On Saturday night, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was sprint racing Kevin Ward Jr. in upstate New York. The race took a turn for the worse and Ward died from injuries suffered.
A Stewart-Haas Racing spokesperson said in a statement, “A tragic accident took place last night during a sprint car race in which Tony Stewart was participating. Tony was unhurt, but a fellow competitor lost his life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We’re still attempting to sort through all the details and we appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.”
According to reports, Stewart has “cooperated fully” with the investigation. He is a three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
It was Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero who confirmed the news early Sunday morning. He said that Ward was declared dead on his arrival to a local hospital. A YouTube video of the incident shows Stewart racing to the low side of Kevin Ward Jr., of Port Leyden, New York. The two cars made contact, which sent Ward’s No. 13 car bounding off the Turn 2 wall.
