Kevin Ward Sr. spoke publicly on Tuesday for the first time since his son Kevin Ward Jr.’s death last weekend. While Ward Sr. made it clear that he is angry over his son being hit and killed by Tony Stewart, he was sure to point out that he wants Ward Jr. to be remembered in a positive light.
“He was just a very God-gifted kid,” Ward told Charley Hannagan of the Syracuse Post-Standard. “I think he slept with a smile on his face.”
He didn’t leave it at that. Ward did not seem convinced that Stewart did everything he could to avoid hitting his son. He noted that all of the drivers moved to the bottom of the track when the caution flag came out, except for one.
[Graphic Video: Kevin Ward Jr. hit and killed by Tony Stewart]
“Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn’t see him,” Ward said.
All the footage we have seen is inconclusive. Ward Jr. definitely walked toward the bottom of the track to make a gesture toward Stewart, and it’s hard to tell how much of an effort Stewart made to turn his car out of the way. Regardless of that, Ward Sr. felt his son had every right to be angry.
“I think the reason he probably got out of that car is who put him into the wall,” he said. “He was definitely put into the wall. Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night. Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there’s no reason for it.
“The one person that knows what happened that night is possibly facing 10 years in prison. Is he going to say what he done?”
No charges are currently pending against Stewart, but that does not mean he is out of the woods.
