Having seen the video it appears that Stewart sped up and veered into Ward.
In addition Stewart’s history of violently attacking other opponents in the past and even saying he would have liked to run one of them over speaks to his impetousness.
That being said, without the ability to mind read, its impossible to know whether he wanted to hit ward, or wanted to get close to him to scare him, or just wanted to spray him with mud. All of which speak to intent and the seriousness of the crime, should he be charged.
Sorry, buddy...when the caution comes out on a dirt track, you hold your position by catching up to the pace car...you lose yer life by running into traffic going freeway speeds.
Señor El Chodo finds you guilty of ignorance of Darwin’s Law.
I think Stewart lifted off the throttle momentarily, based on the moves of the car in front of him. In a sprint car on a dirt track, lifting off the throttle will make a car drift to the right, higher on the track. Steering correction in those cars depends on throttle, so Stewart tried to reverse his rightward drift by giving the car more throttle, too late.
Compared to other oval-track racing, Sprint cars are under tenuous control. I can't imagine a worse place to get out and play in the traffic.
Congrats on that.....
I read a number of comments on “Deadspin” [experts all, no doubt] after this tragedy, however it came to be. One of them, a “tweet” I think, suggested Stewart had a “Go Pro” camera on his car and another said Stewart, allegedly, had his crew remove the right rear wheel and the left rear put in its place. What was Stewart thinking here? His intent? What might his crew say?
Hard to miss the fact that Stewart gunned the engine as he approached the kid. I’ve no idea what was in his mind and we may never but it darn sure makes me question his intent.
I’m not a racing fan but I see you are a Stewart hater. Nuff said....
yes...manslaughter perhaps...