We haven’t even gone a year from the sad story of Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward. Of course Ward was the driver who ventured out onto a live race track and was struck by a car that Stewart that was driving. Ward died of his injuries and there was a national outcry about track safety, the examples that professional (NASCAR) drivers make when they pull stunts like this and how it should never happen again. Lastly, the end of the conversation was basically along the line of what the response should be if it DID ever happen again and thanks to racer Andy Shouse, now we know. The Oklahoma based driver has been indefinitely suspenses by NCRA organization after the incident you will see below.
Shouse was knocked out of the race and he obviously felt that the #24 car was a primary cause of that issue because the first thing you will see is him shaking his detached steering wheel at the car. The next thing you will see is Shouse walking toward the line of cars circling under caution with something in his hand. That something is a steel torsion arm. He takes this thing and literally fires it at the #24 the next time it comes by as hard as he can. It is tough to see where it hits the car but thankfully it did not hit the driver. That arm has a splined hole on one end and is used to put load on the torsion bar in the rear of the car to raise or lower it for handling purposes and to keep the thing from bottoming out on rough tracks. You could easily kill someone with it under normal circumstances.
Not that we would condone Shouse walking up and punching the driver in the car after the race in the pits but that’s freaking civilized as compared to this type of stuff. The field of vision on these cars is very narrow and as angry and invincible as Shouse was feeling, he’d be mortally wounded if struck by a car. His penalty is currently indefinite. DO NOT EVER DO THIS.
I don’t care if it’s the heat of battle, he needs banned from this track and have assault charges filed against him. Asshole sets a real good example for kids in the stands.
At least he was on the INSIDE-and the field had been under caution for a couple of laps.
Dumb ass…
Ward ran out on the track too, under caution, right at the wrong moment when Stewart goosed his throttle…..I didn’t see a single official try to stop this guy, Shouse, when he did what he did!
Attempted murder would be the proper charge because it was with malice aforethought (believe it or not, “aforethought” is a defined term and it means just a hair less than an instant – through the steel in response, you’re only getting assault, get out of your car and take a step… you win a felony). This jackass needs to be in jail.
He should at least be popped with aggravated assault, in addition to being thrown out of racing for life.
Just a point of clarification: Does anybody use steel torsion arms or are they aluminum or titanium?
I’m tired of hearing the “Stewart goosed the throttle” bull crap. When you watch the video you do hear someone hit the gas. But, there were many other cars on the track when you heard it and it could have been any of the other cars. Ward also jumped up and grabbed the wing of Stewart’s car and hung on till he lost his grip dropped under the wheels. Ward was also high as a kite on pot. His Aunt tried defending him saying that pot was legal is some states so it was okay. Well, alcohol is also legal, so it’s okay to drive/race drunk? This dumb ass in this video should be banned from this track for life.
Darwin award candidate.
should be given a life time ban
For one he was on the track on the left side of the cars, where there is way more visibility. Two he was running an aluminum or titanium and with the fact that it came off I’m going to go with a titanium arm. Three the torsion arms are also on the front of the car and are used to set ride height. If it had come off the rear of the car it would still be attached to the bird cage and not on the ground. Five why did the track officials not do anything to stop him from throwing it, you can tell before the cars come around what he is about to do. Had a track official stopped him there would not be a story. Do I agree with what he did? No. Do I agree that if your going to talk about sprint cars you should at least have some knowledge about how they work and what certain parts do? Yes. If you don’t know, ask a local driver. They can and more then likely will tell you what you need to know.
…there was a lot of engine noise in the Stewart video, and the right rear of his car did kick out, as he came around the turn, as they often do, with this type of car. I’m sure he would have no idea, let alone be able to see someone (or thing) come at him from the dark, outside area of the track. The kid had malice and forethought in jumping on Stewart’s car as he came back around the track……and this guy in this video sure had those thoughts going on. There should be charges brought against this as*wipe, as that torsion arm could have bounced off that sprint and struck anyone in the head
Looked as if there were enough guys around behind him, who had plenty of time to intervene. WTH?
This guy should be gone! As in “don’t ever come back!!”
What an idiot… “STUPID TO THE MAX” Get himself or somebody else killed over being an ignorant ass!!! Tony Stewart hit and killed a “HOT HEADED” joker kid doing the same stupid stunt like this awhile back. These clowns should be banned from racing for good, or until they attend about a couple years of Anger Management!!!
This Asshole Should Be Arrested for Assault when he Threw The Torsion Bar At the Other Driver. This “Asshole” is supposed to be a Professional driving this type of car. He’s not at the Local 1/3rd Mile on Sat Night driving a Monte Carlo and Fighting in the Pits. This Guy is a “Real ZERO”. He’s No Professional Race Car Driver so Take Him Out of Driving With Other Pro’s. BAN HIS ASS, Lock Him Up For Assault, and make sure he gets “JAIL TIME”. If a person can’t act like a Professional then Get Him The Hell Out. He Don’t Belong There. All the other Drivers should get together and refuse to Drive if they ever let this Asshole Back on the track Again……..