Tony Stewart Case Sent to Grand Jury

[cosworth151]

This could be a disaster for all of motorsport.

A grand jury will decide whether NASCAR driver Tony Stewart will be charged in the August death of a fellow driver at a Sprint Car race in upstate New York.

Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo said Tuesday that after reviewing evidence collected by sheriff's investigators, he has decided to present it to a grand jury. Tantillo could have determined there was not enough evidence to support charges and dropped the case.

http://autoweek.com/article/nascar-sprint-cup/grand-jury-decide-whether-charge-tony-stewart-short-track-racers-death

[Scott]

I think you suspect this is a case of grandstanding by the DA Cos.

I don't think so.  I suspect if they are taking it to the Grand Jury, they have found very good reasons to charge him, or at the very least the evidence is questionable enough to put it to a GJ to decide instead of just the DA. 

If Stewart did, as some witnesses have suggested, move towards Ward in an attempt to intimidate him and misjudged it, then it is a victory for motorsports to put hot tempers in check.

I see no reason to not hold a race driver accountable in an avoidable death of another, on track or not.

If he is proved innocent, then so be it, but I would like to see the process go forward.

[cosworth151]

I do think he's grandstanding and/or playing to the mob. If this flies, how many other politician D.A.'s will have their goons out at the local dirt track looking for headlines?

[Jericoke]

I do think he's grandstanding and/or playing to the mob. If this flies, how many other politician D.A.'s will have their goons out at the local dirt track looking for headlines?

If people are dying, or being seriously injured, at the dirt tracks then good:  someone should be held accountable.

[cosworth151]

It's part of racing. It's always been part of racing. I accepted that when I raced. All drivers do.

And don't forget, we're talking about one isolated incident involving a driver wondering around on an active track. But I'm sure the politician headline-hunters won't let the facts stand in the way of a good sound bite.

[Jericoke]

It's part of racing. It's always been part of racing. I accepted that when I raced. All drivers do.

And don't forget, we're talking about one isolated incident involving a driver wondering around on an active track. But I'm sure the politician headline-hunters won't let the facts stand in the way of a good sound bite.

I understand what you're saying, and the ex athlete in me agrees.  When we want to do the sport, we want to do the sport, and risks be damned.

The Tony Stewart incident was either a rare occurance, or a part of racing that went horribly wrong.  I think it's worth finding out which it was, and whether anything needs to be done about it. 

Maybe something needs to be fixed.  Maybe it doesn't.  I don't think it should be dismissed without thought though.

[Scott]

Ok, lets just say, for the sake of the argument, that Stewart did move towards Ward in attempt to intimidate, misjudged, then gunned the engine (as witnesses have reported) and killed Ward, and that there is enough evidence to prove that is what happened. 

Is it better we put a guy like that behind bars, or preserve the 'anything goes' at dirt racks across America?  I'm for the former.

[cosworth151]

Is it a good idea to let every headline hunting political hack in the country, who knows absolutely nothing about motorsport (or anything else about cars) declare open season on racing? We really don't want to have racing outlawed, like it is in some other countries.

[John S]

We really don't want to have racing outlawed, like it is in some other countries.

Do you mean like Switzerland Cossie.     

 

[lkjohnson1950]

Actually, I think this is a case of a scared politician passing the buck. I don't think Tantillo wants the decision to be on his resume, so this is the safe way out.

[Jericoke]

Is it a good idea to let every headline hunting political hack in the country, who knows absolutely nothing about motorsport (or anything else about cars) declare open season on racing? We really don't want to have racing outlawed, like it is in some other countries.

Given outstanding legal issues facing the NFL and NHL over concussions, I think that ALL sports should be prepared for the influx of lawyers trying to get their piece of the action.

If motorsports keeps their head in the sand, then racing in the USA WILL go extinct.

[Scott]

We really don't want to have racing outlawed, like it is in some other countries.

Do you mean like Switzerland Cossie.   

That was actually repealed.  Thanks for thinking of us though...   

[cosworth151]

I'm sure NASCAR has more than enough spare change laying around to quietly fund a "grassroots" recall drive & get this hack booted out of office.

[cosworth151]

The grand jury in Ontario County, N.Y., decided this afternoon not to file criminal charges against Tony Stewart.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/sports/tony-stewart-grand-jury-decision-nascar.html?_r=0

[John S]

I'm sure it's the right decision. 

However Cos something in the piece on the NY Times page really stuck out for me:-   

Tantillo said Wednesday that a toxicology report on Ward revealed that he had enough marijuana in his system at the time of the accident to impair judgment.