Clarion Call: A Word to the Wise
Questions Abound After Fatal Clash
The events of Saturday night’s Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints race at Canandaigua (NY) Motorsports Park have set off a firestorm of comments on social media. This fool’s paradise has erupted largely because of three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s involvement in a fatal accident with Kevin Ward, Jr., 20, of Port Leyden, NY.
Ward was second at Ohsweken (ONT) Speedway Friday night. He had four series wins (2011-Autodrome Drummond, 2012-Mohawk, 2013-Autodrome Granby, Evans Mills). Although the most recent standings were not posted, he was seventh in the standings according to the series website.
The past weekend has not been kind to the local short track racing community. Bob Bettencourt, Jr. was involved in a bad crash at Seekonk (MA) Speedway on Saturday night. A three car crash involving Paul Lallier and Stephen Potter sent Bettencourt into the turn three wall driver’s side. The race was red flagged and he was transported to a local hospital.”I am fine,” Bettencourt said Sunday evening.
News from Canandaigua was already swirling late Saturday night and I stayed up until around 2AM to follow it. By the time I awoke, I was assaulted by news saturation. Add the huge wreck at Watkins Glen, and some things need to be said.
I have been at the track for three fatalities. It is a crushing feeling after those races. I cannot imagine having family involved on top of that. I am trying to be as level headed about this as possible. I do not have a lot of dirt track experience. The only races I have attended were the 2010 World of Outlaws at Charlotte and part one of Brett Hearn’s ‘The Big Show 6′ at Albany-Saratoga last month.
I research racing history for countless hours. I shoot video at local tracks. I despise the outsiders, media outlets that usually do not cover motorsports, who did not know short track racing existed two days ago. But when something like this happens, it gets big press. Some media outlets made an atrocious decision to show the crash video.
Video shows Stewart and Ward crashing in turn two on lap 14 of the 25 lap race. Ward’s car hit the wall and came to a stop. While the race is under caution, Ward got out of his car pointing at Stewart while he is walking closer to the groove. The car in front of Stewart’s nearly hit Ward, but swerved to avoid. Stewart ran over Ward with the right rear tire sending Ward hurtling.
According to Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero,Ward was transported to F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua and pronounced dead on arrival by Ontario County Coroner Kevin Henderson. His office is investigating “an on-track crash.” The district attorney would review the case once the investigation is closed, which is standard procedure for death investigations. He emphasized that “there are no charges pending at this time.”
Povero said they would be reviewing video evidence, autopsy results and interviewing witnesses. If anyone can aid in this investigation, please do so at (585) 394-4560.
Sometimes teams use onboard GoPro cameras, but it is unclear if any teams were running them or if the series permitted their use.
“Mr. Stewart has again fully cooperated with the police officers that are investigating,” Povero said. “He was visibly shaken by this incident and has promised his continuing cooperation in this investigation. … He has given his account of the events to the police officers. He is extremely upset with this crash and has confirmed his continued cooperation in this investigation.”
Povero added, “The people at Canandaigua have cooperated fully, and we want to make it known that they have expressed their deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased driver and they continue to cooperate fully with the sheriff’s office with the investigation.”
Canandaigua Motorsports Park is a half mile dirt oval that has been in operation since 1953. According to MotorsportMemorial.org, it was the third fatality at Canandaigua and the first since August 23, 1997, when track official Fred Taney was struck.
Emotional reactions by drivers are nothing new. In the May 29 Late Model feature at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, John Lowinski-Loh, Jr. reacted to crashing out of the event by throwing his helmet at Nick Ladyga.
Bristol Motor Speedway embodied that for many seasons, whether Ward Burton in 2002 with heat shields or Tony Stewart in 2012 with his helmet. Often confrontations like this have been used in advertising or commercials.
Just because it is commonplace, does not mean it is a prudent decision. People placing blame on either party are out of place. Comments were extreme on both sides. Some blamed Ward for exiting his car. Others were calling for Stewart’s imprisonment for murder. Not bad for Monday morning lawyers who do not have all of the information.
Among those blaming Ward for leaving his car was Tyrel Robert Gagnon on Facebook. “That guy (Ward) is an idiot. Natural selection at its finest.”
Chuck Hebing’s crew chief Mark Tychoniewicz was on a Quad next to Kevin Ward, Sr.
“I have driven these cars,” Tychoniewicz said. “The right sideboard on the top wing will block out an entire car, let alone a person standing there.”
“… (Hebing, the driver of the No. 45 Sprint Car) said he just saw him at the last second and just missed him. Tony had even less time to react to the situation. People in the stands or watching this video have no idea how fast these thing happen and how limited our view is inside the car. It was a very bad turn of events that happened, but we all know the dangers involved in the sport we love.”
I cannot imagine Ward, or most drivers for that matter, would consider this as the likely outcome of confronting a driver. I cannot get into Stewart’s head to determine criminal intent. To reporters that keep asking the sheriff about criminal charges, ask it once at the initial presser. Otherwise leave it be. If criminal charges are announced, then you have a story. Leave that to the investigators and the district attorney.
Criminal charges would not be unprecedented. Joe Sostilio was charged and convicted of manslaughter in 1948 for Steve Bishop’s fatal crash at Mohawk Midget Stadium in Lunenberg, MA. He was sentenced to three months in jail, but a stay of sentence was granted on appeal.
Consider the potential long-term implications of this. Do the sponsors supporting Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick, Stewart remain with the team? Will team owners limit their prized drivers from extracurricular activity?
At the final race to the Chase at Richmond International Raceway last year, NASCAR determined that Michael Waltrip Racing manipulated the results. Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex, Jr. were penalized and the team was fined $300,000. Truex’s wild card was given to Ryan Newman. Additional research regarding Penske Racing and Front Row Motorsports resulted in Jeff Gordon added as the 13th driver the following weekend at Chicagoland.
I pointed out to one fan that Bowyer was making an appearance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the morning of the race. He turned it down, saying that he did not want an autograph after Richmond.
Negative publicity sent Truex searching for a new ride when NAPA left the team. Rookie Nationwide competitor Chase Elliott is now sporting their colors for JR Motorsports. Truex is driving for Furniture Row Racing.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers in particular have come under scrutiny before for racing in lower tier series. Carl Edwards dislocated his thumb in a Late Model crash at I-80 in Nebraska in 2007. Tony Stewart broke his leg last year at Southern Iowa Speedway in a Sprint Car crash. Edwards raced at Indianapolis the next week, while Stewart missed the rest of the season.
Richard Childress Racing driver Ryan Newman has been a regular competitor in the companion NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Bristol and New Hampshire recently.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch has competed regularly across a number of divisions. The NASCAR Nationwide Series all-time winningest driver also wins frequently in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for his own Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch drives a number of Super Late Model races for his own team, winning last Tuesday’s PASS North Budweiser 150 at Autodrome Chaudière.
The most important thing to remember is a young man lost his life at age 20 last weekend. We will learn from this tragedy. The Empire Super Sprints and NASCAR continue to hold racing events, while Stewart has this weight with him the rest of his life. This is should be a time of restraint for people. The Ward family experienced the worst tragedy, the loss of a child. That wound will never heal. Long after the media circus leaves New York State.
Sources: Nicholas Teto, YankeeRacer.com