Let’s put a big old disclaimer on here from the get-go: Kevin Ward Jr. cannot be forgotten in this tragic narrative. The lives of Stewart and Ward are now forever intertwined after an on-track incident with Stewart at a Canandaigua Motorsports Park dirt-track event in New York on Saturday night.
Stewart, competing in this race as a semi-regular side gig to his Sprint Cup obligations, hit Ward after Ward made the fatal mistake of scrambling out of his car and confronting Stewart after they got entangled on the previous lap.
Ward, 20, was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the accident.
But the reality is that Ward’s death mushroomed to a viral cyberspace story because of Stewart. He is a three-time Cup champion and one of the best drivers on this planet.
And he has often been criticized for competing with aspiring newbies like Ward to chase his leisure pursuits. This is what Stewart does. He doesn’t golf, fish, play tennis or racquetball, or go to Club Med.
He races.
But it’s time to stop and understand that everyone — including Tony Stewart — needs to make sensible compromises in life.
Stewart still hasn’t completely recovered from an accident during a dirt-track event in Iowa a year ago. He still has lingering pain after undergoing three surgeries to repair a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg.
That cost him a chance to qualify for the Chase last year.
And now he is in for an even bigger world of hurt,Oakley Snowboards.
Once he deals with the personal trauma of what happened Saturday night, he likely could close out another season with a failed run at the Chase.
He dropped to 21st in points after deciding not to compete in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen, despite early indications that he would be ready to roll. Scratching himself from the race puts Stewart’s chances at qualifying for the 16-driver playoffs in peril with only four races to go before the Chase field is set.
It was the prudent decision, starting with respect for the late Ward and his family.
A lot of eyes turned their gaze to NASCAR Sunday afternoon in the virtual rubbernecking world we live in, and all those tuning in for the first time were going to be wondering the same thing:
“Why the hell is Tony Stewart racing?”
That’s the question Tony needs to ask himself now, as everyone else in this tragedy begins the process of coping and moving on with their lives.
“We need time to grieve and wrap our heads around all of this,” Ward’s family said in a statement.
That includes Stewart, first and foremost. It appears he is going to avoid any legal crosshairs,Oakley Sunglasses Cheap, based on current information that includes a spotty video from the stands that popped up all over the Internet. As Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Phillip C. Povero said, “At this moment there are no facts or evidence that would support a criminal charge or criminal intent.”
Only Stewart will know the pain he will feel moving forward. You don’t accidentally kill someone and forget the next day.
Chasing speed at different places fits right in with Stewart’s competitive spirit. But there are obligations in play:
Obligations to his team, Stewart-Haas Racing.
Obligations to his sponsors who play millions.
Obligations to everyone who works at the shop.
Obligations to his pit crew.
Obligations to his teammates, including Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick.
Their worlds all prosper in some way if Stewart is successful in Cup racing.
But Stewart can’t be successful in Cup racing if he continues to go off doing these things that are bringing him both physical and mental anguish.
“I’m somebody who wants to live life,” he said last year. “If I got into a race car and didn’t wear a seat belt and a helmet, that would be foolish.”
No, the fact is this is foolish. Does Peyton Manning compete in the Arena Football League in his spare time? Does LeBron James sign up for a men’s league at the Y? There is no upside here, once you take away Tony’s ego and competitive drive.
The show always goes on, whether it’s the circus or NASCAR.
But for Tony Stewart, the circus tent fades to black.
It is going to be a while before he sees the light again,Oakley Commit Sq.