As he confronted Stewart in his passing car, disaster struck. Ward, a relative unknown compared to NASCAR's noted swashbuckler, was nearly hit by another passing car as he pointed with his right arm in Stewart's direction. ![]() He gestured, making his disgust evident with the driver who triggered the wreck with a bump: three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. In a sport steeped with bravado, what happened next was another familiar, but treacherous, move: Wearing a black firesuit and black helmet, the 20-year-old Ward unbuckled himself, climbed out of the winged car into the night and defiantly walked onto the track at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Kevin Ward Jr.'s car spun twice like a top, wheels hugging the wall, before it plopped backward on the dimly lit dirt track. ![]() The collision was as common as any in racing. The incident began with a collision during a dirt track sprint car race. It would be inappropriate for NASCAR to comment on this case so we will continue to respect the process and authorities involved." "We will monitor this process and stay in close contact with Stewart-Haas Racing. "We are aware of the completed investigation and the announced next steps," he said. NASCAR spokesman Brett Jewkes said the series was closely following the case. He rarely made his schedule public, popping up when he pleased, and he was welcome at the clay track at Canandaigua Motorsports Park the night before the NASCAR race in nearby Watkins Glen. He has for years taken part in little races in nondescript towns because he loves the thrill of the high horsepower, lightweight cars skidding around the dirt. From the small town of Columbus, Indiana, he has long been one of the most proficient drivers in racing, winning in every kind of series, from sprint cars to the elite Sprint Cup Series. NHRA confirmed that the technical department performs inspections randomly with multiple classes and cars at every event.Stewart, who has 48 career Cup wins in 542 starts, is one of the biggest stars in the garage. McPhillips Racing accepts full responsibility, and going forward, we will be more vigilant in inspecting and testing used parts that we purchase.” The team is solely owned by McPhillips, and Tony has no say in the purchase of parts. “We regret that Tony was unable to compete in the Carolina Nationals due to this violation. The part is not required to be certified in our Top Alcohol category.” The part had been unknowingly modified prior to us purchasing it. It was brought to our attention that the magnetos, which we had purchased used from another team, were found to not be within NHRA’s tolerance. Prior to Tony (Stewart’s) Round 1 of eliminations at the Carolina Nationals, NHRA confiscated the magnetos on Tony’s Top Alcohol dragster. “McPhillips Racing prides itself in being honorable in all of our racing competition. In a statement provided by McPhillips Racing, they confirmed the part in question was purchased from another team. Whether the “illegal” part provided a performance advantage remains to be seen, as NHRA confirmed once the alterations were discovered, grounds for disqualification came into play. Walliser confirmed the confiscated parts did just that. It just can’t have anything that’s not approved by the manufacturer.” ![]() “And those parts, anything in the magneto, has to be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions. “It has to be approved, manufacturer parts only,” Walliser confirmed, “And this had unapproved parts in the magneto. NHRA’s Ned Walliser, Vice President of Competition, elaborated as much as the race series was willing to regarding the part that got motorsports icon Tony Stewart disqualified from the Betway Nationals at zMAX Dragway.Įssentially, the magneto is one of the parts that NHRA doesn’t allow any changes to the stock configuration without the series’ approval in advance.
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