NASCAR

Tragedy on a dirt race track in upstate New York became national news last weekend when NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was involved in a fatal incident in which fellow driver Kevin Ward, Jr. was killed.  This was not a NASCAR event, rather a Saturday night race at a small dirt track, but that doesn't matter. Stewart and Ward's cars got tangled, spinning Ward's car. The young Ward got out of his car, walked out into the middle of the track… during the race (albeit under a yellow flag) and the car driven by Steward hit and killed Ward.  My heart hurts for the Ward family.  The pain they must be going through is unspeakable.  I, like everyone else, am sick that this happened.  And please understand, I'm not trying to be insensitive here; with all the investigation into whether or not Stewart is legally culpable, I heard very little about one of my first thoughts:  Why was Kevin Ward, Jr. walking in the middle of a race track where there were speeding automobiles.  To me, it's akin to walking out on a freeway;  what do you think might happen?  Again, I feel horrible for the Ward family, but it seems to me, after learning how to start your car, the pedal on the right makes the car go fast, and how to strap on your helmet, the next thing you would learn is to not walk into speeding traffic.  My hope is that this will save a life or two.  That this incident will deter any other driver who gets out of his car in an incident of ire, to go after another driver, will think twice… and not do it. Let's hope so.