Few people know what Tony Stewart was going through in the moments just before the sprint car he was driving struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. in a race that ended in tragedy Saturday night.
Few people know what Stewart is going through today as he prepares to race his NASCAR Sprint Cup car at Watkins Glen International.
But for those of us who know Stewart, it is probably this: He feels sick to his stomach about what happened. And yet he's a racer. And racers, who have responsibilities to their teams and sponsors, race amid tragedy. They have the ability to block out the outside world once they strap on their helmets and climb into their racecars. MORE: Stewart hits driver on track at local short track | Stewart plans to race at The Glen
Stewart, though, should not race Sunday at Watkins Glen. Whether he believes it is insensitive or not, racing a day after such a tragedy gives the perception of insensitivity. Whether he believes he can mentally focus or not, it is hard to fathom that even the greatest racing minds can compete with 100 percent focus a day after running over a fellow competitor.
This wasn't just a racing accident. This was one where the other driver had gotten out of his car and was gesturing at Stewart as he drove around under caution.
Maybe Stewart didn't see him on his right side, and maybe the lighting at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park is such that he just didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. The authorities have stressed that they are treating the incident as an on-track crash investigation and not something more lurid. No charges are pending. The sheriff's investigation will be given to the district attorney, as is standard operating procedure in fatal crashes.
Only Stewart knows if this was purely an accident or if his temper, even for a split-second, got the best of him. Stewart is known for some brash moves.
But he's also known for having a big heart. When he won the Nationwide Series race in February 2013 at Daytona International Speedway, where more than 30 fans were injured from flying debris from a late crash, he was somber in victory lane and went unannounced to the hospital to visit the injured fans. Many people in the garage have stories of his generosity.
So Stewart racing Sunday might not seem as a callous act to those in the garage. But this is bigger than the NASCAR garage. This is a tragedy of a young driver losing his life and Stewart being involved. His racing Sunday would appear as if he, and NASCAR, didn't care.
What does Stewart, from a competitive standpoint, have to gain by racing today? Yes, he could make the Chase for the Sprint Cup with a win at The Glen, where he has five career victories, but it would still be a stretch to see him in victory lane. Not to mention, the increased scrutiny and spotlight that would go with it, isn't worth it. He would make the Chase with a huge cloud over his head.
He has four more chances to make the Chase after this week. He has already qualified the car for today's race and if he wins one of the next four races, he would have fulfilled all the requirements to make the Chase.
His sponsors would understand if he didn't race today. NASCAR would understand, possibly letting another driver run his car without any practice.
NASCAR also must play a role. It is not out of its authority to sit Stewart with the ruling based on the logical question of whether Stewart can mentally focus. Or it could view his participation as an action detrimental to the sport just based on the negative perception.
But NASCAR likely will let Stewart make the decision to race. He hasn't been charged with a crime.
That's true. He has not been charged and was released after his cooperation with authorities.
But it would be best if Stewart quietly went back home to Indiana. It would tell the world that racers know there are times when someone else's best interests is beyond their own. It would be the best sign of compassion and show that Stewart has the heart that many in the racing world already knows beats inside of him.
Post By http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-08-10/tony-stewart-crash-tragedy-kevin-ward-killed-sprint-car-race-canandaigua-motorsports-park-watkins-glen
0 comments Blogger 0 Facebook
Post a Comment