Story updated, see below
A fatal incident took the life of 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. last night during a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Tony Stewart was involved in it.
Stewart, who is racing in the Cheez-it 355 with the NASCAR Sprint Cup series this week-end at Watkins Glen, often takes part in sprint car races, like Saturday night's at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, which is only 100 miles from Watkins Glen.
It appears Ward and Stewart collided during the race. Ward then exited his car and walked down the track, gesturing at Stewart.
As Stewart came around, he struck Ward.
"The driver was treated by on-track medical staff and transported to FF Thompson Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:15 pm," said a statement by the County of Ontario Sheriff's office.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends," added a statement from Stewart-Haas Racing.
The police added that Tony Stewart has cooperated with the investigators.
Interestingly, the Baltimore Sun reports: "In July [2013], Stewart was involved in another wreck at the same track that resulted in two drivers suffering injuries."
UPDATE
Stewart-Haas Racing VP of Competition, Greg Zipadelli, announced Sunday morning that Tony Stewart would not race in Sunday's Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.
"We know that it's just an unbelievable tragedy," Zipadelli said. "Our hearts go out to obviously Kevin and his family, thoughts and prayers. This is a very tough, very emotional time for everybody, his family, our family at Stewart-Haas, Tony Stewart.
"So with that being said, we feel that as a group, Tony will not drive today. Regan Smith is on his way up."
A fatal incident took the life of 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. last night during a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Tony Stewart was involved in it.
Stewart, who is racing in the Cheez-it 355 with the NASCAR Sprint Cup series this week-end at Watkins Glen, often takes part in sprint car races, like Saturday night's at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, which is only 100 miles from Watkins Glen.
It appears Ward and Stewart collided during the race. Ward then exited his car and walked down the track, gesturing at Stewart.
As Stewart came around, he struck Ward.
"The driver was treated by on-track medical staff and transported to FF Thompson Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:15 pm," said a statement by the County of Ontario Sheriff's office.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends," added a statement from Stewart-Haas Racing.
The police added that Tony Stewart has cooperated with the investigators.
Interestingly, the Baltimore Sun reports: "In July [2013], Stewart was involved in another wreck at the same track that resulted in two drivers suffering injuries."
UPDATE
Stewart-Haas Racing VP of Competition, Greg Zipadelli, announced Sunday morning that Tony Stewart would not race in Sunday's Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.
"We know that it's just an unbelievable tragedy," Zipadelli said. "Our hearts go out to obviously Kevin and his family, thoughts and prayers. This is a very tough, very emotional time for everybody, his family, our family at Stewart-Haas, Tony Stewart.
"So with that being said, we feel that as a group, Tony will not drive today. Regan Smith is on his way up."