Tony Stewart Should Have Avoided Crash, Dead Driver’s Father Says

Tony Stewart should have avoided the crash that led to the death of driver Kevin Ward Jr., the father of the deceased sprint car driver claims.

Stewart was racing on a dirt track in Canandaigua, New York, on Saturday when his car came in contact with Ward’s, sending the 20-year-old driver careening off the track and out of the race. Ward responded by getting out of his car and walking into the track, pointing toward Stewart’s car.

A car driving ahead of Tony Stewart swerved to avoid Ward but Stewart could not, and ended up striking and killing Ward.

Now Kevin Ward Jr.’s father is speaking out about the incident, telling the Syracuse Post-Standard that “there’s no reason for” the crash that led to his son’s death.

“Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night,” said Kevin Ward Sr. “Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there’s no reason for it.”

Ward also claimed that Stewart must have seen his son on the track.

“Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn’t see him,” Ward told the newspaper.

But witnesses say otherwise. Cory Sparks, another driver who was reportedly a few cars behind Stewart, said the NASCAR driver tried to avoid striking Ward but could not.

“From what I saw, Tony did everything in his power to turn down away from Kevin to avoid him,” Sparks said.

Ontario County sheriff Philip C. Povero said that the accident is being investigated, a process that could take weeks. He added that there are currently no charges against Tony Stewart.

But Ward Sr. believes the possibility of charges is keeping Tony Stewart from speaking out, saying: “The one person that knows what happened that night is possibly facing 10 years in prison. Is he going to say what he done?”

Tony Stewart is reportedly considering sitting out a second NASCAR race in the wake of the tragedy.