Race Car Driving and Road Rage=You Better Check Yourself, Before You Wreck Yourself

Kevin Ward Jr. was sent into the wall when his car was bumped by Stewart's in a dirt-track race last month in Canandaigua. Ward got out of the car and walked onto the track, where he was hit by Stewart. The three-time NASCAR champ will not faces charges, prosecutors said last week in disclosing for the first time that Ward had enough marijuana in his system the night he died to impair his judgement. The incident began when both drivers charged in to Turn 2, and Ward’s vehicle hit the wall, cut a tire, and spun out. The caution flag came out, as it does after a wreck, and the rest of the field slowed down to allow Ward time and space to get his wounded car off the track. But instead of firing it back up, Ward exited the vehicle. He appeared to be looking to confront Stewart, who he likely blamed for the wreck. A couple of cars whizzed by the clearly incensed driver, but Stewart’s car hit Ward, sending the 20-year-old to his tragic death. Now I am not going to pretend to be an expert on racing, because I am definitely not. But I do know that it has to be one of the most stressful, dangerous sports out there. I also know enough not to go to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And I definitely know better than to walk into traffic on a high-speed freeway. So while the family members of Kevin curse Tony for killing their son, I have one question for them. Would you walk in front of somebody shooting a gun? These drivers are crazy, and they let emotions run way to high when they believe they've been provoked. This was obviously a tragedy for the sport of racing, but it was an accident. And had that kid been sober for the race, he probably would still be alive.