ward at the last minute and tried to avoid him; Stewart saw Ward and tried to brush him back with his car, or Stewart saw Ward and purposely tried to hit him. This last opinion seems profoundly extreme, but based on internet feedback, including on this site, that belief is more prevalent than you may think.

grouchyroan - 8/20/2014 11:45:52 AM

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first of all, i am not a tony stewart fan and think he is a real ego maniac, but to even think for a minute he purposely tried to hit ward is just pathetically stupid. some of the other drivers have told everyone that spinning the tires and throwing dirt at another driver, even in a car, it normal. maybe to annoy or intimidate or just to be a smart a-s. it looks like ward saw tony getting too close and tried to jump back, i do not think tony ever had any intention of hitting him, but i also think he needs to be charged with some kind of criminal action. with his background and actions in the past he needs to be stopped.