I love Tony Stewart. I just love this guy. He's a class act. Like he said... its pointless to pick sides. Someone lost their life. I have even more respect for him

My take on this incident? Ward is young and he's got a big league racer on the same track - he wanted to impress folks by "pulling a Kurt Bush" and pushed the envelope too far (or too close in this case). Tony Stewart while not actively trying to hit him, completely screwed up any attempt to avoid Ward, possibly even making matters worse in the process. This is a super sad incident. Stewart might not be the most soft worded driver in NASCAR but it's clear he has heart and passion, and isn't a bad person. This is, for me, what makes this so damn hard to watch. We lost two people when that accident occurred. Ward and Stewart. It sucks. On a side note, I do not believe the hypothesis that Ward jumped on Stewart's car as from the frames we can properly make out on videos, the first thing to "collect" Ward on his path is the top wing on the car. Something on that top wing clipped his suit and kept him hanging to Stewart's car. Stupidly unlucky to no end. :(

I've been a fan of Tony Stewart since his rookie year. I have to say that I respect him even more today . A legend on and off the track. God bless all involved in this tragic accident.

I think Tony hit the nail on the head with several comments, but what stuck out, was the opinions of people based on a small percentage of the actual facts, wether that be true understanding of the sport, or mis-information from the media outlets. This tragic incident has seemingly brought out the worst in the racing community. Several media outlets rushed to judgement, took many things out of context and polarized Tony as the bad guy right from the start. In the end the judgement comes from what little folks really know about the incident, and/or the fact that some folk aren't going to like or support Tony regardless, they didn't prior to the accident, and this unfortunately just gave them more ammunition to demonize a guy who has worked very hard as a team owner, and track owner to support the sport, the fans and drivers and promote drivers, teams and tracks that otherwise would never see the media at their event. Now that the legal aspect of this is moving further and further behind us, the question is collectively is the racing community mature enough to stop continuing to play armchair prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner and get back to the business of bringing passion and brotherhood to this sport? We need as a community to use the bond we have to heal, not increase the size of the wound and support the drivers even if they're seemingly difficult. If you ask me, Tony suffered as much from his fame and reputation as he did benefit from it. It's time to heal and move forward. Just one man's opinion.

Robert, The kid got out of his car and ran at Tony Stewarts car. It was dark and Ward was high. It was presented to a grand jury who decided not to bring charges again him. If Ward had stayed in his car he would be alive today.

Smoke fan for life! Glad is he finally able to open up a little about it. Time does heal, Tony!

All I can say is this about Tony Stewart. A few years ago car parts went flying into the crowed injuring several fans. This wreck did not involve Tony Stewart at all, yet Tony Stewart went to the hospital to meet and check on the several fans hurt in the grand stand. He was the only driver to do so.

Heartbreaking!

Miss the days when Tony made fun of the media and was a fun loving guy

OMG...my heart is breaking for Tony! This was an honest insight into a man we call Smoke. His demeanor and his obvious discomfort and sadness demonstrates how much of an impact this has been! He was cleared and yet the cry of public opinion who have no clue is continuing! I can tell that the media --fortunately many of those very people who are active in NASCAR coverage--were very thoughtful and careful, yet asking some hard hitting questions. Stay strong, keep your faith and God will help you down the path! Love you, Tony!

why did Kevin Ward run towards the car???? he was looking for some SMOKE...bahahaha

Ok, this was an accident plain and simple. Really sad a life was lost. Its been said before but I will reiterate. If this had been someone other than Tony Stewart would we even know about it? How much fuss has been made about the other Sprint car driver that died after this?

funny how people who have no clue about racing calls tony a murder.... it is sad that they dont take the time toactually research the sport.. the cars and the facts before they go near a keyboard

Anger out of control from anybody is destructive! I too am a big fan of racing and of Tony. Having said that, this whole incident has left me grieving for all involved...including spectators! this sport will never be the same, nor the people involved! It has forever reformed the identity's of the people closest to the accident and the sport! If fingers must be pointed then my finger will be pointed at track officials...the minute that man stepped out of the car the race should have been stopped!!! They were there on camera seconds after the accident, they could just as easily been there seconds before!!! Why was that not investigated!!!

Im glad that we now can get past this horribly tragic accident and let tony and the ward family begin to heal in there own ways. Whatever happens on the legal side moving forward, this has terribly affected tony and im scepticle that it may cause him to retire and become an owner of tracks and teams. Just the replay of that night in your mind when you strap yourself into a race car of any kind would be impossible to block out, my personal opinion. I cant fatham waking up with that as a flashback for tony or the parents and family of kevin, I hope he does continue to race but like i said this maybe to much to deal with mentally and emotionally. Love ya tony and still am a major fan of yours going back to your days of racing go carts at our fairground track in Columbus, hell of a man and driver. Go tony go as we say! Godspeed to the ward family as they move forward in there lives.

Tony you're a class act! you have had and will continue to have my support always!

I'd like to see other views of the impact to see if they tell a different story than the one we've seen.

I posted this on another video but people need to get educated. There are many many reasons as to why tony isn't at fault. If you've ever driven a sprint car on dirt (gumbo if you're being technical) you would know the biggest rule in dirt track racing. TURN RIGHT TO GO LEFT! Kevin ran out onto a track at an angle to Tony's car that forced him to make a sharp turn. If you want to turn faster on dirt, which Tony probably had to, you hit the gas, spin the wheels, make a quick left and turn to the right to make sure that the back end of the car swings around to the left. He hit the gas trying to get AROUND Kevin Ward. Dumbass kept running and put himself in the way of Tony's right rear tire. It'd be damn hard to gauge your distance from the back of a car to a person that is steadily getting closer to the car. That being said, everyone saying Tony purposely hit Kevin probably doesn't know much about Auto Racing either way.

Justice is hard to find in the law, Sometimes

Playing dumb 101: Teacher Tony 👨‍🏫

If you pause at 13:22, you can pretty much tell he’s scared & nervous about being there.

The Wards need to let it go.. If they played their cards right Tony would hook em up because it's obvious it's what they want...greedy bastrds

fast forward to 12:30.

Tony looks like he is about to burst into tears i was not a fan of his but that wreck changed him

That kids parents are the first one to blame Tony but they don't understand that their kid was high and operating a piece of equipment and should have known better than to get out of his car

Tony was never a class act He was a big mouth he killed or he didn't kill ward he was always getting into fights or running his mouth at the journalists

This whole tragedy was so avoidable had Ward not gotten out of the car and grabbed the wing on Tony's car. Tony did nothing wrong at all.

The ward family need to quit blaming an innocent man for their son grabbing a moving car

To all you Tony Stewart hatters out there, take all you false facts and shove it were the sun doesn't shine. Get the facts before you say something. Tony Stewart is a great person, and a great race car driver. It made us smoke supporters even closer to support Tony. All you hatters piss me off.

Looking back at this and watching the video over and over you can watch him accelerate and Kevin tries to jump out of the way. All these people who just believe what ever their idol says. "he grabbed onto the car". No, he got STUCK IN THE WHEEL WELL. Plus people are saying and I got this from a comment here, "Someone lost their life. I have even more respect for him". DISGUSTING.

Just the look on his face shows regret. He regrets this happened but it wasn't his fault.

I don't understand why some of you people think Stewart would even care to intimidate (kill as many of the idiots believe) a driver like Ward. Watch the video! He didn't even know him, so explain to me why Stewart would have wasted his time swerving purposely to either scare or hit him. He probably didn't even realize the kid spun himself out behind him on the previous lap! Ward got out, high as a kite, and killed himself by walking out on the track and up to Stewart's car. Simple as that.

best driver

The real victim in all of this is Tony Stewart. If Ward controls his emotions and recognizes the imminent danger to his life...he stays in the car ....and lives to fight another day. No lights, dirt track and a kid sliding down the track ... to do what? Jump on the car? Sad. Really sad.

After his latest outburst after avoiding legal liability in the death of another driver, he should be banned from racing!

Everyone is saying it's Tony's fault, it's wrong, even beginners know not to get out of your car if something happened until there is a yellow flag or red flag, not only did he get out of his car, he walked further onto the track, if he had done as he was supposed to, this wouldn't have happened.

that is a broken man.

one dangerous son of a bitch ,to kill a man for no reason

If someone is loose on the track then you press the BRAKE PEDAL.

In re: Robert Stone. Mr. Stone must have seen a different video than I did. I saw Stewart racing behind another car in the slip-stream, unlike the way that Ward raced which was trying to pass on the high side (which is why he lost his car). The car in front of Stewart sees the kid at the last minute and swerves left. Stewart never sees the kid because his view of the kid is blocked. But, at all events. the guy in front of Steward wasn't slowing down at all. The dope thing doesn't add much information to our understanding of a kid stupid enough to run out on the track when cars are racing.

the scorpion trying to cover his tracks.

why would a accidental death at a race track be brought before a grand jury ?????

I remember the rumors about Tony being Gay, now it's rumors about if he's a Murder. Bet Tony misses the 'good ole days'.

talk shit get hit.....he got "smoked"

someone opened the gates of hell and guess who popped out ? you guessed it the scorpion stewart

I ME MY

the scorpion is trying to put humpty dumpty back together again

Now the civil lawsuit is in the making,more bad publicity

how did kevin ward having weed in his system leak out to the press ?

the scorpion is in a damage repair mode. A little late for that,KILLER

the sorry excuse for a human being is callous

one thing I have got to hand to scorpion stewart ,he did not make ward suffer,.he killed him quick

back shooter

I do not see the cokes on the desk

the scorpion declares kevin wards death an at of god

killing a man means nothing to stewart the scorpion

say what you want about that guy stewart killed. but fact is, stewart did not have to kill him, but he did.

the kevin ward family attorney is the same lawyer that sued big pharma and won . holy shit scorpion stewart , looks like you may have to sale one of your jets.

steam cleaning will do no good , the stink of a dead man will not wash off

stay weak scorpion stewart .your days are done

Stay strong Tony! Don't listen to these morons and delusional people out there that call you a murderer and think you did something wrong on that night. You did absolutely nothing wrong bud! Smoke fan for life!

Anthony Wayne Stewart defined " a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behavior "

It's like you Tony, tossing darts at each other you say? Kind of like you on the race track bumping people into the wall. Why they let you get away with that? You are a murderer and should be locked up

bought himself a mans life

this whole thling could have ben avoided if the son of a fucking bitch killer scorpion stewart would have respect for human life

the Scorpion AKA stewart showed ward mercy, he killed ward quick

this dog out of hell is a killer

the scorpion stewart -an impulsive killer

He's a murderer and should be locked up

tony the bushwhacker srewart

the scorpion stewart slaughtered Kevin Ward

I've been a fan of Tony Stewart since his rookie year. I have to say that I respect him even more today . A legend on and off the track. God bless all involved in this tragic accident.