Jimmie Johnson thinks Tony Stewart-Kevin Ward incident was ‘accident’
By Dan Zinski
Lots of folks have been quick to defend Tony Stewart in the wake of the horrifying on-track incident that took the life of driver Kevin Ward, but none have been quite so high-profile as the man now sticking up for Stewart.
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Jimmie Johnson is a NASCAR superstar and legend, and it’s a big deal that he is now weighing in on last Saturday’s tragedy. Johnson said via Marty Smith of ESPN that he believes what happened to Kevin Ward at the hands of Stewart was “completely an accident.”
Jimmie Johnson on Stewart/Ward: “I know what I believe. I believe it was completely an accident."
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) August 15, 2014
JJ on Stewart/Ward: “I feel for him, for Gene Haas, the team, the uncertainty. And the Ward family.” (More)
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) August 15, 2014
JJ on Stewart/Ward (cont): "As much as I’m concerned for Tony, I think about the pain and sorrow the Ward family is going through.” (more)
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) August 15, 2014
JJ on Stewart/Ward (cont): "It’s a sad set of circumstances & a hot button for opinion. When Tony does talk, many people will feel better."
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) August 15, 2014
Stewart has already announced that he will not race this weekend at Michigan. The police investigation into the death of Ward remains open and ongoing.
In response to Ward’s death, NASCAR has announced new rules to keep drivers from getting out of their vehicles on the track. Ward exited his vehicle to confront Stewart after Stewart made contact with Ward’s sprint car, sending him spinning into the wall.
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