NASCAR

NASCAR: Tony Stewart Makes Right Call to Give Up Sprint Cars

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By @Terri7589

Patrick Smith - Getty Images

Patrick Smith – Getty Images

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Tony Stewart has recently been in a firestorm of media attention over the death of fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. On Aug. 9, Stewart and Ward were involved in a collision during a sprint car race. Stewart spun Ward out, causing his car to hit the wall and ending his night early. Ward, upset, approached Stewart’s car on the track. Another driver swerved to avoid Ward but Stewart’s car caught Ward and tossed him a few feet. Ward died shortly after from massive blunt trauma.

Sprint cars aren’t in relation to NASCAR and they were a hobby of Stewart’s, but now he’s thinking about giving them up for good. As much as Stewart enjoys racing sprint cars, they haven’t always been good to him. Stewart was sidelined for six months in 2013 after breaking his leg in a sprint car race. Now the death of a 20-year-old driver has really made Stewart assess his involvement in the mini cars.

“I would say it is going to be a long time before you ever see me in a sprint car again, if ever. I don’t have any desire at this moment to get back in a car,” Stewart told the Associated Press.

Stewart giving up sprint cars is definitely the right choice because this tragic incident will haunt him, and his legacy, forever. Stewart already has the persona of the bad boy in NASCAR. Stewart is known for his short temper and was ordered by NASCAR in 2002 to take anger management classes. From the altercations with reporters and other drivers at the beginning of his career, to the recent death of Ward, people are questioning Stewart’s involvement in racing altogether.

There were talks after the accident saying that Stewart should not only give up sprint cars, but give up NASCAR. This incident will forever be tied to Stewart when it comes to him getting behind the wheel of a car. Because Ward’s death was ruled an accident, continuing on with only NASCAR is the safest bet for Stewart. It will quiet the talks and help people move forward. It would look tacky if Stewart continued to race in sprint cars because it would give the idea that Stewart shrugged his shoulders at the occurrence. Stewart and this unfortunate incident should be the final chapter in his sprint car racing book.

Terri Washington is a Los Angeles Clippers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @Terri7589, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.

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