Driver Hurt, Tony Stewart Involved

[pkirky33]

Don't ever refer Bubba Clem's opinion on anything racing, he likes it and owns a track. Have you seen him race (Joke),he sticks to radio for a reason. He also sucks Tony's ass on the air...

[pkirky33]

Question for expert Bubba and Berti, in a sprint car, if you take your hands off the wheel what way will the car go? Bubba advises that Tony had to gas it to turn left, this is right after he explained the 15" of stagger!

[Groundpounder]

Question for expert Bubba and Berti, in a sprint car, if you take your hands off the wheel what way will the car go? Bubba advises that Tony had to gas it to turn left, this is right after he explained the 15" of stagger!

Correct! Gas it to turn L is BS.

Bubba is disgusting, IMHO, I listened the other day a few minutes and had to turn off...remembered why I don't listen.
He described that Ward was going to punch him through the RH side, that's why he jumped on the car...that Bubba guy is nuts.

[John Berti]

"Question for expert Bubba and Berti, in a sprint car, if you take your hands off the wheel what way will the car go? Bubba advises that Tony had to gas it to turn left, this is right after he explained the 15" of stagger!" - pkirky33

and "Correct! Gas it to turn L is BS." - Groundpounder

The same as when I had my radio talk show "Motorsports Talk" when I lived in Western Massachusetts I research things before I make a statement so I know I'm talking intelligently and factually.

Well I've done some research and found that any standard sprint car is staggered at the rear with larger tires on the right side to a symmetrical left/left setup. In other words it is set to turn left. When the throttle is goosed the rear kicks right and the car turns left.

My research bears out that what Bubba said about Tony having to gas it to turn left is entirely correct, no BS. Sorry Groundpounder!

As for the direction a sprint car goes if you let go of the steering wheel my research revealed that is rather unpredictable and depends a lot on how fast you are running the car. Under caution periods when the car is running slower is when it is the most difficult to handle even with your hands on the wheel you'll be constantly adjusting. Sprint cars are set up for speed so the faster you go the better the car will handle. Hope that answers your question pkirky33.

In these modern times of the internet it is not very hard to find out any and all someone would need to know about a certain subject if they are willing to take the time to look it up and learn.

[egspeedway]

As Jack Nicholson so eloquently said in a Few Good Men, "You can't handle the truth."

[pkirky33]

You had to do research to find out that when they hit the gas it wants to turn left........my god, it sure would handle like s@@@ if it wanted to go right. They do ok 4 wide prior to the start turning left, thanks for all the info.

[luke81]

He described that Ward was going to punch him through the RH side, that's why he jumped on the car...that Bubba guy is nuts.

I'm not sure that wasn't the kid's intent. He was either going to punch the car, make an attempt to get into the car, or something else incredibly foolish.

[jnyg23]

bad angle

Can we get a better angle on that in car picture. One that shows what you can see when your sitting in the seat. That looks like its from the top of the cage.

[OldSchool+]

"When the throttle is goosed the rear kicks right and the car turns left."--John Berti

I have looked at all three scenarios and have tried to believe in each of them, and at the end of the day, am hoping more information comes forth.

John's statement is troubling for obvious reasons, and the crux of the dilemma.

Regarding "leaving it be"--a man is no longer here. Justice should take place (whatever that is) as opposed to turning a blind eye.

I understand drivers that empathize with both Tony's feelings and his choices. I also understand Fathers that empathize with a danger to their young son.

If you feel the need to discuss, please consider doing so respectfully--both to the principles involved and the other esteemed members here.

If not...don't.

At the end of the day, the Moderators will moderate (and thank you for your efforts, I know that is tough also). I certainly intend to promote KARNAC in a positive light, here and elsewhere.

[John Berti]

Let us not forget what shuts this case down for charges against Tony Stewart is that Kevin Ward, Jr. foolishly got out of his car and decided to play "Frogger" against sprint cars going by at 40 mph in an effort to seek out Tony. Had he sat in the car like any coherent individual would do and confronted Tony after the race he would still be alive today. By his actions Kevin set himself up to be possibly hit by any one of those sprint cars by going down into the racing groove to confront a driver. It was Ward's negligent action that led to his own death, not Stewart who did all in his power to avoid an overly zealous person who was lunging at his car. This in a car with poor visibility on the right side because of the lowness of the wing on that side and the difficult to control characteristics of a sprint car running at low, caution flag speeds.

The mass media doesn't want to leave it at that because there is no sensationalism in that and nothing that keeps the story alive. To them it's better if Stewart is prosecuted for murder.

Oh one more point that I can pull up from from OldSchool+'s post concerns this thing about goosing the car kicks the right rear out to make the car turn left. OldSchool+ you say you have a dilemma with that. If you understand the characteristics of a sprint car and what must be done to avoid contact with something that is ahead you must gas it which gets the rear of the car turn right then the car will turn left otherwise you go straight ahead into what you are trying to avoid thus hitting it dead on. What Tony did was the proper reaction for the situation to avoid someone lunging at your car from the right side. I'm sure when all the evidence is viewed and heard Tony will be exonerated.

It's too bad that the video we've seen so often is taken from the infield side and not the other side. If there was such a video, there very well may be, we would actually be able to see what transpired.

[exnyer]

so,

I do not want to come across as an a$$hole, but how much responsibility is the family taking for the death of their son but not constantly reminding him to never get out of the car and walk across a hot track?

[Winger]

You had to do research to find out that when they hit the gas it wants to turn left........my god, it sure would handle like s@@@ if it wanted to go right. They do ok 4 wide prior to the start turning left, thanks for all the info.

You're missing a few points. They start to get into that formation going down the backstretch and through the turn. They are not making split second decisions to turn left. After they go past the stands, the drivers do stand on the gas to get through the corner to get into their starting position. It's one thing to idle through a corner and another to have to try to steer away from something 10 feet in front of you. I bet you couldn't do it in your street car at 20 miles per hour. BTW, have you ever noticed the front wheels on a sprint car when they are going at a slow speed? They aren't traveling in a nice straight line, they're all over the place. Yeah, if they want to go right, they are in trouble. SMH

[Winger]

------- By his actions Kevin set himself up to be possibly hit by any one of those sprint cars by going down into the racing groove to confront a driver.

If you watch the video, you'll see two cars behind Tony that were running side by side, one low and one higher. If Tony had missed him, I believe the car on the high side would have hit the kid. It just happened to be Tony. If the other guy had hit him, none of us would even know it today.

[OldSchool+]

JB--re: goosing the throttle kicks the rear end out.

It is not my dilemma, it is Tony's dilemma, and a question mark for many. And that choice, right or wrong, is why there is a discussion at all.

A split second earlier the car would have turned, a split second later the tire would have biffed the kid or been past him. But at that particular instant it was a bad deal and, as has been said, the authorities will have to work it out.

(I understand the kid was in the wrong place, period, and the car is hard to see out of.)

I am in a "wait and see" mode.

[pkirky33]

Winger....you stated that they stand on the gas to so they can get threw the corner (getting in there starting positions). Hell, you make it sound like under caution they would be better off staying in the gas. I don't care what anyone says, in that situation (if he did), hitting the throttle is not the right reaction.