It may even be the end of Tony Stewart's career, regardless of how the investigation ends. Aside from the obvious issues that have been raised here, there's also the question of why a top NASCAR driver would be competing in a race in a backwater dirt track to begin with.
This incident is the equivalent of Derek Jeter facing a police investigation over his role in a bench-clearing brawl at a beer league softball game where one of the participants in the brawl ended up dead.
No matter how you cut it, Tony Stewart comes out of this looking like a complete loser. His wallet is likely to reflect that, too.
“there’s also the question of why a top NASCAR driver would be competing in a race in a backwater dirt track to begin with.”
Thats actually kinda common. Ken Schrader used to do it all the time. I think the local track makes some sort of agreement with the big time driver to race there, it brings people out to see the NASCAR name there by increasing gate receipts.
You make one valid point. Had this been a local who races hard every Saturday night, this story would not be national.
The fact that it is Tony Stewart involved changes everything.
Tony loves the competition and loves to win. I would say that can also be said for Kevin Ward Jr. Lets all pray for healing that needs to be present at this time.
Not a race fan? Quite a few top NASCAR drivers race dirt track sprint cars. Ryan Newman, Ken Scrader, and Kasey Kahne come immediately to mind. They frequently own sprint car teams and evaluate up and coming drivers. It's big business. Many sprint car drivers go on to NASCAR and other big-time circuits.
(sigh...)