As a former firefighter I have witnessed some horrendous events in people’s lives. It almost always amazes me how at the very worst time in one’s life comes some of life’s greatest gifts of love and compassion. It is also true that out of the worst moments in our life comes the making of who we are.
Saturday night and into Sunday morning, after the news broke of the tragic death of young Sprint Car Driver Kevin Ward Jr., Twitter and other social media exploded in reaction. Not all of the initial reaction was in the same spirit I often witnessed as a firefighter. “Murderer”, “Hothead”, “Lock him up” were typed over and over again in a rage against Tony Stewart. Others were just as quick to judge the victim.
Even some members of the media themselves were getting involved in some of the crap. ESPN stated in a classless tweet, “With heavy hearts we turn our attention to the Cheezit 355 race today.” Keith Obermann took exception to the tweet and got in a tweeting tussle with some NASCAR fans saying it was promoting an event off a tragedy. ESPN, rightfully so, soon deleted the tweet.
Of course some of the things said in support of Stewart were equally stupid. None more so than from Stewart’s camp itself, when early Sunday morning Greg Zipadelli, the VP of Competition at Stewart-Haas Racing, said that Stewart would race and that his team was operating “As Business as Usual.” Talk about tone deaf to the situation.
Thankfully clearer heads prevailed, and Stewart wisely bowed out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen. One wonders what the change of heart was between that 8:30 am statement and Zipadelli’s press conference a couple of hours later, when he announced Stewart would not be in the #14 car Sunday at Watkins Glen. Whether it was sponsor pressure, legal advice, PR advice, or just plain old common sense prevailing, it was the correct decision.
Just as the Stewart camp, upon further reflection, had a change of heart, the things fans are saying via social media has also calmed down considerably. As it should, attention has turned to the young man who lost his life on Saturday night.
Not meaning to point the finger at all here, but it’s time that drivers be told not to exit their vehicles until safety crews arrive on the scene. If they do so, strict disciplinary action needs to occur. We see it all the time in racing, be it at a NASCAR event, IndyCar race or at our favorite local dirt track venue. In fact, as that tragic event was taking place in Canandaigua, NY, I was at my favorite local dirt track in Orange County, NY, and I saw a driver (during a race caution), exit his vehicle and give the two handed salute to a fellow driver who he thought did him wrong. Unlike the events in Canandaigua, no one was injured. It surely could have been different.
Racing is a dangerous sport. The drivers, marshals and everybody involved are highly skilled and highly motivated men and women. But above all they are human beings subject to the same emotions, tantrums, and mistakes all of us have made. Saturday night was an example of how truly dangerous this sport can be. We owe it to its performers to make it as safe a sport as possible. Keeping drivers safe should be priority one.
People’s lives have changed forever. Tony Stewart will be a different person because of this incident. His life changed. Forever. One of the most horrific things that can happen to any of us happened to Stewart on Saturday night. I pray that as I’ve seen so often in the past, this tragic event makes Stewart a better person. Out of that horrible moment becomes the making of a new Tony Stewart.
There is no such outcome for young Kevin Ward Jr. His short life on this planet has ended. He leaves behind many friends and relatives who are left with an emptiness that will endure forever. There will not be a day when his family and friends are not reminded of Kevin. A flip of a channel showing a race, an advertisement in the local paper for a local track, a newspaper article about a result of a NASCAR race, all will be forever reminders of their loss. All of us share their sadness today.
As twitter and news articles continue to look for blame, the family of Kevin Ward will somehow pick up their lives and try to carry on. Eventually each day will become a little less painful, but the pain will still last a lifetime. Not a moment will pass without thoughts turning to Kevin. It is my hope that out of this tragedy they find the strength to carry on, reflecting on the positive things that Kevin brought to their lives on and off the racetrack he so dearly loved. A more fitting tribute to Kevin Ward Jr., I cannot imagine.
Excerpts taken from the Trainor Funeral Home, Booneville NY:
Kevin was born in Rome, NY on May 23, 1994, a son of Kevin A. and Pamela Colwell Ward. He grew up in Port Leyden, NY, where he attended school, completing his education at South Lewis Senior High School, where he graduated with the class of 2012.
In addition to his parents he is survived by three sisters, Christine (David) Cavanaugh, Boonville, NY, Kayla (DJ) Herring, Lyons Falls, NY, Katelyn Ward, Port Leyden, NY; His maternal grandparents, Francis Colwell, Boonville, NY, Gaylee (Bob) Smith Sauquoit, NY; his paternal grandmother, Jean Ward, Lyons Falls, NY. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather Leonard Ward, who died in 1968. Also surviving are aunts, uncles, cousins and two beloved nephews and nieces, Landen, Tucker, Delaney and Hailee.
The staff, writers and everybody at Last Word on Sports wishes to extend our sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Kevin Ward Jr. The racing community is truly in morning.
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