CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward / Sprint car accident

Wade Mahaffey · 08-13-2014, 10:55 PM

I have two points to share.

#1 My biggest problem is the fact that, of all of the resources that the kid had....all the money...and all the racing history....parents, sponsors, crew chief, car owner, race team, friends...nothing, or no one could get the point across to the young man DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR! That is a serious discipline issue, and that is what cost him his life. As racing seniors/veterans, mentors, officials, and persons of authority....YOU MUST HOLD THE LINE ON DISCIPLINE, ESPECIALLY WHERE SAFETY IS THE ISSUE! It's really pretty simple, if you deviate from mandated safety rules....YOU WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR...don't care how good you are!

#2 I believe that Tony's effort to maximize his distance from an on track incident, left a lot to be desired. As a professional race car driver...and a damn good one...and on top of his game....a true champion! He knows better than most, the importance of staying as far away from a crash as possible. This is done to protect your car from fluids, and other debris that could jeopardize your entry ie flat tire, cut oil/water line etc. Now you don't get where Tony is without an eagle eye, exceptional concentration skill set, and instant problem solving/quick thinking ability. For those reasons, I believe he knew exactly where he was, and exactly where everybody else was. He can go around that track on a string at full speed, so Caution laps are nothing to him! I would bet that without question, if someone was placed in the center of the straight away, as Tony approached at Caution speed, that he could dodge you even if you were trying to touch the car. He could whip that car and get past you without you touching it. I don't believe that he drove up and killed the young man on purpose. But I do believe that they both stuck their chest out a little to far, and a death resulted.

Wade Mahaffey

08-13-2014, 10:55 PM	#74
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward / Sprint car accident I have two points to share. #1 My biggest problem is the fact that, of all of the resources that the kid had....all the money...and all the racing history....parents, sponsors, crew chief, car owner, race team, friends...nothing, or no one could get the point across to the young man DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR! That is a serious discipline issue, and that is what cost him his life. As racing seniors/veterans, mentors, officials, and persons of authority....YOU MUST HOLD THE LINE ON DISCIPLINE, ESPECIALLY WHERE SAFETY IS THE ISSUE! It's really pretty simple, if you deviate from mandated safety rules....YOU WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR...don't care how good you are! #2 I believe that Tony's effort to maximize his distance from an on track incident, left a lot to be desired. As a professional race car driver...and a damn good one...and on top of his game....a true champion! He knows better than most, the importance of staying as far away from a crash as possible. This is done to protect your car from fluids, and other debris that could jeopardize your entry ie flat tire, cut oil/water line etc. Now you don't get where Tony is without an eagle eye, exceptional concentration skill set, and instant problem solving/quick thinking ability. For those reasons, I believe he knew exactly where he was, and exactly where everybody else was. He can go around that track on a string at full speed, so Caution laps are nothing to him! I would bet that without question, if someone was placed in the center of the straight away, as Tony approached at Caution speed, that he could dodge you even if you were trying to touch the car. He could whip that car and get past you without you touching it. I don't believe that he drove up and killed the young man on purpose. But I do believe that they both stuck their chest out a little to far, and a death resulted. Wade Mahaffey