Tony Stewart Runs Over Fellow NASCAR Driver, Killing Him

Star NASCAR driver Tony Stewart ran over a fellow driver on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. was killed. Ward exited his car, visibly upset, and the on-track confrontation ended with a fatal accident. Stewart won't race in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, according to ESPN. More details, from the New York Times:

A graphic video posted on YouTube showed Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup champion in Nascar, hitting the driver, Kevin Ward Jr., 20, as Ward stood outside his racecar on the track.

Ward and Stewart had bumped cars during an earlier lap, sending Ward’s racecar into an outside wall and prompting a caution flag. Ward then exited his racecar and approached on foot as Stewart’s racecar came around again. As Ward stood on the track and pointed at Stewart, Stewart’s racecar sounded as if it revved its engine then fishtailed, the right tire hitting Ward and dragging him under the car.

Ward was thrown several feet behind the car, and he was later declared dead at F.F. Thompson Hospital.

The death occurred about an hour away from the site of a Sprint Cup race on Sunday at Watkins Glen. Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition for the Stewart-Haas Racing team, announced on Sunday morning that Stewart would not race in the Sprint Cup event. He was to be replaced by Regan Smith.

If you can stomach the graphic video, you can watch it below. RIP, Kevin Ward Jr.

[via NY Times]