Dirt Racing Could Be Impacted by Ward Family vs Tony Stewart Civil Suit

[Illtsate32]

CnBF, I think your percentages are pretty close to being correct. If I recall correctly the way the law looks at these situations is Stewart has a portion of guilt just for the fact that he chose to be there. What works heavily against Stewart is his extended history of borderline psychopathic behavior. Without that there wouldn't even be a discussion, let alone civil litigation.I've never met Kevin Ward Sr. or Kevin Jr.'s mother and I suspect no one here commenting has either so to say it's merely a money grab is somewhat unfair, but hey, when did that stop the judgement's from coming forth? Judging by what the Ward's have said publicly they're convinced that Stewart, while having no intent to hurt Kevin, wanted to send a message and made a split second decision to buzz the kid as he went by. Kevin made a split second decision to somehow express his displeasure towards Stewart but probably didn't anticipate that Stewart was going to buzz him and the combination of actions on the part of both drivers led to one of the most tragic incidents in the history of racing.All of us who attend races on a regular basis have seen pissed off drivers get out of their racecars to berate, gesture or try to get the other guy stopped so they can try to give him a "tune up". In a lot of cases this has been standard operating procedure and ended in some hurt feelings and at the most a black eye. Not this time.

Thats how I viewed it to CIRF..however I do question Tonys character as a man if it is true he swerved towards a man in a race car..I wrecked a guy once and he was waiting on me and even hit my deck lid as I went by, I took him out and I didnt even like the guy personally but with that said as mad as I was when I seen him coming towards the car my instinct was to swerve away from him, so if Tony swerved towards him it really makes me question if the man has empathy or a sociopathic pos...

[formercrewguy]

I watched the video twice when it first surfaced. My thought at the time was that TS saw him walking towards him and "dusted him off". My mind has not changed since then.

[71PRPFan]

Would we still be talking about all this if the 45 hit KW instead of Tony? Dude almost got whacked by the other cars. Black fire suit against a dark track. If KW hadn't gotten out of the car or even didn't approach a moving car he'd be alive

[Clayton_Wetter]

This isn't necessarily directed at you specifically, but you've voiced an opinion I've heard others parrot without explanation. Please explain How or Why TS would bother to kick up dirt/spray KW when there had been no contact between them and likely TS had no idea KW blamed him for his crash? KW was behind Tony when he hit the fence, so why would TS have any issue with KW at all? Everybody seems to want to jump to this anger conclusion, but what exactly happened that TS had any reason to be angry about? Is it believed TS just walks around PO'd all the time and slaps everyone he meets just because they are there? Is TS just from the drop of green looking for somebody to be mad at? Please explain for what reason TS had to be angry with KW?

By simply getting out of his car and showing displeasure, it pulled Tony's chains and he reacted with a bluff tactic.

[Clayton_Wetter]

I watched the video twice when it first surfaced. My thought at the time was that TS saw him walking towards him and "dusted him off". My mind has not changed since then.

I stand with that also.

[nuff said]

I watched the video twice when it first surfaced. My thought at the time was that TS saw him walking towards him and "dusted him off". My mind has not changed since then.

Same here.TS was gonna sling dirt on him and he grabbed the wing of a moving sprint car at the wrong moment (there is no right moment) and paid for his mistake with his life.TS may be a pen!s cranium but this deal isn't on him.IMO of course.

[t3r3e3]

This case might have already gone away if not for the deposed testimony under oath of Jessica Zemken-Friesen. If you read the transcripts of the deposition under oath of Stewart as questioned by the Ward family attorney he gets pretty deeply into Stewart's past acts of aggression and periodic violence. Ward's lawyer also confirms through questioning that even though Stewart has been advised to do so several times he's never received counselling for anger and aggression management. Right or wrong, like it or not, all that could weigh heavily on the final verdict.

I wonder if Stewart has ever reached out to the Ward family and tried to have a constructive conversation with them. It's probably a deal where the lawyers have forbid him to do so but it's a safe bet that it might have done some good. Too late now.

And to top all of that Stewart throttled up right as he approaching Ward. Was it pure coincidence? Was he trying to scare Ward back? Was he pissed that Ward showed displeasure for being spun? Only Tony knows, but his many examples of lost tempers, tantrums, and aggressive behavior were going to be used by any lawyer.

[Josh Bayko]

And to top all of that Stewart throttled up right as he approaching Ward. Was it pure coincidence? Was he trying to scare Ward back? Was he pissed that Ward showed displeasure for being spun? Only Tony knows, but his many examples of lost tempers, tantrums, and aggressive behavior were going to be used by any lawyer.

Thing is, Stewart never touched Ward when he spun. The kid ran out of talent and spun himself out. He had also been in trouble for getting out his car and running on the track about a month before the incident ended his life.

The fact that people have such strong opinions due to potato quality video shot all the way across the track is ridiculous. Tony didn’t punch the throttle as he approached Ward, that was a car much closer to the camera. He did hit the throttle to turn down after Ward tried to punch his wing.

He didn’t get charged with any criminal charges, because he didn’t do anything wrong. It was a tragic accident mostly caused almost exclusively by Ward.

[Highwayman]

By simply getting out of his car and showing displeasure, it pulled Tony's chains and he reacted with a bluff tactic.

I strongly doubt that. What i see is people projecting on TS what they want because of seeing him mad on TV. Many responded with the same opinion without even seeing video, they just assumed it had to do with being angry. I've rewatched the video again this week a few times and the evidence just isnt there to support some people's assumption. Ts is no higher on track than several of the cars in front of him and Kw is nearly clipped by others as well, demonstrating how hard it was to see him. Its a cautionary tale of how not to let rage dictate your actions.(KW)

[CIRF]

How many times do some you have to be told that the preponderance of guilt is much different in wrongful death litigation as opposed to criminal proceedings. Whether Stewart was charged with a crime has nothing to do with a wrongful death proceeding.

Stewart made his bed a long time ago with borderline psychopathic actions. When he showed his propensity toward violent behavior in the past it's going to haunt him in a deal like this Ward case. It's just the way it is and it can't be ignored.

[CIRF]

I strongly doubt that. What i see is people projecting on TS what they want because of seeing him mad on TV. Many responded with the same opinion without even seeing video, they just assumed it had to do with being angry. I've rewatched the video again this week a few times and the evidence just isnt there to support some people's assumption. Ts is no higher on track than several of the cars in front of him and Kw is nearly clipped by others as well, demonstrating how hard it was to see him. Its a cautionary tale of how not to let rage dictate your actions.(KW)

I've seen the video and it's unclear whether Stewart made a move with his car towards Kevin. However, Mrs. Friesen told a (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)ing story under oath. Some of ya'll want to discount her testimony as a woman scorned but perjury is no joke!

[Barbecueboy]

I still say TS will settle out of court.

And the family won't buy new cars and houses in their deceased sons honor.........money grab, it's the new American Dream.

RiP KW

[Highwayman]

I've seen the video and it's unclear whether Stewart made a move with his car towards Kevin. However, Mrs. Friesen told a (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)ing story under oath. Some of ya'll want to discount her testimony as a woman scorned but perjury is no joke!

I'm not saying she knowingly purgered herself, but I do think memories can get twisted. She is TS's ex-girlfriend and whom TS referred to as, "Dead Weight" in the media after firing her from his car. JZ also was a friend of the deceased and her view was NOT directly behind TS, as she herself testified, that she had moved lower on the track after they came over the radio and said, "Stay Low, Go Low". The driver ahead of TS also testified that he nearly hit KW when he passed him and feared the next car in line(TS) would most likely hit KW, which he did. That same driver ahead thought KW was coming after him and NOT TS. In the video the rear of TS car goes left, not right as some have speculated or assumed. I don't think JZ is intentionally lying, but the horror of witnessing another human get run over is traumatic and add to that he was a friend too. So years go by before she is deposed, others offer their input as to what they think happened and its not hard to imagine her recollection being off or contaminated. In a criminal court of law, with expert analysis of the event/video and eye witness testimony he was cleared as NOT intentionally or UN-intentionally causing KW harm. I've seen the professional breakdown of the video and no one comes to the conclusion that he revved his engine o attempted to dust KW, that did NOT happen, it didn't.

[Raceready]

I mean, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...

No doubt about it !

[jog49]

Maybe they're hoping that winning a civil suit will soften the opinion that their son did a stupid thing and got himself killed. No sympathy here!