I too do not think he intended to kill the victim...
But due to all the circumstances, his history, etc., it certainly does not look good for his career.
His history is way overplayed..
It’s part of the Nascar mystique, but it does not extend to striking someone with a car.
He may well have wanted to hit him. People kill other people all the time in impulsive acts of anger. The jails are full of them.
I do, however, think it's more likely he wanted to scare Ward by getting close to him, or tried to spray mud on him. but without reading his mind, There's no way to know which, if any of it, it is.