Tony Stewart’s Road Rage Causes Concern Among NASCAR Drivers

Tony Stewart’s accident that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. has raised concern among his fellow NASCAR drivers.

According to Sporting News, the Tony Stewart accident highlights a growing concern over road rage that can occur during these highly competitive races:

“Racecar drivers should have the best car control of anyone in the world. They should be able to handle their vehicles and put them in positions in a way the average person on the street just can’t do. But they apparently need a little help in controlling their emotions. They’re an intense group of athletes, but the consequences of their actions can be life threatening.”

SN is quick to point out that the racer’s “win at all costs” mentality could be a reflection of the inner workings of NASCAR itself. The Tony Stewart accident, while devastating in-and-of-itself, was almost inevitable as tensions between drivers have been building for years — spurred on by the NASCAR head honchos themselves:

“Fans have been enthralled by the NASCAR philosophy of ‘boys, have at it,
a theme that gained popularity a few years ago after an off-the-cuff remark by NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. It was designed to imply that drivers should not be afraid to trade paint or make contact when battling for position and show emotion when reacting to on-track incidents.”

And now that emotion has boiled over. Kevin Ward Sr, as reported by the New York Daily News, recently ripped into Stewart over the accident.

“Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there’s no reason for it,” Kevin Ward Sr. said. “Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn’t see him.”

Meanwhile, Tony Stewart himself has not returned to racing since the accident took place. As reported by The Inquisitr, Tony withdrew himself from the Michigan International on Friday. The reason being, according to ESPN, is that Tony is still grieving himself.

“It was an emotional week for him. He’s grieving,” Stewart-Haas Racing Executive Vice President Brett Frood said. “He made the decision he’s not ready to get in the race car and will take it week by week. It will be up to Tony when he’s ready to get back in the car.”

This is the second race Tony Stewart has missed since the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

[Tony Stewart image courtesy Godfather Motor Sports Blog]