Tony is ruthless, just like Dale Earnhardt Sr and look what happened to him. I have no doubt Tony COULD HAVE avoided hitting Kevin if he wanted to.
I finally watched the video. If Ward had been standing there and been hit, I might agree. But he was moving aggressively into traffic.
And I think you're wrong.
Have you ever driven a sprint car on dirt? Have you ever driven any vehicle fast on dirt? Do you have any idea what a car with slicks handles like at 50 mph on wet dirt?
Sprint cars are designed to turn left and have the rear end slide out to the right.
Approaching one from the upper side of the track is a really bad idea, because just about any action the driver of the car takes pushes the back end of the car out to the right.
I don't think so. The more I look at what went on and think about the history of these two drivers, I am coming to the conclusion that the young buck was out to make a name from himself. His first mistake seems to have caused him going into the wall and the second cost him his life.
This animated video claims that Stewart pushed Ward into the wall. But, in the animation and other real footage it looks like it was Ward who came down into Stewart's line, maybe to block him, and mistimed or misjudged his position. The video points out vision is impeded by wind spoilers on sprint cars. What it doesn't mention is where a driver's eyes are trained when they are negotiating turns.
Later in the same video a claim is made that Stewart is heard accelerating "before" the impact with Ward.
However, this video seems to show that although Stewart's view was obstructed (and Ward was wearing black on a shadowed track) he may have seen him at the last second and tried to swerve. That move which could him to break traction and jump in rpm coincides with the appearance of Ward at his right front, not as he approaches him.
The more I think about a young driver with an aggressive reputation having the opportunity to take down one of the greats in the sport, also with an aggressive reputation, I have a hard time trying to accept Stewart as being at fault in any way.