Skip to main content

Kevin Ward Jr.'s father comments on fatal crash

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

The father of 20-year-old driver Kevin Ward Jr. spoke to The Post Standard in Syracuse about the crash involving NASCAR star Tony Stewart that killed his son.

Ward Jr. was struck by a sprint car driven by Stewart during a dirt track race in upstate New York on Saturday night and pronounced dead at a local hospital roughly one hour later.

More: Friends, family mourn Ward at funeral service

"Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn't see him," Ward Sr. said.

Ward Sr. also questioned Stewart's maneuvering of his vehicle during the race.

"Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night. Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there's no reason for it," Ward Sr. said.

More: Kevin Harvick defends Stewart

The Ontario County, N.Y., Sheriff's office released a statement Tuesday saying the investigation into Ward Jr.'s death is ongoing and is expected to continue for at least another two weeks. Stewart is not facing any charges over the incident at this time. 

More:Stewart faces several possible legal consequences after fatal accident

Police say they have found no evidence of criminal intent, but charges remain a possibility.

"The one person that knows what happened that night is possibly facing 10 years in prison. Is he going to say what he done?" Ward Sr. said.

Stewart pulled out of last Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen and will not participate in a planned dirt track race in Indiana on Saturday, the day before a Sprint Cup race in Michigan. 

Stewart has yet to announce whether he will race at Michigan on Sunday. There are 13 more races after that, including Bristol, Tenn., on Aug. 23 and Atlanta on Aug. 31. 

More: Some tracks change rules; NASCAR next?
More:Who was Kevin Ward Jr.?

SI VAULT:Tony Stewart's Road Rage (10/21/02)

- Chris Johnson