The lawsuit has been filed by Ward Jr.’s parents, Kevin and Pamela Ward, who are being represented by The Lanier Law Firm.
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Stewart is the only named defendant in the suit which says he “wrongfully caused Mr. Ward’s death by acting with wanton, reckless and malicious intent and negligence”.
The family of 20-year-old Kevin Ward, who died last year after being struck and killed by NASCAR star Tony Stewart during a race, has reportedly filed a wrongful death suit. It’s noted that six other cars were able to pass by Ward without incident, while Kevin was standing on the track.
In September a district attorney in Ontario County, where the on-track incident occurred, said he thought the fact that Ward came down the track into an area where cars were still moving played a big factor in the grand jury’s decision not to indict Stewart. Neither he nor his spokesperson offered immediate comment.
Stewart is scheduled to race in the Sprint Cup Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen on Sunday, the one-year anniversary of Ward’s death.
Despite Ward’s death coming in an event not sponsored by NASCAR, the racing governing body Stewart drives and owns a team under banned drivers from walking onto the racing surface. He returns to one of his favorite tracks a different person. Two days after the grand jury did not find enough evidence to charge Stewart, he said “I know 100 percent in my heart and in my mind that I did not do anything wrong”. “I don’t know how anybody could be exactly the way they were”.
There had been reports of Ward’s marijuana use, but toxicology tests confirmed the time span being so close to the race. The vitriol was scathing, the jokes from comedians he enjoyed hurtful. Stewart also bought a set of tires for Morgan Shepherd when his team couldn’t afford another set.
“There are no guarantees unless you get that win”, Gordon said.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the same by what happened”, Stewart said Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway. “He just has to put it all together”. “So again, that can cause a lot of trouble, and it can be hard to overcome that”, he said. In the 33 races since, Stewart has posted one top five and two top 10s – including last weekend’s ninth-place run at Pocono Raceway.
Though he’s in the midst of a career-worst season with just two top-10 finishes in 22 starts, Stewart’s performance has improved in recent weeks.
“I’m happy to get to race here today”.
“That’s been a bonus, definitely”.
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On Saturday following practice, the three-time Cup champion was involved in another sprint vehicle accident – this time involving the fatality of Kevin Ward at Canandaigua Motorsports Park – an hour north of Watkins Glen.
