Tony Stewart will compete in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International on Sunday after being involved in an incident that claimed the life of a driver during a race in New York on Saturday night.
The manager for Stewart's racing team, Greg Zipadelli, told the Associated Press that the three-time NASCAR champion will compete Sunday, saying the race is “business as usual.”
The decision comes after Stewart struck and killed a driver while he was on foot during a dirt track race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.
Amateur video of the incident shows racer Kevin Ward Jr. stepping toward Stewart's car at the Lucas Oil SuperSprint feature race after it appears Stewart cut off his driving line and forced him into the wall, causing him to spin out.
Moments later, Stewart’s car makes contact with Ward and drags him several feet before Ward slides 50 additional feet along the track. People in the crowd can be heard screaming during the incident.
A witness told the Associated Press that it appeared Ward was trying to confront Stewart. A video showed Ward standing to the right of Stewart's familiar No. 14 car, which seemed to kick out from the rear and hit him.
“The next thing I could see, I didn't see [the other driver] anymore,” witness Michael Messerly said. “It just seemed like he was suddenly gone.”
Ward, 20, was pronounced dead at F.F. Thompson Hospital at 11:15 p.m., according to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. at the exit for turn 2 during lap 14 of the 25-lap event, according to the sheriff's office. The race was under caution when Ward was hit.- LA Times
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